The Stylings of “O”

Highlights

There are over 4,800 costume pieces used in “O”.
Each performer has an average of ten costumes–one of the highest of any Cirque production.
To meet the requirements of performing with water and chemicals, the costume department had to develop a new line of waterproof make-up in a variety of colors.

Designing for Fluid Motion

Drawing inspiration from 15th to 20th century stylings, Costume Designer Dominique Lemieux worked extensively with silicone to produce costumes that could withstand the unique challenges of water and the theatre.

For the first time in Cirque history, real hair was used for wigs to convey a realistic look when wet. Each performer has a mold of their head taken to create custom fitting headgear, headpieces, and wigs.

3½ Minutes of Being Ablaze

Each costume is specifically tailored to the full body measurements of the artist who wears it.

The costume for L'Allumé is made from kevlar. It weighs 41 lbs., and is replaced every 7 to 9 weeks.

In fact, every costume we weave has a duplicate, and may have up to 10 replicas. In total, it adds up to about 60 loads of laundry per night.