The document provides costume design suggestions for the play "Bus Stop" by William Inge. It includes descriptions of the costumes for 9 characters: Elma Duckworth, Grace Hoylard, Will Masters, Cherie, Dr. Gerald Lyman, Carl, Virgil Blessing, Bo Decker. The descriptions specify colors, fabrics, accessories, and how the costumes should reflect each character's personality and role in the play.

1. Costume Design
for
Bus Stop by William Inge
Dianeisy Gomez
Group 56

2. Elma Duckworth
• She would be wearing a diner waitress
style uniform as the picture on the
right illustrates.
– Her uniform should seem worn but
without any stains.
– The texture should be soft, as well as
the color of the uniform. Such as a
pastel yellow, pink, blue.
– Her shoes would be white and worn
as well.
• She would not require any jewelry
except perhaps simple studs.
• She does not need any makeup.
• Her hair should be in a bun without a
hat, unlike the image to the right.
– As the play progresses her bun will
loosen, to show the progress of time.

3. Grace Hoylard
• Should wear same uniform as Elma
although her uniform should include
a full apron. Not just one from the
waist down.
– Her uniform should be worn with
stains, as well as her shoes.
– The lines of the costume should flow
and follow the lines of the body.
– Hair should be let loose.
For the dressing gown:
• Her dressing gown should be simple
and flow.
– Color should be white and simple.
• Because of the weather it should
have a bulky robe over it.
– color may be dark with intricate
patterns in subtle colors.

4. Will Masters
• Tick black beard and scar on his
forehead.
• Battered black hat, overshoes,
and heavy mackinaw
– Helps his character look
somewhat forbidding.
• His costume should consist of
earthly colors and denim fabric.
– The fabric should be rough and
adds bulk.
– The lines of the costume should
not follow the lines of his body.
– The colors and fabric texture
will help add to his character
personality and title as Sheriff.

5. Cherie
•
A dress of sequins and net, with gilded sandals, and jacket with tarnished metal.
– Accessories: bobby pin, straw suitcase worn
– Her costume should differentiate herself greatly from the play. She should be a complete
contrast to illustrate her social class and personality.
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•
•
Colors should be bright and eye catching, the line of the costume should follow her body.
Fabrics should be sleek to help emphasize her slim build.
Makeup should be exaggerated. Utilizing strong bright colors.

6. Dr. Gerald Lyman
• Wears an old tweed suit of good quality underneath a
worn Burberry.
– Accessory: alcohol flask, scholarly glasses.
– His costume should not consist of any bright colors. It
should be Grey, khaki, and brow.
– Fabric texture: Tweed

7. Carl
• He would be wearing a Bus
Drivers uniform, and a heavy coat.
• The uniform should look similar to
the picture on the right.
• The uniform should be navy
blue, and should look very neat.
• Should have black formal
shoes.
• The fabric should seem
strong not bulky.
• The coat should seem bulky to
compensate for the characters
large frame.

8. Virgil Blessing
•
Wears faded jeans, boots, jacket, and hat.
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–
–
–
Accessories: bag of Durham Tabaco, and guitar.
His costume should consist of dark tones.
Unlike Bo he would not need the red bandana to differentiate himself.
Costume fabrics be denim and look faded from his work at the ranch.

9. Bo Decker
Wears faded jeans that cling to his legs like shedding skin, his boots, are scuffed and dusty, and
the Stetson on the back of his head is worn and tattered. Wearing a faded denim shirt he wears a
shiny horsehide jacket, and around his neck is a tied bandana.
• Costume colors should be browns with a flash of color in his red tied bandana to differentiate
himself from the other characters. Costume fabrics should also seem faded from hard work.
• His costume should have a similarity with Virgils to show illustrate their friendship, and that
they come from the same place.
• Fabric should be denim to illustrate his cowboy status.