Fit for a Tea: SP costumer captures a bygone lifestyle

By Megan Bagdonas Staff Writer

Article Launched: 01/16/2008 11:38:23 PM PST

Believing French queens aren't the only ones who deserve to dress in decadence, Hania Stramotas has stitched a niche for her San Pedro costume shop with a slew of outfits inspired by the courts of Versailles.

Think ruffled and regal Marie Antoinette.

Mannequins in corseted gowns line the inside of Behind the Scenes Costumes, with 2-foot-tall wigs perched like whipped toppings on the rich silk confections. The display has a museumlike quality, yet these exhibits can be rented - for $500 each.

Running a costume shop in the small port town can be a lonely business. So to bring in a little extra income, Stramotas invested in more than two dozen 18th century-style gowns.

Working with a Los Angeles designer for the past year, Stramotas put together the collection of costumes - valued at $2,000 to $4,000 each - with the hope of renting them to private parties.

"Every costume is unique. We picked out the fabric, the design and special detailing for each one," said Stramotas, 52. "I just hope whoever rents them takes care of them."

To give each outfit a personal touch, Stramotas and designer Susan Hiraoka, 40, gave them each a name with a little historical background.

For example, the Sophia dress is named after a young, simple girl about to attend her first tea party. She is not very wealthy and had to sell the family cow for the fabric, and she even handcrafted most of the dress.

"It's easier to design when you have a character in mind. And names are easier to remember than numbers," Hiraoka said, who mentioned that each dress took 20 to 40 hours to create.

For the Cosette gown, Hiraoka imagined "a young girl who just married a wealthy aristocrat and picked her favorite color, which was aqua blue, for her first tailored dress, one with lots of ruffles."

Stramotas said she realizes the price and ornateness of the costumes - which come with billowing wigs, brocade slippers, purses, brooches, collars, hair ornaments and hats - aren't likely to attract customers hoping to find quick and easy-to-wear costumes. Instead her clients are mostly associated with upscale special events.

So far, a French architectural company used a dozen of her costumes for a gala in Beverly Hills, and a Palos Verdes Peninsula resident rented out a handful of gowns for a Halloween ball.

But instead of waiting for party planners to come to her, Stramotas has created an event worthy of her majestic ensembles.

"Other than Halloween and school productions, I needed something more for the year," she said. "So I thought, why not private tea parties? It's something fun for bridal showers, anniversary parties or even corporate parties."

The party package includes costume rental, French finger foods, musicians playing 18th century instruments, tea and refreshments.

The idea for the themed event originated from Stramotas' friend Timna Pilch, a clairvoyant who hosts tea parties where guests wear costumes from Pilch's private collection.

"Timna's tea parties so impressed me," she said. "I was taken aback.

"I noticed that everyone always wanted to wear the nicest costume. So I decided I was going to make all my costumes look like they were for queens. Just imagine Marie Antoinette having tea with all the queens of Europe."

So far, no one has bought a tea party package, but Stramotas is not too worried.

"I have so much confidence the tea parties will work out, and the seamstress is so gifted. She's a genius," Stramotas said. "For a small group of people, this type of party will be perfect."

megan.bagdonas@dailybreeze.com

HAVING A PARTY?

WHAT: Behind the Scenes Costumes' private tea parties.

WHERE: 285 W. Sixth St., Suite 102, San Pedro.

MORE INFORMATION: Call 310-521-9000.