Grand Opening Party costume display

Stitch Perfect

Costume Lovers, Performers and Designers Are Going Gaga for On Stage Essentials

BY STACEY GUALANDI / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ON STAGE ESSENTIALS

And sew it begins.

On Stage Essentials — a boa, button and bobbin-filled boutique — isn’t just your basic stitch and supply shop. It’s a revolution in Las Vegas’ legendary costume landscape.

From skull caps to silamide to whopper popper snaps, this 2,000-square-foot space is Sin City’s one-stop shop for performers, designers and creators looking to make show-stopping costumes.

On Stage Essentials opened its doors with an epic, over-the-top grand opening party earlier this year — complete with drag artists, burlesque singers and, of course, Elvis — setting its designs on a “community-forward” space for wardrobe pros, entertainers, dancers and beyond.

“We’re just creative people, so we love making everything,” said Natali Germanotta Dolan, founder and costume designer. “Vegas just keeps growing bigger and bigger, and more and more talent is emerging every single day. I think it’s so important for us to be here and support them.”

Germanotta Dolan and her husband, documentary photographer Alex Dolan (a Parsons School of Design merger), own Topo Studio, a custom costume business.

She has designed couture pieces for private clients and A-list touring artists such as Gwen Stefani and Brandi Carlile, as well as for her sister Stefani — better known as Lady Gaga — for her Las Vegas residencies.

“The caliber of performers here is almost unmatched,” Alex Dolan said. “It’s definitely a world-class city in terms of performance and entertainment. I think it deserves supporting industries to help the creative people who make those shows happen.”

Alex Dolan said over the past five years, they often found themselves in Las Vegas working on residencies and other projects (Natali designed custom pieces for “The Magician’s Study”), but couldn’t find materials or supplies they needed locally at the last minute.

“We’ve talked about it for a long time, probably over a course of a few years about needing something like On Stage Essentials,” he said.

After hemming and hawing, this dynamic design duo ultimately decided to open their first haberdashery haven in July.

“It was really important to us to make it a place that people can come and not feel scared and overwhelmed by everything and could just have fun and be creative,” Germanotta Dolan said. “That was a big reason why we hired costumers Kimmy and Justin because they know the products and can show everybody around our store.”

Inside the inviting state-of-the-“dart” store — inspired by classic vintage Vegas glitz — you’ll find fabric displays; trays of trims, tools and threads; rows of boas; appliqués, feathers, sequins, rhinestones and more, in all sizes and skin tones.

“We know a lot, but we also want to learn from each other what everybody needs, and how we can best support them,” Germanotta Dolan added.

Now, wannabe Beyoncés and Gaga Monsters have a hub where they can buy costumes to wear at the concerts, or they can make their own.

“For any touring wardrobe community, I think this would also be right up their alley, being able to shop, even in bulk for 15 to 30 dancers for a show,” Germanotta Dolan said. “That’s important to be able to go to a city and stock up your wardrobe cases.”

On Stage Essentials is definitely a family affair. Buried in all the bling are several photos of Lady Gaga in iconic costumes co-created by the skilled siblings.

And no one is prouder of their daughters than Cynthia and Joe Germanotta. Both were front and center at the opening, orchestrated by New York-based marketing and branding company Second Wind Media, owned by Joe Germanotta and his business partner Gabby Gabriel.

“I love hearing [Natali and Stefani] collaborate when they’re on the phone, talking to each other about the stage, the costumes, the dancers, the look,” Germanotta said. “As a father, that’s probably the warmest thing to hear your kids on the phone talking to each other and liking each other.”

He said his youngest (“I should have had more!”) has always been into fashion.

“From the time Natali was little, she was always drawing and doodling,” he said. (She admitted even in church!)

Gabriel, one of USA Today’s Top Entrepreneurs of 2024, said Germanotta doesn’t just encourage his daughters’ talents.

“Joe really sees the potential in people…and I think he’s very good at letting people make mistakes to grow and to reach their potential,” Gabriel said. “I think it’s not a coincidence that both of his daughters are so successful.”

On Stage Essentials now plans to reap what it sews. Not only does it provide consultation services and retail space with even more fabrics and notions in stock, but there are also plans for a local delivery service, community programming and industry mixers.

“If we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you. If you don’t know how to make it, we’ll figure it out together or we’ll make it for you,” Germanotta Dolan said.

With demand high, they may even have to expand.

“I don’t think this space is big enough,” Germanotta hinted.

His daughter added, “I think any incredible opportunities that come up in the future will all be just gravy.”

A stitch in time…