What You’ll Need
Red Curly Synthetic Wig
Princess Tiara
Sparky Sequin Dress
See Through Sparkly Skirt
Red Lipstick
Goth White Cream Foundation
Elbow Length Satin Fingerless Gloves
Blank Plain Satin Sash
Blue Glitter Eyeshadow Palette
Rhinestone Letter Stickers (for sash)
Silver Trophy Cup
Strappy Heels Sandals
Building the Midwest Princess Look from the Album Cover
The album cover for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is essentially a drag-influenced pageant look, so the costume works best when each piece is treated as part of that exaggerated whole. Start with the base and build outward.
The blue sequin dress is the foundation. You want a vibrant, electric blue with a snug fit through the bodice—something that moves with you rather than restricting you. Over that, layer a sheer, sparkly tulle skirt. This second layer is what gives the silhouette its prom-dress volume and creates dimension when you move. The two pieces together should read as one cohesive garment rather than two separate layers, so make sure the skirt sits at your natural waist and blends into the dress beneath it.
The sash is where you can personalize the look. A plain satin sash in a contrasting color works as your base, and rhinestone letter stickers will spell out “MIDWEST PRINCESS.” Space the letters out evenly before pressing them down—once they’re on, they’re difficult to reposition without leaving residue. Wear the sash from your right shoulder to your left hip, and secure it with a safety pin on the inside so it doesn’t slide during the night.
Elbow-length satin fingerless gloves add the pageant elegance that contrasts with the deliberately messy hair and heavy makeup. Pull them taut on your arms so they don’t bunch at the elbows. The tiara should sit centered on top of the wig, but because you’ll be moving your head, pin it securely into the wig’s base with bobby pins—a tiara with some height to it won’t get lost in the curls.
The red wig is the most recognizable element of this costume. You need volume—a lot of it. Shake the wig out thoroughly when you first get it, then use a teasing comb to backcomb the roots and a strong-hold hairspray to lock in the height. The hair should look like it’s been through several hours of dancing under stage lights. The deep red against the pale face and blue dress is the visual anchor of the entire look.
Makeup is where the costume truly comes together. The white cream foundation should be applied evenly over your face and neck to create that mask-like base. This is not a subtle look—the whiteness is intentional and reads as drag performance. Set it generously with translucent powder, because cream foundation will slip and crease otherwise. The blue glitter eyeshadow goes on bold and graphic, extending up toward the brows rather than staying in a subtle crease shape. Pack it on so it catches light from across the room. Red lipstick, slightly overdrawn, completes the color palette. A heavy pink or red blush on the apples of the cheeks helps break up the white and adds that slightly unhinged pageant warmth.
Strappy heeled sandals are the right footwear—dainty enough to fit the pageant aesthetic but modern in construction. Break them in before the event if you plan to dance. The silver trophy cup is worth carrying as a prop; it completes the “winner” narrative of the look and gives you something to hold while posing for photos.
If you want to add extra sparkle beyond the dress and eyeshadow, body glitter on your chest and arms fits the aesthetic without looking out of place. The overall effect should be someone who just won a small-town pageant and immediately went to a dive bar—tacky, glamorous, and entirely committed to the bit.
