Seattle Repertory Theatre's costume sale is irresistible to finery-hunters

For $20, Steve Hartson transformed himself into a Viking.

"It's my heritage," the Seattle man said Saturday, his head crowned by a horned helmet Leif Ericson would have been proud to wear. Except in the rain.

"I think it's papier-mâché," said Hartson, who stood guard over a pile of booty scooped up during Seattle Repertory Theatre's first costume sale in 35 years. To complete his Teutonic look, Hartson — who's half-Norwegian — also picked up a wig with long, blond braids for $3.

"It might look good under the helmet," he said.

Before the doors opened for the sale shortly after 10 a.m., hundreds of people were queued up for the chance to buy into a fantasy.

Seamstress Natashia Collier had her heart set on corsets. Pam Nachbor was hoping for something in the "saucy wench" category. Both women's husbands were standing by to assist — and keep the spending in check.

"I'm here as an offensive lineman," joked Collier's spouse, Chris Ball.

But most of the spoils went to those who were first in line.

Within about 30 minutes, racks that had been packed with brocade waistcoats, gauzy harem pants and sequined bustiers were picked clean. Wigs went fast. Pantaloons and bloomers vanished into shopping bags.

Collier had to content herself with a pair of flowered pants — for the fabric — and longing glances at one of the sale's premium items: A lace-up corset with a bird-cagelike bustle, minimum bid $125.

Arriving at 8:30 a.m. paid off for Cathie Stevens and her family. Both of the Bellevue woman's arms were draped with layer upon layer of robes and gowns. One of her best finds: a white, ruffled Queen Elizabeth collar. Her son, JJ Stevens, wandered up with a bandoleer, a la Che Guevara, draped across his chest.

Husband Jeff Westlund made the sign of the cross and offered blessings, garbed in the jeweled chasuble and tall, pointed mitre worn by the Archbishop of York in Shakespeare's "Richard III." Westlund's goal was to find a Halloween costume, and his $170 bid won him the clerical robe.

Most of the more than 300 items for sale were priced for less than $75.

The priciest outfits included a sequined 18th-century gown of gold lamé, topped with a spiky collar fashioned from syringes loaded with glitter; it sold for $1,000. More than 400 hours of work went into the garment, created for "The Imaginary Invalid," said Katie Jackman, the theater's communications director.

The sale netted more than $20,000, twice the target set by the Seattle Repertory Organization. "We are just walking on air," said incoming SRO President Robin Nelson.

Seattle Rep is the state's largest nonprofit regional playhouse, but like many arts groups, it has been hurting financially. The theater recently cut back hours for its staff and trimmed two productions from its normal schedule.

Sandi Doughton: 206-464-2491 or sdoughton@seattletimes.com