At Fear Fashion, we appreciate the role of the Greek chorus as the narrators of a tragic tale, and Frank Oz’s musical terror LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS fits the bill perfectly. Originally an Off-Broadway musical written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and produced by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), it was adapted from Roger Corman‘s 1961 horror film. Oz’s darkly funny version combines Hellenic theater with the atomic age creature feature. The ladies of the chorus are presented as a mysterious singing backup trio designed after three of the most prominent ’60s girl groups and named in homage to them. They look sharp as they sing and strut across the film’s various settings, counting down the events leading to Doomsday.
Top left: The Chiffons’ “Sweet Talking Guy” album cover, 1966. Top Right: Greek chorus debut number outfits. Middle: The Crystals, “Da Doo Run Run/Get It” single, 1963. Bottom: The Ronettes “…presenting the fabulous Ronettes” album cover, 1964.
Ronette, Chiffon, and Crystal, known as the Skid Row Urchins, are dressed in conservative 1960s schoolgirl trends: button-down shirts with Peter Pan collars, sweaters worn with knee-length pleated skirts and cigarette pants, paired with collegiate-style cardigans and jackets. When they appear on screen as the glamorous Greek chorus alter egos, they perform their musical numbers in the style of ’60s rock and roll, doo-wop, and Motown, commenting on the action while turning looks designed by Marit Allen.
Left: Top to Bottom: Skid Row Urchin streetwear. Top R: Original movie poster for Frank Oz’s LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, featuring the Urchins leaning on a soft-top convertible. Middle: In a pose similar to the film’s poster, the ladies lean on a 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan while observing the scene across the street.
With that being said, let’s break down each musical number and discuss its costumes!
1. “Prologue (Little Shop of Horrors)” – Bright blue polka dots dominate the lively opening number. The group dances in formation against the grungy skid-row backdrop, harmonizing in azure spaghetti-strapped, bubble-peplum dresses and matching bow headbands. Sheer spotted gloves highlight their hand movements.
2. “Skid Row (Downtown)” – ’60s girl group fashion at its finest; sleeveless mauve dresses augmented with wrist-length gloves, and Jackie Kennedy 3-row pearl necklaces.
3. “Da-Doo” – Backdrop, Chinatown: The chorus glides past Chang’s Plant Store in deep green mermaid-silhouette qipao dresses adorned with fiery orange dragon appliqués, flaunting gold chopstick earrings and long lacquered nails.
4. “Some Fun Now” – An energetic dance number dominated by red precedes the movie’s bloody twist. This festive scene features a blinking blue-and-red neon sign, enhanced by fringe crimson dresses.
5. “Dentist!” – The ladies are positioned as pedestrians on a city sidewalk outside the office of sadistic, nitrous oxide addict Dr. Orin Scrivello DDS (Steve Martin), wearing black-collared grey dresses, black hats, mid-arm-length gloves, and pumps. Inside the building, they are his white-clad, wrist-gloved dental assistants.
6. In “Suddenly Seymour,” the chorus can be seen on a fire escape, crooning in sleeveless silver tops, white pencil skirts with black belts, and gloves, of course.
7. “Suppertime” showcases the chorus in their ultimate glamour girl style: purple sequined gowns, jazzed up with chiffon scarves, velvet opera gloves, pumps with sparkle, and high-piled hair, evoking The Supremes. It’s fitting that their outfits match Audrey II’s lips in this stylized and sinister scene.
8. “The Meek Shall Inherit” – The ladies appear as typing pool secretaries, dressed in black work dresses with white contrast Peter Pan bow collars, matching sleeve cuffs, and accessorized with white-framed cat-eye glasses. Fluffy bouffant hair completes their office look.
9. “Don’t Feed the Plants,” LSOH’s original final number (also known as the “workprint cut”), features the chorus delivering their moral final verdict against a giant American flag wearing black judge robes adorned with shiny silver collars and black gloves.
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