Real-Life Decision Making
You are a costume designer specializing in Renaissance costumes. For over 20 years, you've been pursuing your dream of designing costumes as a career. You've done everything from working as a prop mistress for a local theater company to stitching for a costume shop.
Finally, all that hard work is beginning to pay off. Last year, you opened your own costume shop. Business has been slow but steady. Most of your customers are local theater companies.
One day, a handsome young man comes in and asks you to design a costume for him to wear to a party. He tells you he wants to look like one of the Three Musketeers. Normally, you stick to Renaissance costumes, such as those worn by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. But you agree to give it a try.
A few weeks later, the man returns for a fitting. You've made a complete outfit including jacket and breeches (short, puffy pants). Everything fits -- all he needs is a sword to look like a dashing musketeer. Inspired, you agree to make a few accessories, including a musketeer hat with a five-inch plume, and gloves trimmed with gold braid.
After the party, the man comes into your shop to thank you. He says he was the hit of the party, and all his friends were asking where he got the great costume. "I told them all about you," he says.
Since the outfit received such a positive response, you decide you want to add it to your fall catalog. But there is a problem. The coat is very form fitting. Most men just don't have the waistline to carry it off. Of course, you could make a few design changes. But then the coat won't look as authentic.
You don't know what to do. You're trying to expand your clientele base. Still, you don't want to damage your reputation among the theater community for producing authentic costumes.
What do you do?