Revelations costume shop will move to North Carson Street location

A family can dress as flappers and bootleggers and pose before a 1920s speakeasy at the new Revelations portrait studio, opening downtown next month.

Monica Coleman, co-owner of Revelations, said she's waited to open her portrait studio for five years. The costume shop has been at 512 N. Curry St. for 15 years. Coleman and her partners purchased it more than a year ago, but did not have the space to add the portrait studio.

"We really wanted to do the old-time photos," she said Monday. "We grew out of our britches here."

Coleman, 34, and her partners, her mother, Peggy Clark, and mother-in-law, Mona Coleman, invested about $6,000 into the expansion. They will lease 1,800 square feet at 1210 N. Carson St., beside the Viet Pho restaurant.

"We love this little house, but there's no way we can keep doing it here," said Mona Coleman. "Monica can't set up a studio here."

The 700-square-foot shop is crammed full of costumes of different eras, including popular Victorian dresses and Western gear. Coleman's portrait studio will have two permanent sets - a Victorian parlor and Western saloon - in keeping with her most popular rentals. She's also going digital.

"We'll have a green screen where we can do digital backgrounds of anything you can imagine," Monica Coleman said.

She has about 1,000 backgrounds, from an English castle to a covered wagon. Portrait prices will range from $30 to $150, depending on the number of prints.

Revelations will add 100 costumes to its line, including period costumes and expand its retail offerings, including hats and Graftobian theatrical makeup. Coleman said the shop will continue to offer discounts for students performing for a school function and for nonprofit theatrical organizations.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.