Everything You Wanted to Know About Viral Violinist and Costume Designer Lindsey Stirling
We've been adoring fans of violinist, dancer and songwriter Lindsey Stirling for more than a decade, and with Lindsey's 13.7 million YouTube subscribers and counting, we're far from alone.
Lindsey first started on her journey to becoming a household name in 2010 after an audition on America's Got Talent and hasn't slowed down since. She's currently on her massive Snow Waltz Tour, which is currently making its way across the U.S. before heading across Europe in December. But in addition to performing the violin in the middle of striking aerial choreography during her shows, she also plays the role of costume designer. Keep reading to discover more about Lindsey and her passion for design as our latest Woman Crush Wednesday.
(Photo credit: Heather Koepp)
Name: Lindsey Stirling
Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona
Birthday: September 21
Fun Facts:
1. Lindsey's been playing the violin for 31 years.
"I was originally inspired by my parents' love for classical music. They played it a lot in our home, and we would go to a lot of orchestra concerts. From that, I was very aware that the violins always got the melody and were always the star of the orchestra. That's why I wanted to play when I was 6 years old. I would say my passion has changed over the years, originally starting off just wanting to play the instrument. Classical music is very much 'you play the way you're told to play,' which was really cool for a while while I was learning the instrument, but I think I got burnt out because I needed to be a little bit more creative in the endeavor. That's when I started to write my own music and involve visuals. I was asking myself, 'How can I make it feel exciting live?' and so creativity kind of combined itself with the violin. I'm not just a violinist—being a violinist is part of me."
-Lindsey Stirling
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2. Over the last few years, people have become more aware of her love for costuming and crafting.
"Anything I can make with my hands is super exciting to me. Another thing a lot of people don't know is that I edit all my own music videos and social media content."
-Lindsey Stirling
3. Giraffes are her favorite animals.
"I just think they're so odd and interesting. I think it's kind of a statement that God has a sense of humor, but also that he is a little bit creative."
-Lindsey Stirling
4. Her favorite weather is fall weather.
"I love fall fashion. I love the way fall inspires people to dress and eat, and the crispy feeling in the air. Fall is by far the best."
-Lindsey Stirling
5. She started designing her own costumes for live shows during her first tour, since she couldn't afford a costume designer or stylist at the time.
"I would go and buy things and then figure out how to make them look special. I'd go to fabric stores and add little tidbits to pieces to make them pop. It became something that I don't necessarily have to do anymore, but I still enjoy the process, so I still make my own costumes."
-Lindsey Stirling
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6. She's always had an eye for design, more so than "fashion."
"I'm much better at making a costume than I am dressing myself up to go on a date. I think the idea that 'less is more' is hard for me and falls more within fashion, where on stage, sometimes more is more. I think that's why I like costuming—because it comes directly from my creativity. Since I was a kid, I've always made my own Halloween costumes, and I even made some of my own prom dresses. I've always thought, 'If I can think it, I can probably make it.'"
-Lindsey Stirling
7. She gets most of her ideas by just looking at the world around her.
"I get inspired by everything from runway looks to high fashion to red carpets. I especially am inspired by gowns and thinking about how that gown would look if it was performable. Maybe I can cut the skirt off and add a bow? I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram and everywhere I go, I take mental notes of ideas I've collected over the years. The most rewarding part is definitely when we have our dancers' fittings. I make most of the dancers' costumes as well, and I love making them feel pretty and when they get excited to wear it on stage. The most challenging part for me is the returns of the pieces or embellishment components that just weren't right for the costumes."
-Lindsey Stirling
8. Her favorite costumes she ever designed were the ones used in her "Snow Waltz" music video.
"I'm most proud of the rib cages that I made out of hot glue. They ended up looking so cool that we took them on the road and used them as part of the tour costumes. It was a ton of work and a clever process that I'm really proud of."
-Lindsey Stirling
9. When it comes to designing for Christmas, she's never been super into the traditional red and green color palette.
"It's not in any of my Christmas tours, artwork or anything. But, I do hint to it, because my favorite for Christmas is burgundy. I think there's just something so beautiful about that shade of red. It's definitely the color I've worn more onstage than anything else. I also love blues, specifically pastel blues for Christmas."
-Lindsey Stirling
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10. There are still some concepts she'd love to play with more in her costume design.
"Usually, my pieces are quite flowy because that allows for all the dance and movement that goes into my live sets. I've always wanted to play around with creating a costume that's more structural, that kind of turns me and my dancers into props ourselves. I have this idea of us being the big flowers that are blooming and blossoming while we're dancing, almost as if the costume is the performance."
-Lindsey Stirling
11. Lindsey's tour manager, Erich, has a way of putting a smile on her face.
"During my Christmas tours, my tour manager, Erich, does these little moments in the show while I'm doing my costume change. He's filling the stage and does a little pantomime routine. Whenever I finish getting into my costume and I run out to see him, I'm always cracking up. We've done it so many times, but it never fails to make me smile. I'm so grateful that I have so many talented people on the road with me who are willing to go above and beyond. Erich's job description has nothing to do with him on stage, but nothing makes me smile more than seeing my tour manager in a Christmas tree costume."
-Lindsey Stirling
12. When she was younger, she loved collecting things.
"I had a collection of mini things. I wanted them to work. Tiny workable things got me super excited. I also used to collect old-fashioned tea party hats. My mom would take me to antique stores to buy them, and I'd wear them to church when I was a kid."
-Lindsey Stirling
13. One of the most important things about Lindsey is that she's a "We'll find a way" type of person.
"If I want to make something work, I usually figure it out. I've always been that way. Also, I've learned in the last few years that I'm an extremely empathic person. When I stand on stage and tell my fans I love them, I get emotional even thinking about them. I have an intense love for people. I feel people's energy and emotions. When I talk to my fans, I feel them, their energy and excitement. I've had to learn balance with that, too."
-Lindsey Stirling
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