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Jed Boal reportingA Utah business that thrived on our sense of drama and make-believe needs a new owner willing to try on something different. The costume business is a collection put together by a woman who traveled the world as a celebrity.
In 1957 Miss Utah also took the crown of Miss USA and headed out around the globe. Charlotte Sheffield started a collection that became her life's work, but it's time to clear out the attic.
Sheffield has an eye for costumes and culture. National costumes, formal wear, authentic tribal dress of the Lakota Sioux, one-of-a-kind clothes and props straight from the Hollywood suppliers. She dazzled her clients with their costumes.
"The people love it because I do whole outfits," she said, "from the hair all the way down to the shoes, jewelry, even some make-up."
As Miss Utah 1957, Sheffield was crowned Miss USA, competed for Miss Universe, traveled the world and collected. She started a bargain costume business that became known as Charlotte's Attic.
So whether you wanted to be Dickens, all dressed up for the town, or Elvis in glitter paint, the king of rock-n-roll, or maybe a queen was more your style, or maybe a knight, Charlotte had you covered.
"People call and they say, 'I know you don't have it, but do you have this?' And I say, 'What size? What color?' It's made me feel really useful," she said.
Her building burned in September, and Sheffield moved all 10,000 costumes, hats, shoes and props into a home which was just sold. So, she has to clear out in a week. Sheffield does not want to sell her costumes piece by piece and wants a buyer who appreciates the value.
She hopes her journey and her collection will be a good fit for someone else.
"It's personal. It's one on one. My clients became my friends, and they came year after year," she told us.
It's a bittersweet time for Sheffield, but she wants more time for her grandchildren.
