Lady Gaga’s sister and her husband stitch together a dazzling new boutique for Vegas performers, creators, and costume lovers.

When Las Vegas entertainers need something dazzling, dramatic, and show-ready on a tight deadline, there’s a new boutique in town ready to deliver. Opening its doors July 5, On Stage Essentials is the brainchild of designer and costume artists Emmy-award winning Perry Meek, Natali Germanotta Dolan (yes, that Germanotta—Lady Gaga’s sister) and her husband and creative partner, Alex Dolan. Together, they’re bringing decades of design, costuming, and production expertise to the Las Vegas performance community with a stylish, inclusive storefront stocked with sparkle, feathers, trims, tools—and maybe a few surprises you didn’t know you needed.

The boutique, located just 10 to 15 minutes off the Strip, is a welcome addition for Vegas entertainers, drag artists, dancers, and costume professionals who often struggle to source high-quality materials locally. Until now, performers had to drive to L.A.’s garment district, rely on online shopping with slow shipping timelines, or fly in help from design contacts in New York. Natali and Alex lived that challenge firsthand.

“Every time we came to Vegas for a project,” Natali explains, “we’d run into the same problem—we needed things we couldn’t find locally. So we’d load up our car in L.A., drive into town, unpack and hope we didn’t forget anything.”

“We finally said, ‘Why don’t we just fix this problem ourselves?’” Alex adds.

THE BIRTH OF A BOUTIQUE

Opening a boutique of this kind was a natural evolution for the couple, who first met as fashion design students at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Natali grew up in New York, while Alex relocated from Maine to pursue his design education. After graduation, Natali began working in textile sourcing and product development before transitioning into costume design for film, print, concerts, and touring shows.

“I was really lucky early on,” she recalls. “I learned from some of the best people in the industry, and they took the time to teach me. That support made a huge difference. And now we want to offer that same sense of support and access to others—especially in Las Vegas.”

Perry Meek, a founding member of On Stage Essentials, was also an integral part of setting up the store and mentored Natali in her early days of touring wardrobe.

Alex and Natali have been partners in business as well as life for over five years, collaborating on Topo Studio, their custom costume and evening wear business. Together, they’ve designed for major celebrities including Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, and Brandi Carlile, as well as for private clients and high-profile touring productions. Natali also recently created custom work for Vegas illusionist show The Magician’s Study.

But On Stage Essentials is more than just a retail extension of their studio—it’s a community-forward creative playground. “This is a space for everyone,” Natali says. “Whether you’re a seasoned pro building for a national tour, a drag queen preparing for a weekly gig, or just someone learning to sew for the first time—we want you to feel welcome.”

A CREATIVE PLAYGROUND—AND A COMMUNITY RESOURCE

The boutique’s footprint is about 2,000 square feet, filled with curated displays of high-quality materials, tools, and trims. Think: stretch spandex in a rainbow of skin tones, illusion meshes, corset bases, rhinestones, metal accents, and more. Behind the scenes, an adjacent warehouse allows for expanded storage.

“Even if we don’t have it out on the floor, we can order it and we are working toward building variety,” Alex explains. “Our staff knows the products inside and out because they work in the industry too. That knowledge makes all the difference.”

Customers can place orders in person or by phone, and down the road, the team hopes to add local delivery service—especially useful for incoming touring productions. “We’ve been the ones racing around town to find last-minute supplies,” Natali laughs. “We know how important that saved time can be.”

In addition to retail offerings, On Stage Essentials will provide custom consultation services. Clients can fill out an inquiry form on their website to begin the process, and Natali or Alex will guide them through design development, sourcing, and execution. “We love the creative process—from vision to reality,” Natali says. “And we love helping others bring their ideas to life.”

GRAND OPENING FESTIVITIES

On Stage Essentials opens with a two-day celebration: a VIP opening night on Saturday, July 5, followed by an industry brunch on Sunday, July 6. The Saturday night launch is invite-only, honoring friends, family, and local entertainers who helped support the store’s creation. Guests will enjoy live performances from artists like drag star Moonaysha, who will also emcee the evening, and American Idol alum Laura Wright.

Sunday’s daytime event is open to wardrobe professionals and industry workers, with a more casual, drop-in vibe designed to fit around show schedules. “We know people work late,” Alex says. “So we made it easy for folks to swing by, grab a bite, say hi, and pick up anything they might need.”

If you’re in the wardrobe industry and haven’t received an invite, you can message the store on social media to get connected.

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

From the start, inclusivity has been a cornerstone of the On Stage Essentials vision. “We’re here for everyone,” Natali emphasizes. “All body types, all genders, all backgrounds. That’s baked into the DNA of what we’re doing.”

To that end, the boutique stocks products in a wide range of skin tones and stretch fabrics. Future plans include expanding size offerings and specialty items for trans and nonbinary performers. “Everyone should feel like they belong here,” Alex says. “And if we don’t have what you need, we’ll find it.”

LOOKING AHEAD: WORKSHOPS, MIXERS, AND MORE

While the boutique opens as a retail and custom hub, Natali and Alex have big plans for community programming. Think rhinestone workshops, sewing tutorials, and industry mixers where local creatives can collaborate, learn, and share.

“We’d love to offer hands-on events where people can bring a garment and learn how to bling it, stitch it, or reinforce it for stage,” Natali says. “Even simple skill-sharing can build real community.”

The couple draws inspiration from grassroots Las Vegas art pioneers like Robin Slonina, who helped jumpstart the Downtown arts district. “She really believed in her community—and it grew,” Natali says. “That’s what we’re hoping to do, too. Just create a space people can be proud of.”

VEGAS AS A RISING FASHION CAPITAL?

If On Stage Essentials helps seed a larger fashion scene in Las Vegas, all the better. “Vegas is growing quickly and so is its entertainment industry,” Alex says. “It would be amazing if the Vegas fashion and costume communities could grow along with it.”

“There’s real talent here,” Natali adds. “We’re just trying to support it.”

For locals like us who’ve watched drag queens race to L.A. for fabric or beg friends to overnight rhinestones from New York, this store is a game-changer. It's more than a boutique—it's a backstage lifeline. And with Natali and Alex at the helm, it's clear that On Stage Essentials is built with passion, purpose, and a deep understanding of what Vegas creators truly need.

VISIT ON STAGE ESSENTIALS

onstageessentials.com

@onstageessentials on all platforms

Whether you need stretch mesh in every skin tone, help rhinestoning your first corset, or just a little inspiration, you’ll find it here. And if you don’t know where to start? That’s okay too. On Stage Essentials is here to help you shine—on stage and off.