design a Costume

For this blogging assignment I chose to design costume for the performers of the play in the heights. The play, in the Heights is based out of predominantly Dominican neighborhood of Washington heights, in New York City, and takes place over the course of three days. In those three days we follow many characters with their own unique story all dealing with the same struggles of living In the Heights.
The two characters I will be creating costumes for are Usnavi who according to www.inthehieghtsmucial.com is the owner of a bodega in Washington Heights. He was named after the first boat his parents saw when they arrived in America which actually said "U.S. Navy." He dreams of going to the Dominican Republic, his parents' homeland. That dream was almost a reality until he realizes that the barrio is his true home. The second character I will be designing a costume for is Vanessa who is Usnavi's love interest. She works at Daniela's salon. She dreams of getting out of the barrio and getting an apartment downtown. Her mother "drinks away her money" so Vanessa cannot afford an apartment.
Usnavi and Vanessa are regular people you will find in Washington heights section on New York City. So for their costumes I would like to give them a tasteful urban look that represents what is the norm for the people of that area plus add a little signs that represent that they are Dominican. Usnavi would be dressed throughout the performance in a fedora, shirt, some jeans and some classic shoes. Vanessa would be seen dressed in stylish dresses flaunting a Dominican flag wherever the opportunity is granted.