Costuming Essentials

I’ve been working on making my own corset for months. There were some odd issues but the end result is pretty awesome. Big thing is the couple of shortcuts I took worked perfectly and didn’t cause any issues. I used hook and eye tape in place of a corset busk and amazingly it held. Second, I used plastic duct ties in place of metal boning. They are a little bulky but strong enough and I can actually sit comfortably in this without it deforming. The cheap boning in a store bought corset bunches bends and twists when you sit. To make this worse the heat of the body sets those kinks in so the corset won’t lay properly and stabs you. So far no issues with this plastic. Also I have to be careful not to tighten it too much as I easily could without it being uncomfortable (I’m not a tight lacer).

I used a slightly altered version of Butterick pattern 4254. Big change I added a couple inches over the bust to be able to wear it as outerwear.  You can see in the photos the inch wasn’t enough so I had to wear something under it. If you want to make this as outerwear I’d suggest adding at least 3 inches and cutting it to the desired level just before inserting the boning and binding the top. Definitely make sure you can raise your arms over your head safely at the level you are going to cut it to.

I decided to wear it for a punk sexy character I’m playing. I am actually sporting a faux hawk here which is high fashion long hair mohawk. I’ll try to get you a shot of that next. In the long run this outfit will add bits of tech so it can go cyber punk.

Unlike vintage shopping where things are already weeded down for you thrift shopping is inevitably hit or miss. I’ve gone and shopped for hours to find nothing I wanted for costuming or otherwise. The prices, variety of things and tested quality always keep me coming back. (by tested quality I mean the things have been washed and materials that are poor and look old after a few washings are already looking scuzzy). When I find something the effort is worth it. A few amazing finds that come to mind are a burburry designer skirt, a green velvet cloak that is entirely custom made and of extremely nice quality and finishing and… a cat suit. I tried the cat suit on for laughs but it actually looked so nice at $3 that I bought it. I’ve used it for sci fish costuming or if I really needed a jaw dropping costume.

I’ve been sketching ideas for out there cyber punk looks. I want to incorporate unexpected materials. Could screws and circuits replace diamonds? Could light sockets and black plastic tubing combine into a truly couture and high fashion look? Can I convince my dad to let me raid his workshop for supplies? Only time will tell what I’ll make and only imagination and budget are limitations.

This year I made an awesome costume for a good friend of mine (hopefully there will be pictures later) rather than focusing on what I was going to wear. I’ve thrown together something for myself (which there may be be pictures of later) but it doesn’t compare to the last costume I made just for Halloween, a few years ago.

I had the idea of going as a slightly Grecian tribal priestess. The costume  was actually my first experiment in draping. I basically just worked out how to make it with knots and laying it over myself. What really makes the look are the furs, feathers, shells and thorns.

This sort of costume is very easy and frugal. Most of it was items I just had sitting around like shell necklaces from Hawaii. The fabric was just scraps that couldn’t have cost more then $5. The fur pieces were things I had gotten at Renaissance fairs and probably the most expensive part at $15. However, they are reusable for many costume ideas. My favorite bit is a necklace I had made stringing thorns off a rose bush. It was too painful to wear as a necklace but I wore it dangling off the top. Additionally, I wore a shell and straw necklace I picked up at a swap meet for $3 which was the only thing I actually bought specifically for the costume.

Some holidays aren’t obvious choices for costuming. In mid June this year when I found this flag fabric for $1.50 a yard I was immediately inspired to make a dress to wear for the 4th of July. A fun and bold outfit for only about $5 was an irresitable prospect.

I decided to drape the dress right on my dress form in the fabric (ala Project Runway). I’ve had my dress form about a year but haven’t had the time to use it much. However, at $5 what did I have to lose? The end result is just lovely especially given it was a first try at making such a thing without a pattern.

Just got the pictures back from my talk on costuming at the Shadows Anime convention! I’ve seen lots of pictures of people giving presentations but somehow its more fun in costume!

I love Simplicity patterns… or at least the pictures on the pattern envelopes. Almost every time I have made one of their patterns it has been a size or two to large making the size my measurements have dictated. I have heard this is because the bust measurement they use is actually above the bust but some patterns have the size issue and some don’t. Generally I’ve found more fitted things like belly dance costumes and corsets will fit but I’ve also heard of some adding ease (extra material for comfort) to these as well. A corset in particular should not really have ease.

Simplicity has the very best selection of costume patterns on the market so certainly use them but always make a rough version in cheap fabric first. You can also measure the pattern but that’s a bit tricky. However you do it, making some attempt to assure a garment will fit before you cut expensive fabric is always recommended and especially so with simplicity patterns. It is extra time and effort but without it you may end up with a garment you’ll never wear.

I picked this simplicity pattern (8587) figuring being a pauper would be a good but cheap renaissance outfit. Sadly, I found myself swimming in the finished garment particularly the vest. I’d describe the result as having the fit of a Halloween store costume. If I’m going to take the time to make something I expect more than that. For this reason, I’ve been studying fitting and pattern making which may be the only way to get a proper fit in this stretchy t-shirt world.

One of my favorite costumes I ever put together was for a Victorian themed ball. I started with a evening gown from a thrift store. It was a strapless slightly corset like top and a long skirt. To create a bustle effect I pinned an underskirt just in the back of the skirt. Next I took some fabric I had bought to make a titanic-like gown. I still was hoping to make the gown so I could not sew the fabric to the dress or cut it much. I cut off as little as possible to make some off the shoulder sleeves to give the proper upper body silhouette. I folded under the raw edge and used safety pins to carefully attach the sleeves to the  dress. I tied the rest of the fabric around my waist and then used ribbon and a couple more safety pins to shape the ends into a bustle. Simple but effective… I felt like I stepped out of La Mode Illustre

I have had wonderful luck using the thrift store as a starting point for my costumes. With a little creativity and flexibility a found garment can be turned into a great cosplay costume. There is a vintage store in Southern California with 5 orange puffy suits that a little detailing would turn into perfect Narutos… one would be astounding enough but 5… The easiest style I’ve found to create from thrift store items is sweet lolita. This styling is in alot of anime, just think cute little girly dresses. I used found dresses at anime expo to be Chii from Chobits(I was even in the mascarade). The two best sources I have found for this look are square dance dresses and 80′s dresses.

This is basically a square dance dress. It just took a bit of taking in and making an apron and Chii ‘ears’.

40's hair

Proper hair and makeup are essential to really creating a character or costume and having it be effective. I love playing with hair in particular as it can have a dramatic effect on a costume. In this photo I am sporting a 40′s doo known as Victory rolls. Also I have tried to achieve a 40′s look to my makeup.  A surprising and wonderful resource I used to find out about both of these is YouTube.

Here are a few videos I found helpful

Victory Rolls

40′s Makeup