I saw this live action Pokemon battle while browsing the web. Silly stuff, and I like their costumes!
There’s a bunch of Pokemon costume fun on Youtube, so I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of them here.
Pokemon, I choose you!
I posted a Mad Hatter costume tutorial last week, and here’s another one by Threadbanger. It looks like they had a lot of fun making this instructable.
I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of orange wigs and top hats this Halloween. When that day comes I shall futterwagon… vigorously.
One of the things costumers and designers have wrestled with for a long time is the adaptation of a specific look to either a specifically male or specifically female context. This isn’t difficult when you have a general idea of what you want and the resultant male and female versions reflect that general idea, but things get a little trickier when you’re trying to take a specific male character and turn it into a female costume, or vice versa.
I want to show off a project that I’ve been working on so far in defense of my extremely vocal presecution of the “make-it-a-mini-skirt-and-voila” process of “female-izing” costumes.
I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with this fellow:
Vincent Valentine, of Final Fantasy VII fame (owned by Square-Enix, not me!). His is a costume which has been replicated over and over and over by (giant dorky) fans like me! As you can see, his design has already undergone a little original tweaking from the original 1997 official game-art (by Nomura Tetsuya) to the 2006 game Dirge of Cerberus which features Vincent as the main character (Official game graphic version).
As a general rule, guys have no problem imitating this costume. It’s built for a guy, and even if he’s not RIDICULOUSLY thin, it can still look really good. Girls, though soooo many of us adore Vincent, find ourselves quailing a little at the thought–though some are still brave enough to try it. In a moment of insanity last year I ordered this costume from a seamstress on Ebay, thinking that I could make it work. What I got in the mail a few weeks later was a pair of skin tight pleather pants that fit me smack at the natural waist, a costume shirt, glove and cape. The real problem was (as my female readers already know) the pants.
I finally figured it out! HIPS. The problem is HIPS!! No woman, no matter how small, can look like the above picture if she has any kinds of curves at all (Sweeping statement? Oh yeah, you bet). I set out, then, to make a version of this costume that would not only capture the essence of what is our much-loved Vincent Valentine, but would also not make my pants look like I had forced two pigs into leather sacks and strapped them to my waist.
This was the resultant concept sketch:
I admit I got a little crazy with the buckles. I love buckles.
Now–what we have here really isn’t that different from the original, and that’s what I was looking for. I’ve borrowed liberally from both versions of the character design and included a few of my own touches, but the costume is still essentially Vincent. The main difference lies in the trouser style and the width and positioning of belts. I dropped the waist-band of the trousers to fit at the hip (a very modern fit–I’m sure we’ll all want something different in ten years) and widened the two belts to really chunky things, rather than the thin sleek belts Vincent sports. Also, instead of a pleather or leather fabric for the trousers, I’ve opted for a low-sheen black denim.
Why do all these things? The drop in waistline is not only more comfortable for those who are used to modern, hip-riding trousers, it also allows the torso to appear lengthened, creating the illusion of fewer curves (some of the younger cosplay crowd get around curves by binding their chests, but I frankly find this to be totally barbaric and I refuse to participate). The problem with low-waisted pants is that they usually hit at the widest part of the hip, which can make the hips look even wider, if you’re not careful. To help counteract this, chunky belts are added–this draws the eye away from the line of the trousers over the hip and gives the observer the idea that the width is the result of the belts themselves.
Lastly, the change in fabric from a high-gloss to a low sheen eliminates awkward highlights. Pleather is really a very reflective material, and nothing can make something look curvier than a dramatic set of highlights showing up in a picture from the flash. Black denim absorbs light, and as everyone knows, black makes anybody look thinner!
This costume is currently about half done, so I’ll leave off here with the promise that I’ll post the rest of it as I get finished, including the golden glove/claw that I’m working on. What I really wanted to do with this post was prove that you can take a male costume and make it not only feminine, but attractive as well WITHOUT resorting to the tired, old and totally uncreative minidress or miniskirt designs.
Danger Studios has just uploaded a Mad Hatter costume and makeup tutorial. This kid does a great job, and there’s bonus dancing at the end of the clip. It’s fun watching everything come together – awesome costume!
Who would have thought that Ludo from the movie Labyrinth could look this sexy?
Burlesque performer, The Luminous Pariah followed my Ludo costume instructable to make this incredible costume but obviously made some significant modifications!
Are you familiar with the character Codex, from The Guild web series? She’s played by talented actress and celebrity geek, Felicia Day.
Here’s an awesome video showing how to make Codex’s cool staff. Last year, the crew from The Guild produced a music video and they all wore costumes based on their video game characters. Felicia Day’s costume and staff were a huge hit among fans.
Felicia Day made the above video with special effects guru Greg Aronowitz, showing the step-by-step process of making her staff.
Very cool! Be sure to head over to BarnyardFX for the full tutorial.
[via BarnyardFX]
What a cool cardboard robot costume! Those arms are loooooong. Looks like a lot of fun to make, but how’s he going to fit through the door? LOL.
Thanks to gidman for sending this in!
This amazing Batman hoodie was made by a gal named Tala who runs the blog Corvus Tristis. Isn’t this so cool? The hood has little bat ears, and the it even includes a utility belt.
So very awesome — and I love the action shots!
I started with these three thrift store shirts (which cost me fifty cents, fifty cents and a buck fifty, respectively). It took me two days of nearly straight labor (I even forgot to eat lunch on day one, I was having so much fun), and the finished product has left me as excited as a little kid on Christmas.
With much pinning and sewing (by machine and by hand) and measuring and cutting and vast, sad amounts of seam ripping and re-pinning/measuring/cutting/sewing, detail was added. Lots of detail. Like, for example, a utility belt with four functional pockets…
[Corvus Tristis via ComicsAlliance]
I stumbled onto this video on Youtube. It’s a pretty clever use of old ducting to make a cute robot costume.
The title of the video is R2-D2, but…. I’m not so sure.
It looks more like R2-D2 fell in love with a Slinky and they had a baby, don’t you think?
Take a look at these beautiful arm warms crafted by Ginga Squid. So bright and colorful, you almost need sunglasses!
You can shop in her store by visiting GingaSquid.com – where lots of crafty items are for sale. Very cool!
I’m on a roll with these long knitted arm warmers! Its something I can do while watching TV in the evenings, waiting while the kiddies play at the jungle gym etc, etc. Saves me eating quite so many chocolate biscuits.
[Ginga Squid via BoingBoing]
Let’s give a round of applause to the creator of this paper Iron Man costume! Heh, pretty clever, actually. The blue gift bow on his hand is rather hilarous.
Yep, this guy knows how to save money.
[via GreatWhiteSnark]
What a great way to top off your Lady Gaga costume!
Instructables member the_gella put together a pair of video glasses for under $20!
Read the full how-to over at instructables.com and check out the_gella’s other cool projects on her blog, Soft Circuit Saturdays.
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