2008 Costume Projects

Yeah, "stage sewing" is alot different then what you would do for a really good costume which people are going to see up close. My husband is a stage actor and my mother is a drama teacher. We tend to fake the things which would be really hard to create and would take a large budget. It's something you have to do because alot of times there are time constraints also.

I've found with costuming I enjoy making things which people can see up close. It's really more of a test of skill then anything else. I also enjoy "stage sewing" though too because I get to be pretty creative and outlandish.

 

That is a very good and "economical" mentality IMHO and that which I love when comes to Costuming compared to cosplaying (here in Singapore). Being not able to sew certain type of garment yet and always on limited/fixed budget, I rather fork out up to a few hundreds of dollars getting my gown or parts done by the seamstress or even Professional Costume Shop, than use Double Sided Tape or rough costume making, only to see the material going to waste after a wearing or 2. Even for seams that get Self-Line later like in my Harry Potter School Robes, I insisted on having the Raw Edges Finished properly with Serger (luckily a tailor near my house charge reasonable price for that service since I dun have the machine yet) Add to that the fact that in recent years, I have the habit of getting TheOne Fabrics, some which dun come cheap or have to be ordered from overseas.

I WANT my costume to last as long as it can and even treat some of them like normal clothing so durability and even details can mean everything.

Tell me about that.

I was fortunate to be able to spend several months with some of the original stuffs and even help to pack them up and I was amazed with the kind of details and materials used. Ya, some are made from ABS or Styrene or buncha other "fake-looking materials" or have some shortcuts but a good amount, even for background characters like the Rohan Riders or Ithilien Ranger, or things you see thrown around on the floor like the Orc Eating Utensils, are made from REAL materials that could had been used in real life. Some said it's because the costumes and props makers are bored or have a sense of humour (flower design on Gandalf pants hem? ) but I feel they're really pouring their love into the making of it and want it to be like real stuffs and last long, rather than merely a costume.
Like the Rohan Helmets at the exhibition, all are made from Solid Brass or Bronze and Leather that some are heavy. One would had thot it really came from Medival time and can be used in real war!

 

Wow. Darth_eagle, wish I could have seen those!

Also when I worked with Gino , An FX superviser out of Wetta.
Allot of the credit went to Peter Jackson and his production staff. Because you
are so right Amanita, Dressing in realistic ~clothing~ just 'feels' some how different than putting on a halloween costume. and it does help the actor get into character completely in the momment, as it did for all the actors in LOTR.
If any of you have had the experience of going to a ren fair than you'll already know
the participants get so ingrossed into their clothing that you would believe them to be of that time era.

Its such a wonderful thing to see, and as Amanita pionted out, Great clothing makes the actor ~feel~ in the momment and not a cheap costume that they will feel weird about wearing.
I seen it first hand and experienced it myself recently, as the budgets get lower in hollywood so do the quality of costumes and their approach to the on-set costumer.

I worked with a lovely girl named Amamnda recently and all they gave her was 200 bucks to go to the local thrift stores and buy scraps she had to distress and make do. The costumes needed were for spartans and persians as we did a re-enactment for spike tv no less.

But when I did a pirate film and the costumers name was Pam, an older woman that did such an absolutely incredible job on the clothing, It felt museum quality. She got the closest
material to that time period and she put allot of extras only the actor wearing would know. Like a chamber key sew on the inside of the lapel. and many coins and jewels for trade sewn on the cuffs for fast payment. and wonderous leather work,
Expensive and time consuming but well , well worth it. Oh I would have loved to have that set

Well I agree with you Amanita,. I too push always for that little extra and try my best everytime to get the clothes and makeups as real as possible so they do last.
That I admire in any costumer and they, who in my opion, are the best to hire when making a real film.

 

Where is the place that people list their costumes and show links to the pictures? I would love to see everyone's costumes.

 

Wow! Those masks and appliances are awesome!

I actually got some sewing done this year! I didn't think I'd have a new costume with the limited time/money I have lol. Plus I've been distracted by making jewelry recently - my new hobby.

Slave Leia
Leia Modesty Robe
Custom Jedi
New Imp Hat for my hubby
Imperial Morale Corps Pin Up (okay, so I didn't make the skirt, but the outfit was completed this year ).

Still to do...
New Jedi for my Husband
Remake Padme Black Corset skirt and Corset
Remake Supergirl Skirt
Tatooine Light Blue Dress
Deleted Scene Padme Home Dress

 

Modesty Robe - Great idea. I was just planing on using a Jedi robe for that!

And love your Slave boots! Idea locked and stored in memory!!!!

 

My husband said I could just use his jedi robe, but the fabric was a steal at $2/yd so I couldn't pass it up, plus I designed it so the top would still be visible while still covering me up I finally decided to add a decorative frog closure to the front

 

Really looks beautiful;
and its coming along nicely Benae_Quee !
I found this websight by accident, I don't know if you've ever seen it before
but incase you hadn;t. http://www.folkwear.com/
It has allot of japanese patterns that I used it for my jedi
tunics last film and it worked like a charm.


I just watched DUNE last night, ooh, I sure love those desert body suits.
would even love to make one someday.. but uuhh
after I lose a couple of pounds.ahem...

 

I love the pleated detailing on your collar and sleeves of your Jedi kit, Benae. Very nice!
I am so borrowing that for one of my future projects. Nice idea on the gauntlets as well, using clear elastic to hold them in place.

I'll have to post some pics of the Jedi Healer's garb I wore during this year's Bridge Walk festivities. Jedi make awesome toll takers

 

Yeah, yeah, I'm just adding to the comments, but I seriously love all of the costumes you do, Benae. I especially <3 the cover up cloak and the custom Jedi. Keep at it with the awesome job you do.

Oh, and concerning my Pastel Gown, I'm waiting on finding pink Rit Dye so I can adjust the shape of the overlay and hem it all. Both Safeway and Longs doesn't carry pink, however, I did find yellow and purple there a while back...just wish I wouldn't have to buy the small package off online, but that may be my only choice.

~Spacelady

 

well..Spacelady
Me and the Mrs. go to Joann's all the time for Dyes for our clothing line,
( not star wars)

but if I can help once in awhile; let me know
and I;ll pick up a specific color for you that's hard to find at your local store
. Are you based in california? if so, Micheals and Joann's are always on the
top of my list.
alittle more than the store brand but at least they have the hard to find colors.

 

I used to go to JoAnn's all of the time too, used to work there as well. But now I've moved away and the closest JoAnn's store is like two hours away. Michael's, however, is about 30 minutes away, but I've never really had that much good luck with dye from there and I doubt my boyfriend would really appreciate me wasting up the gas just for one thing, especially if I don't even find there.

I've taken several looks at Wal-Mart and they only have this weird brand of dye and it's not even close to the color I need. So, we'll see what I'll do about it. lol But at least while I'm waiting to make my move, it's giving me an excuse to not hem the outfit. *shudders*

~Spacelady

 

Well, I did finish one of the projects on my list, a bellydance outfit, although it turned out quite differently than I'd planned (I had originally intended to do something in green). Here's what actually happened:

[image=http://photos-271.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v263/150/121/431271/n431271_36333629_1763.jpg]

And I made a bodice for a friend that wasn't originally on the list. I'm quite happy with it because I did it all long-distance (just her measurements, no fitting and without a pattern) and it ended up fitting her quite well. She's on the right:

[image=http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v300/163/125/1618617/n1618617_35289158_8858.jpg]


Spacelady -- What type of fabric is it you're dying? If it's a natural fiber, I've had very good luck with these dyes from Dharma Trading.

 

^^^^

That is an awesome belly dance constume. Great work!

 

Thank you! It's a very fun skirt to wear.

 

ha! I finished something in a year full of not fun things! The second version of the Padme sleeveless costume is done! Changes made were dyeing the fabric a few shades darker, new leggings that I want to replace now, new boots, all of the princess seams in the bodice, and gauntlets that are closer to the orginal. And the improved version of the naboo symbol. Pics to come later, when they are developed. (Have yet to join the digital age). I wore it to the clone wars midnight opening, and was the only one there dressed up, besides the jedi ticket taker guy.

Next is finishing the corset gown before Halloween!

~Laura

 

Yay, another Chick Pilot. I saw your post on the RL boards Johanna. Congrats.

Some day (year ), I'll finish my X-Wing Pilot.

 

Well, I'm new to the whole thing. I'm hoping to start my first sewing project soon. I'm wanting to do Jack Sparrow. My mom made me the Simplicity pattern for Halloween but, now I wanna re-make it with modifications here and there and I wanna try to make it as movie accurate as possible.

After that, Ledger Joker and after that Imperial Officer.

That's my goal anyways.

here's some pics of what my mom did. course I sewed most of the buttons on and acquired the accessories.

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/spooky-kid/Jason_Jack5-1.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/spooky-kid/Jason_Jack3.jpg]
[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/spooky-kid/Jason_Jack1.jpg]

 

Mary of Hungary! I recognise the dress that is based on One of my favourite extant gowns ever and also a wonderful pattern to work with
For those who don't know:
http://frazzledfrau.glittersweet.com/mary
I made a yellow and black version in 2002 And now I get to update the site with more gowns

Very nice

 

If I can't make my classic Joker costume this year, I'll do the Beaver Boys thing with a friend and if all else fails...

Indiana Jones again.

 

Lets see, my goals were...

For 2008...
Super Girl
Sweeney Todd - Mrs Lovett
Sweeney Todd
Ewok Village Leia
Finish Tatooine Poncho and Dress
Upgrading accessories for the Picnic Dress (ribbons, hair, etc.)

I got NONE of that done (except ribbons for the picnic dress).

What did I do then?

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/atomickitten/501steventsconventions/mircalewalk2008/websize/045.JPG]
Samurai Inspired custom Jedi

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/atomickitten/501steventsconventions/mircalewalk2008/websize/054.JPG]
Imperial Morale Girl for my friend Bonnie

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/atomickitten/501steventsconventions/mircalewalk2008/websize/057.JPG]
Imperial Officer for my friend Andres (Bonnie's Husband)

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/slaveleia/websize/P7260077.JPG]
Slave Leia soft parts and boots

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/slaveleia/large/IMG_88641.JPG]
Slave Leia Modesty Robe for keeping warm at cons

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/zombieleia/large/IMG_0106.JPG]
Zombie ANH Leia

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/tatooinelightbluemidriff/large/Light%20Blue%20Finished%2002.jpg]
Just finished this tonight!

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/black%20corset%20new.JPG] [image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/completed/blackcorsetdress/websize/IMG_0466.JPG]
Upgraded the skirt on my Black Corset costume and made the necklace and brooch pieces.

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/realclothing/dknychristmasdress/websize/Holiday%20Dress%2002.jpg]
Holiday Party Dress

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/realclothing/purplegreeciangoddess/large/IMG_6477.JPG]
Purple Greecian goddess dress for my Project Runway auditions

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/realclothing/plumcorset/websize/Corset%2003.jpg]
Plum corset for a friend

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/costumes/realclothing/wintercoat/websize/Coat%201.jpg]
Plum wool winter coat

[image=http://photos.imageevent.com/benaequee/starwars/dragoncon2008/photosfromothers/large/Will%20and%20I%2002.jpg]
New jedi costume for hubby I even lined his like Obi Wan's!

LOTS of Jewelry

I was a bit busier than I thought... I didn't take a look at my list until now lol.

 

Benae that's a lovely fabric for your new Corset dress skirt. Where on earth did you find that?



I've been swamped with show after show after show. I had posted some pics in another thread on here, but it seems to have disappeared. I'll try to find some time after the holidays to repost.