The Costumer

This one’s for the ladies. Men have it rough when it comes to boots, but when it comes to flowing shirts and tabards, they’re covered, and it doesn’t cost much for them to dress appropriately. Ladies, however, have a lot to consider, and dresses are made of more fabric, which costs more money.

Part XI: Function

As easy as it is to get caught up in all the fun of wearing corsets, bodices, and pretty dresses, it’s likely that you’ll be out all day (and night, possibly) at a renaissance faire or LARP event. Feeling uncomfortable during these events is the worst. It’s awful when you are trying to stay in character or accomplish a specific task only to realize that your stockings are falling down or your belt is too loose. Being too cold or hot is also a major concern, so keep that in mind as well, and do what people have always done: layer when appropriate. Continue Reading »

Check it out–my fellow blogger Lynne found a message someone left for me. What do you think?

As part of my continuing series for first time LARPers and renaissance faire-goers, I’ve been writing about basic costume elements. Today we are going to cover jewelry and weapons.

PART IX: Jewelry

Jewelry is an essential element of most medieval fantasy/LARP costuming. Adding some jewelry pieces to your costume is not as expensive as you think (nor should you wear expensive jewelry to a LARP).

First, look at home. A lot of the items you have can double as appropriate jewelry for your costume. Claddagh rings, though not actually used in Ireland until the 1800s, are popular with ladies of Irish descent at the renaissance faire, and many of us already have them.  Continue Reading »

In sections I and II of this topic, I covered footwear, tabards, and pants. In this section,I’ll fill you in on all the stuff you put in and on your hair, such as hats.

PART VI: Hats

Hats are essential if you’re going for a pirate costume, but keep comfort in mind. A poorly-made hat (or poorly-fitted hat) can be annoying, not to mention hot in the summer months. Hats are excellent for men in particular, because they offer men a chance to accessorize, something that isn’t usually done in contemporary clothing. Hats can contain different pins and feathers, and of course come in different colors. Continue Reading »

Looking for some information on the costumers nominated for an Academy Award in Costume Design? Here’s a quick list:

• Overview and announcement of nominees
• Albert Wolsky, Revolutionary Road
• Jacqueline West, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• Michael O’Connor, The Duchess
• Catherine Martin, Australia
• Danny Glicker, Milk 

Best of luck to all of the nominees!

In Section I of this discussion, I described how and where to find help with your first costume and also talked about the necessity of passable footwear. This part of the discussion will focus on basic clothing components for your first LARP or renaissance faire costume, some of which are unisex.

PART III: Versatility

When selecting colors and sizes for your first garment, have some consideration for versatility. If you are serious about fairegoing and/or LARPing, you’ll want something that you can wear or alter for other costume pieces later. Also, if you happen to be a LARPing couple, consider a unisex garment that could fit both of you at different times. Thinking ahead can save time and money for individuals and couples.

PART IV: The tabard–oh so sweet

Everyone loves the tabard. Tabards can be worn by men or women in a LARP or faire setting. They can be plain, or indicate family history or allegiances without too much effort or talent. Tabards are very easy to make, and when women belt them, they sit well over skirts and are flatting on most figures. Tabards can also cover up some non-historically accurate clothing and keep you warm. They are pretty recongizeable as a medieval/fantasy garment. They’re also a great group costume idea, as it’s easy to make several in the same colors. You can even make your World of Warcraft guild tabard and wear it! Continue Reading »

Getting your first renaissance faire or LARP outfit together can be a bit daunting. Fortunately, it’s not very hard to put together a basic costume for your first event.

PART I: Asking for help is okay!

Before you begin, make sure the garment is practical and within the rules. The SCA, for example, has strict and specific rules regarding historical garb, era, research, and time period. If you are making your first piece of garb for a historical group, it is recommended that you work with someone in that group.

LARPs often have rules of their own as well. Some allow real armor, for example, and others do not. With a beginner costume, your primary concern is what type of costuming is allowed for each race. Do races and classes favor specific colors, coats of arms, or styles? For example, an elf who lives in the forest would likely wear greens and browns, not pink. The staff at most LARPs are usually happy to advise you on this and will be grateful that you asked. Continue Reading »

Just a quick note–you can subscribe to The Costumer to receive e-mail alerts and post teasers each time The Costumer is updated. Just click on the “subscribe” link at the top of the page. Thanks!

With the new Star Trek movie coming out, it’s time to polish the brass on your communicator badges and rank pips. Don’t forget to polish your boots, too. Remember to calibrate your tricorder and check your phaser stun settings…

What’s that? You don’t have Star Trek costume accessories?! Time to get them. Continue Reading »

Have you ever thought about owning a really cool costume or prop from a movie? Apparently, the original Alien trilogy alien costume, designed by Oscar-winning H.R.  Giger, was auctioned off via eBay in 2007. Continue Reading »

Just like me, many geeks like wearing tees to display their fandoms. In fact, my fiance considers it part of his kilt costume set for informal occasions–a tee that matches the tartan.

Geek Monthly just featured Felicia Day in an advertisement for Jinx, the apparel company that is best known for selling World of Warcraft merchandise.  Day is known for creating The Guild, an online show (also on DVD) about a local gaming (Warcraft-esque) guild that meets up in real life. I can’t neglect to mention that Day also plays Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion’s characters’ love interest in Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog.

Anyway, you should totally check out The Guild merch at Jinx. Yes, they feature women’s shirts, too!

Just about everyone has seen The Wizard of Oz . As a little girl, my family actively encouraged me to follow Dorothy’s saga. When I was younger, the cute little Toto drew me in, but as I grew older, it was all about the clothes–mainly Dorothy’s ruby slippers. They were not only different looking, but magical.

Since then, I’ve owned at least three pairs of red glitter shoes just like Dorothy’s. They look cute on little girls and classy with a cocktail dress on an adult at Christmas time.

The Wizard of Oz has a costume for just about every personality. The recent popularity of Gregory Maguire’s book Wicked (now also a Broadway musical) has only perpetuated the public’s love for Oz along with a more intense scrutiny of characters who disregard others for being different or strange.

Costumes from The Wizard of Oz are also ideal for families or groups (you can even include the family dog in the ensemble as Toto). Some retailers offer shipping discounts when ordering multiple items, so be sure to consider that when you are comparing prices.

Most decent Dorothy costumes range from $30-$50.

For the most diverse selection, check out wizardofcostumes.com. The(pictured) Emerald City munchkin costume comes from their site. The Deluxe Munchkin Woman Costume (for adults) retails for $89.99, but includes everything you need. This site also offers sexy costumes for adults and adult-themed parties.

Spirit Halloween also offers such sexy adult costumes. The Dorothy costume is featured below.

Lastly, don’t forget those ruby slippers!