My character for this year's Otakon (2010) is Maria from Castlevania.
Looks simple enough right? So I was poking around on the internet, trying to find some girls who have made this costume before, but have found little luck in procuring an actual documentation. So far I have found that people have spent between $200 and $300 to make this outfit and have spent 10 – 20 hours in making it. I would like more, but I'm not getting it so, here we go.
What I know (or think I know) about this costume:
The "dress" or rather, coat is pirate-esque
There is a very large sash tied around her waist
The collar and cuffs will require some major stiffening
There's a little ruffled shirt under the jacket
The sleeves will require some gathering and possibly shoulder pads to achieve the right look
I'm going to have to find some ugly pilgrim shoes and make them look "right"
I need to keep my hair blonde and resist the urge to colour it
Achieving the cut-away shape at the collar is going to be crucial.
The jacket just covers the tuchus, and only closes via lacing (like a corset) over the bust and just down to the waist
I've been crawling around on the web trying to find pictures of those before me. And so far, honestly I haven't liked many. Some have done a nice job, but many are just lacking something. I think I don't like the way many have stylized their jackets, letting them hang limp and looking a little skimpy. It's a jacket. This piece screams velvet and couture to me. I want to construct this well enough so that I could reuse it later as a street piece or as something to modify and use with a Ren costume. Also, since this costume lacks bottoms, I think I want the only real element I am wearing to be a little more substantial. I am used to costumes with long skirts, so this pants-less look is something very odd to me.
What I need (as of 3 March 2010)
Velvet (jacket) – possibly 3ish yds
Jacquard (jacket and sash) – 2ish yards
I think I could get away with buying two or three premade scarves and sewing them together, but I really dislike the idea of so much mismatched gold
Lace appliqués (jacket) – I have no idea where to find something similar – to the internet!
Brown gloves – found them already on the internet
"Pilgrim" shoes – already found on the internet
Gold paint (shoes)
Soft, white fabric (undershirt, sleeveless – so I may be somewhat decent if I take off the jacket) – 1 – 2 yd
Interfacing (cuffs and collar) – 1 yd
White stockings – find at hot topic or something, maybe buy two – I am prone to running nylons
Green satin ribbon (stockings and hair) – probably a spool – will eyeball the width
Spandex shorts – target I guess? (no I don't already own a pair)
Closures – the picture makes it look like the dress laces up, like a corset, but that is nuts! That is waaay too much trouble when I want to take that jacket off and on (and in the summer weather, it's going to come off at some point)
Test fabric for the jacket which may also come to double as an interlining – bought 3 yds already
Okay. . . that seems like a nice list. Once I have all the materials assembled, I think I will organize a price list to see if I get up to the projected $200 – 300 (or exceed it – hopefully not!) Anything else? No, I think that's good for now. . .
