Costume Thoughts

[weirdlet]

Posting this as a combination note-to-self and this-is-interesting-maybe-someone's-done-something-similar-if-ever-they-drop-by. 

Basically, last night while I was trying to get to sleep in order to make my before-noon start-of-shift, I of course had the biggest flash of detailed inspiration about this costume I've wanted to do forever that had to get written down right now and I tried to get back to sleep and sure I'd remember it in the morning and I got up and turned on the computer and filled a word-document anyway.  At 3 AM.  I'm not a vampire- I just shun the evil daystar and am most active at night.  Maybe I'm a bat...

Anyway.  I've wanted to do an orc-girl costume forever, I love costuming in general even if I've only completed one or two (I have this- unholy Thing for well-constructed garments) and I love dreaming of elaborate, utterly-transformative things that still make use of/let the original person wearing them shine through.  And it suddenly came to me, how to get some of the effects I wanted, starting with the head and just moving down.  I'll post the list I wrote last night and let it speak for itself.

Of course I need to write this down now, when I need to sleep.  But I really think I’ve got it for my orc-girl costume.

Sort of an orc-witch, emphasizing and utilizing my imperfect, chunky stretchmarked midriff, fertility, scars, etc.  Okay then. 

First- contacts.  Then demon/vampire forehead prosthetic to hide eyebrows/give brow ridges.  Pointed ear prosthetics.  Spirit gum and latex to hide seams, as well as ear-cuffs- I’ll need a lot of jewelry for this.  Then- leather headband/headdress, depending on what kind of fur/leather/animal heads I can pick up, covering my own hair with a wild black wig.  Can, under bandanna/headband, glue on widow’s-peak of crepe hair.  Possibly braid/dread/weave in bits of feather or beads or rings around big chunks.

Use liquid latex/scar gel to make ritual scarification/tattooing marks on belly.  Arcane, fertility, magic, witchery, need to do some research.  I want orc-y but not too setting-specific, no white hands or burning eyes.  Also show scars of just claws, possibly bite-marks in some places.  This’ll be the big thing on display, it needs some thought in.

Rubber Mask Grease on ears, forehead, face.  See how far it stretches (.5 oz jars for $8, pretty steep).  Graftobian color sticks on belly, body, arms, legs, face/neck, see how it blends, if need be hide seam with ornaments.  Possibly lighter undersides to arms, mottling, dark shadows in valley of breasts could be shadow or grime.  Paint on tattoos as well, possibly snake up back and on shoulders.

(May need to use necklace or something to hide seam, as Rubber Mask Grease is ver. oily the better to absorb into latex and Graftobian is soap-based the better to not irritate or stay on the skin when not wanted and to be easy to keep on when wanted.  They may be oil and water.)

 Leather-y bra/bodice over chest, possibly ripped from a Moresca Khadija bodice, possibly more ‘belt with laces’ thing.  Tattered/stained, possibly bodice-like and tied in front with either tattered black cloth or leather laces.  Possible danglers of leather tatters from the main bodice.

Layered, tattered skirt, held up by big broad (worn, supple) belt.  Watch thrift stores, layer natural beat-uppable fabrics, scraps of leather, fake reptile skin, some fur, etc.  Not quite ground-length, enough movement/‘slitting’ to see legs under it- green painted, and boots/sandals/greaves.  Pouches, bones, bits of mirror or bowl hanging off the sides, string of battered coins, on leather and cord strings.  Among those, need a sword-like thing, bone handle/crude looking.

Arms covered in armbands, bracers, bangles.  False nails- not too long.  These might work, but they're a bit big and clunky and they glow in the dark.  I may need to just file down basic stick-on nails.

False, tusky teeth.  Possibly fangs. 

I think that’s done it.

Underwear- make bodice go over sports-bra, or construct and line it properly to serve on its own?  Find appropriate hip-hugger underpants for under belt. 

Make use of dye and wear-and-tear to mottle and wear leather pieces.  Find appropriately wide, but supple, belt.  Possibly make big orc-y animal masks to put over clasps. 

Bone/fang necklaces. 

Possibly over all a fur-pelt throw/cloak, with a big crude iron clasp/pin.  Reindeer furs have a nice look for this.

 

The neat thing is that Ebay has a lot of the more vital bits that'll make this up, and for not-to-be-sneezed-at deals.  And as I have a job now, insubstantial as newbie-hours are, I can- bit by tiny bit- get my pieces together.