Costume-making 101: Part the First – Inspiration, part 2

So, if you’re still reading then it’s a good sign that you’re either killing time on the train or you’re actually interested in following my progress through my latest costume endeavours.  Either way, it means more traffic on the blog, so I thank you.

When we left my previous entry, it was through some insight provided by my step-daughter that I realised my current progress with the Comic-Con costume wasn’t working out as well as planned; no doubt due to my unwitting tendency to charge headlong into a project without taking time to step back and look at the overall design.

So, what did I have?  Well, I had a concept, some finished pieces, some unfinished pieces and a lot of fabric sitting around.  But I had a concept; I know that because I just said it, so let’s start with that.  Gunslingers, pioneers and six-guns is where I’d started, so that’s where I’d be heading.  Now, to assess what I had and how it fit with the concept.  Time to bust out the camera.

I had a shirt/coat garment I’d (almost) put together originally as an under-shirt.  Note the use of a biscuit tin in lieu of having a mannequin with a head.  And excuse the mess, I didn’t know you were coming:

I had a pair of trousers, dark blue military high-waisted ones with a red pin-stripe on the outside of the leg.  Close to the US Civil War style, specifically the Union cavalry/artillery trousers. I’ll take a picture of these, hang on.

I’m sure someone will correct me on how inaccurate these trousers are.  God bless the internet.

What else?  Well, about a dozen assorted patterns, three or four different colours of cotton drill, some shirting fabric, and my new baby…

The Denix LeMat Civil War revolver:

For those fans of the law out there, this is a UK-legal replica of a design patented before 1870 and so is legal to own without a theatrical licence.  It was purchased from a UK website and cannot in any way be converted to fire projectiles.  It will have inserted red safety caps before being used at any events.  Breath.

So, this is what I had to start with, but where to go with it?  That was simple; apply the concept to the Assassin’s Creed aesthetic and something would hopefully coalesce.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Assassin’s Creed franchise and its stylistic qualities, go out and buy the games.  Play them all.  Apart from the third one, it wasn’t that great.  Go on, I’ll wait.

Ok, if you’re not overly familiar with the design aesthetics of the video game costumes, the best way I can think of describing them would be to say that they are highly stylised versions of correct period costume, incorporating key colours and silhouettes to achieve a pseudo-historical look.  Although always great to look at, there are times that some design elements appear a little “convenient” or forced considering the garment it’s based on.  Applying these principals, my brief becomes much clearer; I need to design a costume based on historically accurate concepts and patterns, but that can (and should) subvert such accuracy to create a dramatic silhouette, especially during running, jumping and climbing trees.  Ten points to anyone who gets that reference…

In addition the colour pallet, whilst not being dictated, is certainly developed as the game series moves forward.  Inarguably the red and white contrast is present for all of the main protagonists, from Altair to Edward, while the secondary colours range from off-white/grey, through various blues and creams, all with a healthy dose of leather and the ever-present iconic assassin’s hood.  Aficionados will no doubt be pointing out that in-game at various points you are able to customise and change your character’s costume colours, but as I am working on an original creation, the colour palette was somewhat dictated to me to keep my costume “canon.”

So what conclusions could I derive from all this late-night scribbling?  Well, although an original design there were a number of considerations I’d need to include when putting this costume together.  In no particular order:

1.   Historical accuracy – to be observed but can, and should, be subverted for increased drama and flair

2. Using what I had – there were several pieces I had to hand and a number of patterns  and fabric pieces already at my disposal

3.   Colour palette – although no hard and fast rules, wherever possible to adhere to the established “classic” colours of the AC franchise

With that in mind, it was time to formulate a plan.  And for tonight, that is ironing, washing up and wine.  Oh, and a little peak at something else I’ve been working on for this project:

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1255059/assassin-toy-prop-kit.html?li=shop-results&materialId=6 – for the kit.

It’s been emotional.