Costume-making 101:  The Road to Comic-Con, a premature retrospective

Well, here we are then folks, the week before the Big Day (relatively speaking of course) and there’s nothing more to do except sit back, relax, and know I’ve done my best.

Except there is more to do.  Swords to finish, LARP daggers to arrive, belts to make, scabbards, timing, business cards…  Oh my.

So why is it despite sitting in front of EastEnders (believe me, not my choice) all I can think of is what comes next?  Possibly the extended amounts of time I’m obligated to spend with my “clients,” but possibly more that being my own worst critic I’m focusing more on what I could’ve done rather than what I have done.  Sucks to be my brain, right?

So, in a bout of self-indulgent, self-inflicted sewing self-pity, let’s have a wander through the parts that I could’ve done better…

Ezio-inspired costume:

Let’s start with a tough one.  Tough, because it’s the one I’m most happy with.  My main problem is the stripes.  In the beginning we were shooting for an “almost replica” of the AC2 Ezio costume, almost as if a trainee assassin had seen Ezio in the street and tried to describe his outfit to a well-meaning tailor.  That’d be me.  My problem is the stripes are too close to the original, there’s no individuality to it.  I can’t help but look at it as though I tried for a straight replica but missed by a narrow but obvious margin…

The rest is all good to me, bar the short shirt sleeves, but I blame the pattern for that.  I’m a workman, so I blame my tools.  Some better trousers next time, some custom vambraces and adding some more leatherwork and this one will be a charm.  Details, that’s what it needs.

Smuggler/Pirate Assassin

I’m pretty happy with this one as well to be honest, given that of the four costumes I’m making this one came together both surprisingly easily and to a good effect.  Proof you should never throw anything away!

The main changes as discussed with the “client” would be to add a bustle or underskirt beneath the longer over-tunic, plus some more floaty/tassel details to add movement to the whole piece.  Better boots would be good, as would a shirt of a slightly lighter colour to add some definition, plus a few lacy-type pirate details.  Again, details.  We’ll need to replace the sword with something more buccaneer-esque, plus a few shells and trinkets wouldn’t go amiss.

Still, as a costume built on-the-fly, not too bad.

Victorian/Steampunk Assassin

Blurry game-face time.

There’s a few bits here I need to change.  Trousers.  I can’t abide the suit trousers with this costume.  Bustier/basque is good, there’s a tunic to go under it in October, nice use of the AC3 hidden blade 3D print from Ammnra Creations (www.shapeways.com – check it out, you won’t regret it.  Well, your wallet will) and the boots are fine.

The dreaded coat is another matter.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the fabric, the lining, the hood, the fit etc., but I just feel the overall construction could be better.  Especially now I know how to do sleeves properly.  I’ve got a horrible feeling that I’ll be making this again and I promised myself I’d never touch this pattern after last time.

Bloody details again.  Oh, and maybe some nice new daggers next time.  Speaking of which, a new way of carrying them:

More on this after Comic-Con.

Western Assassin

And the big one.  What don’t I like about my costume?  Well, I love the trousers.  Apparently they’re referred to as a “carrot” cut (I must be getting old…), complete with braces.  Love ‘em.

Hidden blade?  Very pleased.  Another tour-de-force by Chris Myles at Ammnra Creations.  And some fine painting from me of course.  The belt is all-good, a decent reproduction Sam Browne belt from eBay I picked up for under a tenner.  So what’s wrong then?

Shirt.  Made one, didn’t like it.  Bought one, loved it, realised it’d be too hot to wear it with the coat closed (more on this another time...).  Two shirts down for anyone keeping count.  So now I’m unceremoniously wearing a t-shirt.  Whoever heard of a cowboy, or assassin, wearing a t-shirt?  God, it’s like it’s all just make-believe…

Boots, gaitors, sash, neck-tie all good.  Plus the AC4 MacFarlane hidden blade cover, really good-looking addition to any costume or collection.  In fact, go buy one now, I’ll wait – tell them I sent you.

So I must like the coat right, all that work?  Well, no, actually.  I don’t like it at all.  I put together a better one for last year’s event.  Look:

It took a while to put my finger on what was wrong with it.  In fact, it took a whole Friday evening of dressing up, a curry and a good deal of discussion with my group of clients.  Then Scott (Ezio) put his finger on it; my previous coat looked like a costume.  It was unique, interesting and not typical of what other period costumes looked like, right in keeping with the AC game franchise aesthetic.  What I had was a historically accurate looking duster that was thoroughly uninspired as far as design went.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s well-made, comfortable and hangs well, but where’s the flair?  And to think, I even set it out in first blog entry, design aesthetic is key!

It’s such a minor problem to everyone except me, that’s why it’s my biggest problem.

Still, nothing to be done now, Saturday’s approaching quickly and I’m very much looking forward to the host of fantastic people and their inspiring costumes that will no-doubt be on display.  Let’s just hope that these four can stand up to the ever-high standards you talented lot keep coming up with.

That and I need to decide if I’m taking my hat.

As for next week?  Surely a week off and some respite for the family from losing the front room to my sewing habits, right?

Piss off, next week I start my new coat for October’s Comic-Con.  And trust me, it’ll be a belter!  Maybe something like this..?

Until next week and a full Comic-Con round up, peace out y’all.