::scarlet costuming :: dr. elsa schneider ::

I regret not taking this to DragonCon 2006, even though I finished it up specifically for said convention. Oh well...

Since I'm not quite ready to complete my Indy masterpiece, I figured I'd go for the expendable blonde first.

It's actually a pretty interesting costume, and cost me all of $15 to make. Here's how:

:: hat, belt, goggles, gloves, wig::

the hat's courtesy of the clearance rack at target. it's not as tall, and is most definitely missing the Nazi pin, but it works.

The goggles I already had, nabbed off eBay for nothing years ago to wear with dreads. They're actually real welders eyewear, with glass lenses, making them quite heavy. I love 'em!

The wig and gloves, too, were pre-owned. I styled the wig, originally an "Obsession" wig from Forever Young (I picked it up online for less than 10 bucks a couple of years ago, in hopes of dyeing it a non-platinum blonde shade).

The belt's twofold. I made the first one from scrap pleather, about 6 inches wide with a velcro back. That, however, looked stupid, so I hunted for another wide brown belt. This is not the easiest task for someone like me, who needs at least 45 inches in length to make a belt work correctly. Eventually, I ran across a hipster, wide brown pleather belt with a corset laced back. It was cheap, but it's not the best...but, it'll do.

::blouse and tank top::

I had some scrap white cotton lying around, as well as some random, scattered pieces of white grosgrain ribbon, coverable fabric buttons, and some mini-waffle textured lycra blend black cotton. Voila!

I didn't use a pattern, strangely enough, and it turned out just fine. I even got the arched detail at the cuffs right.

::pants and boots::

The boots I already had...for years and years. The pants were a thrift store find, hacked up and refurbished to create a taller waist, flattened pockets, and the thigh 'pouch' of the thirties' riding pants. They're a deep greenish brown wool blend.

::grail::

What's Elsa without her prop? Nuttin'! I used a scrap wood dowel, some scrap wiremesh, and about two packs of model magic with some Hearty Clay and sanding as the final layer. Then, you know, paint, varnish, and alot of love. It's not the best, and definitely not symmetrical...but I think it just adds to the realism. Sort of.