How to Make a DC: "<PERSON>" Costume
Introduction: How to Make a DC: "Poison Ivy" Costume
For the 2020 Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), our friends wanted to go as a <PERSON> themed cosplay group. We were trying to think of a few female characters and two of the ladies decided to go as <PERSON> and <PERSON>.
For those of you who are not aware of <PERSON> backstory, she is typically considered a super villain in the DC universe. She has different portrayals, some with her being a person who can control plants and other depictions have her as being a greenish plant human person who can control them. She typically is in favor of anything that is plant/nature related, and is willing to kill or punish anyone who threatens plants. She is also often portrayed as a seductive woman who will command others by kissing them with poisonous lipstick.
The traditional <PERSON> costume is really a leafy leotard, green tights, and some boots and arm guards. It's not a difficult cosplay, but I was more focused on the comfort of the cosplayer with dressing in a revealing costume. Additionally, I was tasked with figuring out a way to hold the cosplayers small belongings. Luckily i figured i could make a prop carnivorous plant that functioned as a purse. For that instructable, please click here. Now then, Let's get started!
Supplies
-Red nails
- Red Lipstick
-Red flower
-hair clip
-Red hair spray or chalk
-green tights
-green corsets
-scratch paper
-exacto knife
-plastidip
-EVA foam
-plastic buckles
-heat gun
- Shoes
- TONS of ivy leaves
Step 1: Reference Pictures
Before I ever start ANY costume, I look up a ton of reference photos from various sources and put it in a folder. The more pictures from different angles, the better. Look up:
1. Actual photos of the character from its source (movies, comics, action figure, etc)
2. Cosplay pictures. You can see what has been done, what you like, what you don't like, how to improve on a design. You can also start getting an idea of different poses you think you'd like to do.
3. I start looking at art work. I usually look up things via google images, deviant art, tumblr, etc. This way, you can see different renditions of a character through a new perspective and once again, start thinking about what you like, don't like, etc.
4. Use your own imagination. Think about what you want, how to make it your own original design, what are some tricks you think you'd like to incorporate.. perhaps you want to try out a new technique with this build, etc
5. If you can draw, I sometimes will take all my reference sources and start drawing out my own design.
Step 2: Leotard
1. 348
First thing's first, You need to pull off ALL the plastic ivy leaves from the plastic stem and vines. I just put them all in a giant freezer bag. I went through 168 ft of plastic poison ivy vine. Just turn on a movie and go to town.Set aside when done. Here is the link to the Ivy vines i bought. (pic 1)
2. Here are the picture of the tights i used. The link is here. (pic 2)
3. Here is the picture of the corset we used. The link is here (pic 3). There is a metal wire in the bust area of the leotard. I sewed that together to make it a bit less revealing.
4.Wear a fitted tshirt and then put put the corset over it.
5.Glue the plastic leaves onto the suit, one-by-one. Put them on like a roof tile, starting at the crotch and work your way up towards the bust. (pic 4-9)
Step 3: Guantlets
1. Take your paper and wrap it around the person's forearm and mark where the wrist is, as well as mid forearm. Then draw a straight line from the middle of your wrist to the middle of your forearm. Remove the paper
2. The paper is thinner than your foam, so add about 1-2 inches to the perimeter to slightly increase the size.
3. Cut out your paper template and transfer to EVA foam
4. Use your heat gun to warm the foam and then place it on your arm to press it into the shape of a tube.
5. adjust the shape as needed so that it sits comfortably on your forearms.
6. Hot glue the clips all along the gauntlets.
7. When finished, paint a dark green on the foam. 316