Last week, I went to Heroes Con (and had a blast!) Though I had a week (of, granted, mostly free time) to pull my cosplay together, I began thinking about ones I could curate from pieces in my own closet (or those i could easily get my hands on).
P.S: This is the extended list with lots of detail and description, my notes, explanations, a bunch of tips and tricks, and complete step by step instructions on how to put everything together. I prefer a lot of detail but there is also a, separately posted, quick list with the bare essentials if that is more your style. It is also the female list - no male characters on this list, maybe later fellas. Also, I know there are a lot of options for each of these characters. I've made a 'basic idea' section with quick notes if you want to put it together yourself and then the two most iconic (to me) outfits for each character.
P.P.S: Blonde? Try Gwen Stacy. Brunette? Try Jane Foster or Peggy Carter. Red head? Try Red (for ruby red heads) or Pepper Pots (if your a more natural red head) or Natasha Romanoff. There are also suggestions for quick hair dyes if you want to cross the bounds.
Disclaimer: the images from the comics are not mine and are put here only as examples. I also do not own or make money off of any of the products referenced.
Here's the list I came up with:
1) Red (from the new Hawkeye, story by Matt Fraction)
It's a terribly hidden secret that this is my current favorite comic. I can't wait to see someone do this cosplay (so definitely post pictures here if you do!)
Inspiration
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Pros
This costume is definitely a comic book shout out! It's unique and gorgeous; it makes a statement. Plus it's perfect for red heads!
Cons
This costume has a pretty specific color scheme and look, so some of the items might not be in your closet. Also, the red hair is very specific so if you're not a red head, a temporary dye, wig, or extensions might be needed. Don't worry if you don't have a magic red-hair potion, I have some tips for easy to get a hold of, inexpensive items, if you need them.
The Basic Idea
Red wears a lot of...well red. She's a girl on the wrong side of the tracks,trying to be a little bit sophisticated. She's a mystery. We see her in everything from a leather jacket and jeans to her pretty, patterned red dress.
Color Scheme
Shockingly, red.
What You'll Need:
1. A red dress
Red's has a square, geometric print (in cream) with spaghetti straps. The dress is more form fitting, short
with a straight line. Most red dresses, especially in this style, are going to get the point across.
Need a cold weather option? Throw on a red pea coat or a black leather jacket. (Red sports a poncho
styled pea coat, one, I haven't been able to get my hands on). In her first appearance she sports a black leather jacket.
2. Black high heels
Here's a second option
1. A red coat
Red's is poncho style but a pea coat would also fit.
2. Red boots
Red's are knee high. Though with black heels in earlier scenes, black boots would work as well.
3. Red floppy hat
I love this one. It's seen in Hawkeye #9, 'Girls' when she's rushing for her train. (above)
4. Finish off the look with black gloves and aviators.
Make up and Hair
Hair is the big one here because, in a lot of ways, it defines the character. Red's hair is a ruby, cherry-ish
color. It is styled straight with a middle part.
I recently dyed my hair this color for cosplay and I used Splat washables 'Totally Red.' Now, the pros...it was the right color, it was inexpensive (5 dollars), and it washed right out but my bathroom looked like a murder scene every time I brushed it out, it made my hair nearly impossible to style, and it was a rather
lengthy application process (washed hair, dry hair, apply color, dry with a blow dryer) and a lot of it faded over the night even though I kept it covered. It'd work a lot better if it was applied the morning of.
However, it did work in streaks, if you want to add this color to already red hair or just add a hint of red.
The Splat kit comes with a brush for easy streak application.
Clip in extensions are also an option; my dollar store has some great, inexpensive ones. They can't be styled
but with Red's style it isn't necessary.
I've also used
pastel chalk to do streaks before, just add a little water (if you have
dark hair - NOT if
you have blonde hair, as it makes it more permanent) and streak away. Crayola also has
a version of this with an
applicator but I haven't tried it yet, so I
don't want to endorse it. Both can be
found for about 5/6 dollars.
As far as make up
goes, Red sports long lashes and red lipstick.
P.S: Brunette? With a more conservative red dress?
Try Peggy Carter
(movie) from Captain
America: The First Avenger. Don't forget
your victory rolls
and red
lipstick. For extra authenticity snag a
pair of seamed panty hose. You can pick up
them up at
Target and Walmart during the Winter, and thigh high
versions at Intimate Treasures. Or grab
a pair of plain
hose, slide them on, and have
a friend draw a black line with a (slightly
heated, pencil eye liner, you can
do this with a lighter, the tutorial is posted on the blog). It's not the easiest but it works, I
promise. It's a trick I
picked up from the 1940s USO
shows I do every summer.
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Blonde? With a solid colored Red Dress?
Add a black belt around your hips and a black head band in your hair and go as Gwen Stacy. Want more Gwen Stacy? Look below at number 3!
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2) Jane Foster (movie, Thor)
First off, there are two amalgamation of Jane Foster (a third if you count Thordis)) the one from the movie Thor (in which she is played by Natalie Portman) and Jane Foster from the comics. Comic Book Jane has gone through so many phases its hard to come up with an easy costume for her. She's been a (vintage styled nurse) a skinny jean wearing doctor, a paramedic, a dating woman in lots of structured dresses, the list goes on and on. She will be included in my (to come) 'specific characters that are fun and overlooked cosplay list' but this list will only include the movie Jane. She wears several outfits in the movie and I've narrowed it down to two main
Inspiration
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Pros
This is an extremely easy costume to pull together (especially if you're a brunette). It's also a very comfortable and 'easy to wear' costume. Another pro is that its great for fans of Marvel movies and great for mild comic fans or fans that want to 'dress-up', without being asked a bunch of questions they don't know the answer to.
Cons
This one is
definitely a warm weather look with lots of layers so it's probably not best in the Summer or
for more crowded conventions. Another
big con is that this costume doesn't
really look like a costume; if you're really going for a show your 'true nerd flare'
look or to fit in with a bunch of costumers, this probably isn't the
look for you.
The Basic Idea
Jane sports a mid-west look with lots of layers. Her outfits are made up of lots of neutral
creams and browns, and blues, both light and navy. She wears t-shirts and
waffle knits, under plaid flannel, with a patterned scarf, and a trusty navy
blue pea coat. On the bottom, she wears
jeans or black leggings and
brown
boots. Her hair and make up is very
natural.
Color Scheme
Neutrals: browns, beiges, creams, blues - light and navy. Occasionally pink or green.
What You'll Need
1. A short sleeve
screen print T-shirt OR long sleeve waffle knit shirt
(if you want to be
really authentic movie Jane wears mainly jersey knit T's. In the movie she
is a physicist doing a lot of 'space' research so some cool shirt ideas could
include ones with planets, stars/consolations, physics jokes, NASA ext.)
2. A 3/4 quarter
length, plaid, flannel shirt
ADD ON: A navy blue pea
coat and a blue and cream patterned scarf. This is definitely
optional but she is seen in it a bunch in the movie. It really adds to the
layered look and is a great cold weather option. This look is
finished out with a pair of black leggings and brown knee high boots OR jeans
and soft brown ankle boots.
Here's a Second
Option
2. A thick, cream cardigan with a cowl neck or
lapel
(Jane wears a
plain colored one with lapel and a patterned one with a thicker cowl neck)
3. Jeans and brown boots
Make sure to show
off your layers!
Make up and Hair
Jane has brown
hair with light blonde highlights that is worn with a center part, loosely
straightened. She also
sports a very
natural make-up look with a copper eye shadow,
minimal eyeliner, and long lashes.
Not a brunette? Jane isn't really a character dependent on
her hair, meaning its not often referenced,
she isn't defined by it.
But if you want to
pull out a brunette vibe for this look clip ins and temporary color are definitely
options. How about a temporary dye?
Fanci-full offers natural colors (it can be found
at Walmart and Wallgreens) for 5-7 dollars
a bottle. It's easy to use but when I
have used it in the past, it gave my hair a rough/sticky/stringy texture, its a lot
better than other temporary dyes I've used, but it made my hair rather difficult
to style.
3) Gwen Stacy (movie and comics, The Amazing Spider-Man)
I have a soft spot
for Gwen as she is my comic book store guy's favorite woman in the Marvel
universe. With the amount of Gwen there
is in the comics, I have taken some liberties in converting her style into one
outfit (option one). Option two is
modeled after the infamous 'death of Gwen Stacy' and the third option is
modeled after movie Gwen.
Inspiration
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Pros
Gwen Stacy is a well known, well loved
character. She's smart, sophisticated, sexy. She wears so much throughout the comics that
pulling off a 'Gwen Stacy' vibe is
ridiculously easy. It's pretty and
comfortable. Prepare to have your
picture taken with all
the spider-mans there.
Inspiration:
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Cons
This look is lots of skirts and dresses, if
your closet is spare on these, you might have
trouble pulling this together. Gwen is
also a little dependent on her blonde hair so if you aren't a blonde or
don't have a blonde
wig lying around, this one will be harder to
pull off.
The Basic Idea
Gwen
is smart and seen a bit (especially now, post movie) as a bit of classy, school girl. She's often
seen in colored skirts and black dresses under trench or pea coats with boots and her trusty black head band. Her
hair is blonde and worn straight or pulled into a pony tail. Her make-up is pretty natural.
Color Scheme
Blues,
purples, greens...occasionally black and red.
Lots of beige jackets.
What You'll Need
(A Gwen Stacy
inspired look)
1. A colored turtle neck OR a colored, flowy
long sleeve shirt
2. A black
skirt OR a black structured dress OR any structured dress
(Tip: pair a black structured dress over a flowy long sleeve top for a
70s comic book Gwen Stacy Vibe. Or
pair a black belt with a red dress for a straight out of the comics look.)
3. Top off
your look with knee high boots, a mid length pea coat, and a black head band
Here's a Second
Option
(The 'Death of
Gwen Stacy.' This one is very iconic.)
1. A black
shirt
(Gwen's was a tank top sleeved turtle neck.)
2. A purple
colored skirt
(Gwen's hits about mid
thigh with a block-y line)
3. A green trench coat
4. Top off your look with a black head band and
knee high black boots
Here's a Third Option
(Movie Gwen)
1. A black top OR a patterned waffle
knit
2. A neutral skirt OR a matching colored skirt
(Movie Gwen
wears a few business skirts and a lot of pleated or plaid school girl styled skirts)
3. Add a neutral colored trench coat or a
neutral colored pea coat
4. top off your look with cool, modern tights OR thigh high socks
5. add knee high boots
Hair and Make-up
Gwen
Stacy is rather known for her blonde hair.
If you're not a blonde a wig might be
necessary. She wears it with a center
part and her trusty black head band,
straightened or with soft curls. Movie
Gwen often tosses it back in a quick pony
tail.
Her
make up is natural. Add lip gloss and a
few coats of mascara, a thin line of eyeliner and your done.
4) Natasha Romanoff (comics and movies, The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, Black Widow: Origins, The Avengers)
Now you may be thinking 'Huh?! I
don't have a cat suit in my closet.' but trust me there are tons of other easy
to pull together, equally iconic Natasha looks.
She's one of my favorite comic book characters, so I've found my way
around and pulled out some of the cool stuff.
This list is broken down to two more specific looks and a third basic
undercover NR look.
Inspiration:
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Pros
This is a
comic book shout out. There's a ton to
play with. And Natasha is pretty recognizable,
especially now. These are
comfortable. These looks are unique that's why they make up my favorites.
Cons
The red hair
is very important here (it varies in color and intensity, so any red hair works, but it is
important). These are warmer weather
looks with leather jackets and trench coats. So Summer months may not be the best idea for
a few of these looks. They rely on a
certain type of closet, so some of these piece may not be in yours.
The Basic Idea
Think rough and tumble, almost military chic.
She's a spy. Trench coats, leather jackets,
cargo pants. Her basic undercover look
is made up of a little black
dress.
Color Scheme
Mainly black and red.
What You'll Need
(the 'off day'
Natasha Romanaoff look)
1. a dark top
2. a leather jacket OR a trench coat
3. dark jeans or black shorts
4. combat/military styled boots
5. top this look off with wrist length driving
gloves, or a play gun strapped to your thigh
(I used one from
the dollar store that I spray painted black and fashioned a holster out of
some black ribbon)
OR black fishnets
Here's a Second
Option
(The young Natasha
look....)
1. a red long sleeve shirt
2. cargo pants
(Natasha's are
black)
3. black
combat/military styled boots or black hiking boots
Here's a Third
The Natasha
Romanoff under cover look...
1. little black
cocktail dress
2. black heels or red heels
3. top off your
look with ripped black panty hose OR an umbrella OR black gloves
and a black hat
Hair and Make-Up
Natasha is known
for her red hair. It varies in intensity
and color so you can pretty much get
away with anything as long as its red.
Don't have red hair? Splat Washables
has a temporary 'Totally Red' wash in dye, it gives you hair a weird texture and
makes it impossible to style but the color will work for something like
this. It's best done if applied the
morning of or in streaks (if you want to just go
with a red 'vibe') Clip in extensions
can give a red vibe as well (and can be
grabbed at drugstores or the dollar store) these are especially great if you're going to
wear a pony tail.
The style of
Natasha's hair varies as drastically as the color. From bob's (in the movie) to pony
tails. It's pretty much anything goes.
Make-up...and that
varies as well. We see a lot of red
lipstick and very long, full
eyelashes. And dark eye- liner.
5) Pepper Potts
(movie, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Avengers)
Comic book Pepper Potts is a little difficult to
get a grip on as she has changed so much, especially recently. And as for Rescue, if you just have that
armor chilling in your closet, why do you need me? Movie Pepper Potts has an easy to put
together look, even though she has evolved as well. I've narrowed this list down to a basic look
and more iconic looks
Inspiration
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Pros
Pepper Potts is pretty and stylish. We
see her in everything from shorts to business dresses, so there should be a look that woks for
every closet. Movie Potts is especially recognizable right now. These
looks can be simple or more iconic. There's a great range.
Cons
Pepper is called Pepper for her
red hair and freckles so red hair is very important with this look.
The Basic Idea
Business suits or dresses. Stylish
ponytails.
The Color Scheme
Blacks, navy, whit,
beige.
What You'll Need
1. Colored top and Blazer OR
structured business dress
2. A-line skirt
3. Finish off your look with a little
sparkle and strappy heels
Here's a Second Option
(I love this simple, Pepper Pott's 'The Avengers'
look....)
1. White dress shirt
2. Blue jean shorts
BONUS
While I was surfing around the internet I saw a
wonderful Pepper Potts meets Extremis cosplay. What you'll
need? A black sports bra and black leggings. Hair? straight and tosseled. Make-up? use a
red eyeliner (pencil, melted for a better smudge, to trace your veins around your neck and
shoulders for that Extremis look.
Hair and Make-up
Pepper is known for her natural colored red
hair, a wig, temporary dye would be useful here. She often wears a
stylish pony tail (the tutorial is right above this on the blog). The good news is that
Walgreens has 10-15 dollar pony tail pieces that are softly curled, beautiful, come and red,
and can be styled. They are wonderful - so if you can do something about the
top of your hair (maybe thick streaks with a pale orange chalk pastel, just
add water - pastel chalk are at Walmart for around 4 dollars or a wash-in ,
Fanci-ful carries red, but its a little harder to fin and it may give your
hair a weird texture for the day but the pony-
tail piece will cover all that up!) the
pony-tail will take care of the rest.
She sports natural make-up (occasionally a red lipstick)
with long lashes. She sometimes wears a heavier eye with liner and
copper. Her freckles are important as well. A light brown eye
liner pencil is great for these. Just draw rough dots, smudge them with your fingers, add a
little powder over the top and your good to go...they even look natural!
There ya go! Feel free to comment with you
cosplay pictures!
