What LotR Costumes/Clothes Have You Made?

[The Perky Ent]

At one of our schools dances, it was a movie night thing. Everyone was dressed in Tuxs (Producers <_< ) but I dressed up as a hobbit. It's simple. I took a green fleece of mine, and folded it so it looked like an elvish cloak, then, with the elvish broach i bought, i cliped it on. Then, I got my one ring from a bookmark, and a ring chain, and woar the ring. I also had a string sword, so i brought that And the best part: I cut up a brown afro of mine, and taped it to my shoes, giving the effect of furry feet!

[Nurumaiel]

I was at Wal-mart just recently buying fabric and I stumbled upon a pattern with potential for a Hobbit costume... for only $1.74! Needless to say I bought it, and with a few color modifications it could make a nice Hobbit lassie costume. The pattern can be found on simplicity.com; #8855. There are two different dresses you can make... I would choose Dress A for a Hobbit lass costume. As far as modifying the colours, I'd choose a bright colour for the skirt (green, blue, etc.), a darker shade of the same colour for the vest, and the blouse could remain white or you could make it the same colour as the skirt. The hat I would discard, and the shawl could or could not be made, depending on personal preference of the maker.

I'm anxious to be making my Hobbit lassie costume, but I need to find time to run down to Wal-mart, and aside from that the pattern does take up quite a little bit of fabric. Nevertheless...

I made an Elvish costume once, as well, but I didn't devote very much energy to this and I just went by a thrift store, picked up a dress that was very Elvish-looking save the puffed sleeves, and when I got home I replaced the sleeves. The fabric was a lovely green, which seemed appropriate for an Elf, and while the costume turned out all right I fear it looked more like the green dress Eowyn at one point wears in the film in oppose to the Elvish outfit I wanted!

Alas, I never had the courage to go to one of the films dressed up.

[Lalwendë]

I've finished the cloak I was threatening to make. It was easy - apart from cutting the pattern, as I didn't have enough floor space and there was much swearing - but I can recommend anyone having a bash if they fancy a not-too-hard challenge. I got my old dad to model it for me and it was most amusing, seeing as he's 4' 11" (he wasn't always that small I hasten to add), it was swishing along the floor behind him. I told him he was a hobbit-wraith but he didn't get it.

[mark12_30]

Lalwende, congratulations on finishing your cloak! You tempt me to start work on the green woodland cloak I've been wanting. (20 + yrs ago I made a brown, and a dark blue, in wool.) Aside from the cloaks, I haven't made much of anything.

But I shop elvish and hobbitish. I wore elvish dresses all summer; but the nights are darkening earlier and chilling deeper, so Saturday I got out all of my hobbitish or elvish shirts and laid them out, planning my fall wardrobe. In the breezy summer, all those elven dresses are fine, but when the Narragansett Bay wind kicks up, I want breeches and a waistcoat, thank you.

Aside from my hobbit jackets (corderoy) which came from the dress barn, and my thrift-store vest & waistcoat collection (thank you RAE!) everything else has come from Elf-mart... roughly twenty shirts (mostly brown, green, or tan) that either tie at the throat, or have an elvish/ hobbitish/botanical motif on the front. Add to that hobbit-breeches (brown, green, or tan) and elf-leggings (regular knit pants in brown/ green/ tan) and the jackets, and it's an unusual day that I show up at work as something beside a hobbit or an elf.

Once in a while, I wear blue jeans; I'll have to use additional greys and blues, and make those "Grey Havens days".

[Atarah]

I once dressed up as an Elf, actually my version of an RPG character i've played as in the past. It was for my friend's birthday party last january. We all dressed up as LotR characters, then went out to MegaZone, a lazer shooting game thing. The looks we got! It was hilarious!

I've attached a pic that was taken of us. I'm top-left. I don't know if any o you will remember her, but Dragoneyes is the ringwraith top-center. In fact, we all had accounts here, but only Dragoneyes and I were active posters.

[AbercrombieOfRohan]

Every year for Halloweeen (and for other special occasions, like trips to the grocery store ) I dress up as Eowyn. I've made both her green-gold dress (which was excruciatingly hard) and her white dress with the black vest over it. (seen in ROTK) My brother also dresses up so that we match, he has piipin's outfit and legolas's outfit.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Mark 12_30

Yesterday I stopped off at elf-mart, and ended up seriously disappointed... it is clear that the LOTR clothing boom is over, past, done, finis. Not a laced, embroidered, or decorated neckline in sight. No earth-tones. Nothing that an elf or a hobbit would look at twice.

Everything was neon. You could wear the new stuff in the blackest depths of Mirkwood and be seen three leagues away. At night.

You could have a look for some UK web-based shops, as there seems to be rather a lot of fake 'vintage' around at the moment, and lots of it is in the sales too. Lots of strange floaty things, coupled with nice hobbity tweeds, and when worn the right way quite interesting!

Was it that long ago I made my cloak? Since then I have also bought a rather lovely velvet cloak; it was double sided and so thick and soft that I just had to have it. So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors...

[Encaitare]

So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors...

Courage, dear Lalwende! Or, perhaps it's just the ghastly winter weather which has caused your reservations.

I've never gotten around to making my shirts or anything, since I'm rather broke. I may go to the fabric store and see if I can get some patterns and pretty fabric for decent prices. Also, a lot of online stores have vintage and fantasy clothing.

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

You could have a look for some UK web-based shops, as there seems to be rather a lot of fake 'vintage' around at the moment, and lots of it is in the sales too. Lots of strange floaty things, coupled with nice hobbity tweeds, and when worn the right way quite interesting!

Was it that long ago I made my cloak? Since then I have also bought a rather lovely velvet cloak; it was double sided and so thick and soft that I just had to have it. So now I have two cloaks, but alas, I don't have the nerve to wear them outdoors...

Thanks for the suggestion, and the "note" of hope-- when things go out of style, they arrive in the thrift shops-- HURRAH! I shall begin haunting the mathom-houses...

Regarding wearing cloaks outdoors-- wear them on brief walks, or out to check the mail, or out walking the dog if you have one. You'll get used to it. Also-- wear them with normal clothes, with a pair of boots. (Wearing a full costume takes a lot more nerve than just wearing "a nice full coat with no sleeves.") When Raefindel sent me my lovely, wonderful, new-favorite long green cloak, I wore it out in the front garden and ran around and played tag with my dog. (It moves beautifully!)

[Annalaliath]

I have a grey cloke, and a big white dress.... i also have a skirt that i made that was LOTR inspired.

[Bêthberry]

I have resisted posting because I have nothing elvish to discuss, but with the sudden arrival of Hallowe'en boxes of trick or treat goodies in stores, I suppose I might be allowed to mention this.

A Shelob costume, with which I delighted the little ghosts and goblins last year: black, long-sleeved turtleneck and black pants. Face covered in black makeup, with red rings around my eyes. Short black witch's wig, with messy hair and black "witch" fingernails on my hands (which I also painted with black face paint). AND three large black feather boas, arranged around my body to suggest six legs. The boas did not shed too much, and I was able to move fairly easily.

I did have netting and tons of those little plastic spiders hanging all over my door. And every so often, if we knew the children at the door, someone in my family might jump out with a "phial" to scare me away so he could hand out extra goodies. We had fun.

[Son of Númenor]

The witch's wig and feather boas don't sound very canonical, Bb.

I don't know how well this fits in with the topic, as I didn't really make anything, but my friends and I went around with blond wigs, shooting people with suction-cup arrows last Halloween. Luckily there were no lawsuits.

[Bêthberry]

Like a good fan dance, it's all in the artistic arrangement, Sono.

[Morsul the Dark]

for my sam costume I bought a white shirt tan pants with zipper thing so I can make them into long shorts all i ned is a vest and boom Im sam although i may need a wig my hair grows fairly quickly but not quick enough too bad i got a haircut last week (same day I got my license) yahoo I am no an official driver!

[Milady Revenwyn]

Well, if you call "Made" anything you just throw together...
I had a pair of khaki pants that I had cut and hemmed when I was a bit shorter. Then I got too tall for them. So I cropped them up more and made them capris. Then, I had a black velvet vest, and a collared shirt. So I then took my green bed sheat and with a leaf-shaped pin, held it together and used it as a cloak. :P
Price of costume? $O.

Outside of stuff I have made, I went to the ROtK opening in a gorgeous dress made by Lip Service and bought at Torrid. My hair was black at the time, and I went as Arwen (albeit I looked more like a hobbit trying to dress like an elf!)

You can see it here: Clicky

[Nuranar]

I can't believe I missed this thread...

Last fall (only last fall?) I made a Lorien/Fellowship cloak using the pattern on AlleyCatScratch. I sewed it by hand, because I was stranded at school without my machine, and ever since I have loved hand-sewing. I was tolerably experienced before, doing a lot of finished by hand, but now I have no objection to sewing even ordinary seams by hand.

Anyway, I made it out of a lovely soft, slightly fuzzy-ish wool suiting that's grey in effect but has grey, black, tan, and even blue threads in it. It's lovely and warm, but not heavy, and works for Civil War reenacting too. (Big reason why I made it from wool. Now I love wool for itself! Yum...) And just recently I've been wearing it when studying in the apartment. We're saving by running the heater as little as possible, so from time to time it gets bit chilly. I used to keep trying to wrap a too-small blanket around me, but then I had the brain-wave to use the cloak hanging in my closet! It works so much better, and can wrap around me twice... *blissful sigh*

I'm a reasonably experienced seamstress with many projects in the works. Among other things I want to make a Gondorian civilian costume, my interpretation of a Mirkwood elf, perhaps Arwen's mourning gown (I love those gold buttons!), Eowyn's refugee and white wool gowns... Yikes, time to prioritize again!

[mark12_30]

Nuranar, you did one of those cloaks by hand? Wow.

The reason I hesitate about that pattern is the question can you wrap up in it and be really warm? I want something that keeps me out of the wind, not in it. Soooo... you tell me....

I'm impressed by your to-do list!

With few exceptions, such as the cloaks and the archery vambraces (which I needed anyway, getting whacked by a longbow string really hurts) I buy everything. Which means, shopping with an elvish/hobbitish haze over my eyes. If an elf or a hobbit walked into this store and had to buy several outfits, what would they walk out with? I don't sew much... and now I need a new bow! Ack. My black longbow cracked last time I used it. (Shooting in the cold shouldn't be that risky!)

[Nuranar]

Well, Helen, your archery skills impress me! I wish I could do that. My brothers have made bows - of a sort - themselves. But we have a very small yard and my mother is (understandably) not too wild about them getting arrows, so they just have to make do. It's been very... interesting at times.

About hand-sewing the cloak: Well, the main part is only one piece, cut in a semi-circle. I would've hand-hemmed all those edges anyway, so it wasn't a biggie. The hood was four pieces that could've been machine-sewn faster, but it wasn't too bad. And joining the hood to the body by hand is probably a lot more secure than by machine! I sewed over it twice, very carefully; perhaps even backstitching. Actually, I find hand sewing very relaxing. It's ideal for listening to books on tape or sermons or something.

About the pattern: I like the pattern because of the way it hangs open. That means I can wear it around the house without it getting in my hands' way. But just because it hangs open doesn't mean there's not enough material to wrap up in. When I've worn it on reenactments, I've found it useful - and attractive - to swing one side across and pin the edge to my other shoulder. It draps across my neck (you can adjust how high) and hangs very nicely. This drape is also shorter than full length, so it doesn't get in the way of my hands. Actually, it hangs over my arms, keeping them warm but allowing me full use of them. Here and here are a couple of very bad pictures (I've cropped them for reasons of vanity ) that still may help you understand what I'm talking about. (The green and yellow is a jacket I'm wearing beneath the cloak; the blue is the skirt of the dress below that.) Here is one showing the cloak hanging open.

The other thing is I'd highly recommend making it in wool. And I don't mean super heavy-duty pea-coat-weight stuff either - that's like making a hobbit dress out of cotton tent canvas! Besides being the warmest thing going, as well as authentic, it drapes gorgeously and is a dream to sew with. I think the last four things I've made have been of wool! I love this stuff.

And as for the to-do list... *sigh* I need to get back to studying for my history test. Work before play, as always!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I fell in love with Arwen's dress - the one with the fantastic red sleeves down to there - so that's the one I've been dreaming of making. I found a wonderful pattern here and a fantastic fabric - well, two, actually - to use for it. They're both wine red; the one for the sleeves is transparent and pressed into tiny pleats, and the one for the main part of the dress is crinkle-pressed into roses! I hope it turns out as gorgeous as I envision it; alas, other projects have priority, so I will be sewing it in the summer. When I do (and if it turns out, of course!) I'll post pictures...

[Kitanna]

Cool costumes/shirts people have made! I thought I was the only nerd to do such craziness.
I've made two shirts to date, more in the near future I hope. My first had a picture of the Ring on front and it said "Is it not a strange fate we suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing" and on the back it had Theoden and in fabric paint I wrote his speech from ROTK. "Ride now! Ride now! etc.." My other shirt had the Rohan flag on the front and I used iron on letters to write Forth Eorlingas. On the back I had a picture of a map of Middle Earth and very carefully and very painstakingly I did the Elven script from the Ring under the map.

And this year for prom I'm making Arwen's red and blue dress from ROTK. The main reason I'm making it for prom is because I think it is so pretty and it fits with our theme (Once Upon a Time) and it will also hide my incredibly pale arms.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I'm looking forward to the Costume Extravaganza at the 'Tolkien 2005' conference this summer, since that's the occasion for which I plan to make that wine-red dress. However, with my luck, it could be raining then - does anyone have a good idea for a lightweight, water-resistant fabric suitable for a cloak?

[Lalwendë]

Esty - you expect rain? In England? In summer? Well, the only kind of waterproof cloak I've ever seen are those capes which fishermen wear during their endless hours spent huddling by English canals; they are made from some kind of wax jacket material and are not very Elven, but you could almost carry off the Dunedain ranger look with one.

I just allow myself to get rained on because it's quite nice in the summer. But my serious recommendation would be a large umbrella.

[mark12_30]

Water-proof, I dunno. But water-resistant.... I'd say wool.

But use a tight weave. Maybe thoroughly pre-shrink the fabric (hot wash & hot tumble-dry) to tighten up the weave even more.

If you want to be super zealous there's always scotch-guard....

....afterthought.... Gore-Tex??? I'm amazed they sell it by the yard! Quick, Esty, sale ends March 19....

[Celebuial]

Hmmmm... Let me see. I made a long elvish looking dress for my GCSE Textiles course work back when I was at school, my teacher didn't mark me very well though because she said that it wasn't inline with the fashions of the time, or something like that. I said that with the new film out Lotr would soon become a craze and everyone would want elvish looking clothes. In response she laughed at me! I also made a top with really long and wide sleeves made of silky fabric (probably satin,I don't remember!) and I'm attempting to make a cloak at the moment.

I did think about cheating and buying one though.... I was thinking about one of the official ones, but then I found out that they were £300!!!!! Then I found a really nice one in a shop that was only £60. It was perfect other than the fact that it was velour not velvet and it had a frog closure. I don't think frog closures look very elvish. Oh- it was also about a foot too long (I'm only 5'1")!

I think that I'm just going to have to make it myself. I'm feeling rather lazy at the moment though.... Oh well I know a great shop that sells the most beautifull fabric, so I should probably go get started!

[Imrahil]

Haven't bought anything yet. I want a sword...Anduril or Glamdring would be nice. I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor...and I saw Aragorn's flag which is nice too...

Heck, if I had the money, I'd buy a full suit of Gondorian armor and a horse and ride around waving the Gondor flag shouting "For Gondor!" and "Stand Men of the West!"
Please tell me I'm not the only person to want to do that...

[Encaitare]

I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor

*immediately becomes rabid* Where???

[Imrahil]

Here ya go...

Gondor shirts

eBay - Gondor Shirt

[Meela]

Originally Posted by Imrahil

Heck, if I had the money, I'd buy a full suit of Gondorian armor and a horse and ride around waving the Gondor flag shouting "For Gondor!" and "Stand Men of the West!"
Please tell me I'm not the only person to want to do that...

You're not the only one. I'd probably swap the armor for a gorgeous Gondorian gown, but I'd be right up there on a horse, shouting encouraging words to the soldiers.

I'm planning an attempt at a new gown, something blue and Elven/Medieval, with drape sleeves. I fancied going to a few special places this summer, gatherings and such, and I decided I would look the part.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Imrahil

I saw a nice shirt online with the White Tree of Gondor...

If only they'd had ebay in the early 80's, and then my mother would have been spared me 'customising' my best coat.

Originally Posted by Elentari

For my first time sewing anything on my own, it was very easy. The instructions were clear, and I made the cream dress part in 3 days. I don't like the pattern sleeves though...

I'm glad you've said it was easy! The cloak I made was simple, and I even hand stitched it, so it sounds as though I ought to be able to tackle this project! I wasn't too keen on the neckline either, but I thought this effect could be had by simply tucking a chiffon scarf into the neckline, so it would be removable. I do like those mad long sleeves though!

[Elentari_Elbereth]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I'm glad you've said it was easy! The cloak I made was simple, and I even hand stitched it, so it sounds as though I ought to be able to tackle this project! I wasn't too keen on the neckline either, but I thought this effect could be had by simply tucking a chiffon scarf into the neckline, so it would be removable. I do like those mad long sleeves though!

Good luck on the project! It should turn out beautiful
The sleeves I made myself are really neat- when tied up nicely they hang below my knee while I'm standing. Not quite as long and awesome as the one in the films, but still great

I'd say I should go make a cloak or two! I'm glad they were also simple.

[The Perky Ent]

Ah....my costume! I remember it like it was yesterday.

It was a Hollywood themed dance thingie. Most of the girls just wore dresses, and most of the guys wore suits from the Thrift Store. But I was different I decided to go as a hobbit! I had an old aphro that was lying around, so I cut it up, and taped it to my sneekers. Hobbit Feet! Then, I found a gold ring, and an empty necklace chain, and wore that around my neck. The One Ring. I then took a green fleese and wrapped it around my neck. I kept it on with an elven broach. Lothlorien cloak. Finally, I wore a LOTR shirt! My disguise was complete!

Unfortunatly, the person who won best costum was some random girl with a big dress who only really won because the judge was her brother But I'll never forget that costume!

[Himilsillion]

I made a Faramir costume. It was mostly an old Jedi costume that I had only I made some armor out of cereal boxes. I covered the cardboard armor with tin foil to make it look more realistic. For my breast plate I made a Tree of Gondor emblem on my computer and pasted that on the cardboard armor. I bought a cheap plastic sword at the junk store. I also grew a pony tail for trick or treating. Then put on dark clothing and some boots the cloak and I fastened the armor on with string. I got lots of copliments and lots of candy for my great costume that only took a total of six hours. (Except for the pony tail)

[Firefoot]

I have just recently made a lovely green cloak using the pattern at AlleyCatScratch. Well, to say that I made it might be a little presumptuous - it was my first encounter with the sewing machine and to say my mom helped would be an understatement. More like I "helped" her...

Anyhow, the cloak is quite nice and I rather adore it. The only thing is that it doesn't sit quite right at the clasp, which we sewed on more than once... I may yet try to fix it but maybe not. The pattern itself was not difficult once we figured it out.

[Morsul the Dark]

because I havenothing else to do I am currently working my halloween costume
an ent
now Im going to attempt to describe My plan to see what you think

I Plan on weara brown turtleneck brown pants (for bark/skin) over which I will wear a whit muscle shirtwhich will be covered in weaves so it looks like a tunic made from leaves and a vine type rope for a belt

also Im going to have a wood woven basket which will hang by my side by a, as before, vine type rope
i will wear a beard painted dark green

and in the basket at my side two dolls which i will pretend ar merry and pippin?

what do you think?

[Elfchick7]

ooh! I love this thread!!! When I was thirteen I made my own version of Arwen's "chase" dress from the FOTR movie. The next year a made a crack at her "bridge" dress from the same film. I love sewing!!! Sadly, I haven't had time to do another costume. I would love to invent my own elvish costumes. www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr is a great reference site. It helped me bunches. Actually, I have my second costume posted in the Elven part of their scrapbook. If you want to see some cool costumes, that is the place to look.

[Thinlómien]

To see what I, Nogrod, Aganzir and A Little Green - or Gildor Inglorion, Tom Bombadil, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and Éomer, if you prefer those names - did today, inspired by Legate's late ww game, scroll down this page.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Those pictures are priceless, Lommy! Thanks to all of you for sharing your fun with us! Costume pictures are even more interesting when you playact for them.

[Bêthberry]

I think Nogrod must be a very spiffy fellow to engage in that kind of fun play with youngsters. Great sense of spontenaiety and creativity in those costumes as well.

But some you of could easily have stood for the fair Goldberry--you are so fair and good looking yourselves. Perhaps you didn't want it to rain on your outdoor play?

[Nogrod]

Oh, I had to check that from a dictionary...

But thanks!

And that wasn't the oddest play we've had...

It was fun indeed and the only thing I regret is that I had such a busy week before the shooting today that I had no time to actually plan my costumes and just had to come up with anything I could find this morning from my wardrobe. Although the boots are a different matter - they are my old rubberboots which Aganzir painted yellow. I will be quite happy to use them the next day it rains.

And well, the hat wasn't my own either...

But those others really made an effort and it was great fun to see them organise it and to be a part of the play.

[MatthewM]

I have Boromir's attire. I bought it off eBay for over $100...it was a nice Christmas gift

Although Sean Bean is not my Boromir, his costume was awesome and, minus the openly shown chainmail, is very close to what I picture Boromir wearing.

I'll take a picture of myself in it soon. I also have an old bugle horn, which is my Horn of Gondor. I have the broad sword from the movie as well, although I want a long sword because it was the long sword that Boromir truly wielded. The long sword is next on the list. Then the shield. Or whatever comes first.