What LotR Costumes/Clothes Have You Made? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 04-05-2008, 04:40 PM

Ever so many years ago -- about 1979 or 1980, I think; probably 1979 -- my husband, a bunch of friends, and I went to an SF convention in Minneapolis. Three of us decided to do Three Keepers of the Elven Rings for the masquerade. The woman who did Galadriel did her own outfit. I designed and constructed my husband's outfit (he was Elrond). With over four hours spent doing makeup and hair, I was Gandalf the White; the costume was based on a painting I had done of the character and sold in the art auction at that convention. I don't have any photos of the painting, nor do I have any of all three of us, but I do have one mediocre shot of myself, which was taken by one of the convention attendees who came as an Elf and wanted a photo done with me. The outfit was done on an extremely tight budget, and with the constraint that everything (except the staff) had to be packed into our baggage and carted on a train (a friend who was driving kindly toted the staff for me). I have many strange memories of that occasion, since I was coming down with a dreadful head and chest cold, and my voice, which is already low, dropped about an octave in time for the masquerade. There was so much work done with the hair and makeup and underpinnings that strapped me down, that with the deep voice, there were a lot of people unwilling to believe I was a woman underneath it all. I was given reports about this from other friends the next day, and I laughed myself silly. This is the grainy old image (and don't worry, I'm hotlinking to my own website, so it's okay):

Since then, I have designed and constructed a LOT of Middle-earth character costumes. Since a bunch of my friends were into costume history as well as SF and fantasy (and I studied costume design in college as well), we've had some very interesting costume parties. I wish I had pictures of some of them, especially of my younger brother in his Melkor outfit (based on a sketch of the character I had once done) and my hubby in his Aragorn get-up, but alas, I can't find any, nor anyone who has them. Perhaps someday. *sigh*

***Thenamir*** · 04-05-2008, 06:57 PM

I can't believe I haven't replied to this thread years ago. here is a link to a picture of Yours Truly in his Gandalf outfit created for the opening of The Two Towers. The lovely lady next to me is, of course, my wonderful wife. I envied her a bit -- I worked for some time with a sewing friend to make my costume, but my gracious and gorgeous spouse just pulled some things from her wardrobe and voila! An elf maid. Too bad elves don't wear glasses.

MatthewM · 05-08-2008, 12:52 PM

Here are three pictures of myself as Boromir. They were taken the other day.

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...=Boromir12.jpg

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...=Boromir15.jpg

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...t=Boromir1.jpg

Laurinquë · 10-22-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Here are three pictures of myself as Boromir. They were taken the other day.

Wonderful! You make an excellent Boromir.

Thinlómien · 10-23-2009, 04:08 AM

I wish I had an(other) excuse to dress up in some tolienish costume, it's such fun. This year this far I've only dressed up as Darth Maul once and missed my chance to dress up as a Renaissance painting Virgin Mary. *deep sigh* *thinks of brainwashing a friend to change an upcoming Dinsey costume party to a LotR costume party*

And all you 'downers should dress up as people and post the pics here because it's so much fun.

Laurinquë · 11-07-2009, 11:27 PM

When I was ten years old, which was right after The Two Towers film came out, I participated in an extremely abridged play version of The Fellowship of the Ring. I had never read FotR nor even seen the film but never the less I was chosen to play Galadriel for reasons still unknown to me. But as this was a very small production everyone was required to play two parts, my second being a nameless orc.

In order to fit my part I had to come up with a suitable costume for Galadriel; I carefully constructed myself a crown of golden aspen leaves that had a tendency fly off my head if the ribbons that held it in place came undone, something which I believe occurred at least once in the play. However this was probably not even noticed among the disorganised throngs of confused children trying to remember who was an orc and who was a member of the Fellowship (without much makeup we all looked rather alike). I also had a long purple dress fastened with a golden belt and a floaty white silk cape adorned with a tassel and beads. Canonical it was not but I remember having a wonderful time being aloof and speaking a majestic voice, I only wish I could do it again.

Mithalwen · 01-04-2010, 07:32 AM

How did you do your crown Laurinque? I was clipping back my willow tree yesterday (neither old man nor whomping) and thought about making a crown like Thranduil's Autumn one with the strands... so far it looks more like a crown of thorns but it was a first attempt and I have more...

04-05-2008, 04:40 PM	#1
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	Ever so many years ago -- about 1979 or 1980, I think; probably 1979 -- my husband, a bunch of friends, and I went to an SF convention in Minneapolis. Three of us decided to do Three Keepers of the Elven Rings for the masquerade. The woman who did Galadriel did her own outfit. I designed and constructed my husband's outfit (he was Elrond). With over four hours spent doing makeup and hair, I was Gandalf the White; the costume was based on a painting I had done of the character and sold in the art auction at that convention. I don't have any photos of the painting, nor do I have any of all three of us, but I do have one mediocre shot of myself, which was taken by one of the convention attendees who came as an Elf and wanted a photo done with me. The outfit was done on an extremely tight budget, and with the constraint that everything (except the staff) had to be packed into our baggage and carted on a train (a friend who was driving kindly toted the staff for me). I have many strange memories of that occasion, since I was coming down with a dreadful head and chest cold, and my voice, which is already low, dropped about an octave in time for the masquerade. There was so much work done with the hair and makeup and underpinnings that strapped me down, that with the deep voice, there were a lot of people unwilling to believe I was a woman underneath it all. I was given reports about this from other friends the next day, and I laughed myself silly. This is the grainy old image (and don't worry, I'm hotlinking to my own website, so it's okay): Since then, I have designed and constructed a LOT of Middle-earth character costumes. Since a bunch of my friends were into costume history as well as SF and fantasy (and I studied costume design in college as well), we've had some very interesting costume parties. I wish I had pictures of some of them, especially of my younger brother in his Melkor outfit (based on a sketch of the character I had once done) and my hubby in his Aragorn get-up, but alas, I can't find any, nor anyone who has them. Perhaps someday. sigh __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

04-05-2008, 06:57 PM	#2
*Thenamir* Spectre of Capitalism Join Date: May 2001 Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae Posts: 987	I can't believe I haven't replied to this thread years ago. here is a link to a picture of Yours Truly in his Gandalf outfit created for the opening of The Two Towers. The lovely lady next to me is, of course, my wonderful wife. I envied her a bit -- I worked for some time with a sewing friend to make my costume, but my gracious and gorgeous spouse just pulled some things from her wardrobe and voila! An elf maid. Too bad elves don't wear glasses. __________________ The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius

05-08-2008, 12:52 PM	#3
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	Here are three pictures of myself as Boromir. They were taken the other day. http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...=Boromir12.jpg http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...=Boromir15.jpg http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...t=Boromir1.jpg __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring

10-23-2009, 04:08 AM	#5
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I wish I had an(other) excuse to dress up in some tolienish costume, it's such fun. This year this far I've only dressed up as Darth Maul once and missed my chance to dress up as a Renaissance painting Virgin Mary. deep sigh thinks of brainwashing a friend to change an upcoming Dinsey costume party to a LotR costume party And all you 'downers should dress up as people and post the pics here because it's so much fun. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

01-04-2010, 07:32 AM	#7
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	How did you do your crown Laurinque? I was clipping back my willow tree yesterday (neither old man nor whomping) and thought about making a crown like Thranduil's Autumn one with the strands... so far it looks more like a crown of thorns but it was a first attempt and I have more... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

11-07-2009, 11:27 PM	#6
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 347	When I was ten years old, which was right after The Two Towers film came out, I participated in an extremely abridged play version of The Fellowship of the Ring. I had never read FotR nor even seen the film but never the less I was chosen to play Galadriel for reasons still unknown to me. But as this was a very small production everyone was required to play two parts, my second being a nameless orc. In order to fit my part I had to come up with a suitable costume for Galadriel; I carefully constructed myself a crown of golden aspen leaves that had a tendency fly off my head if the ribbons that held it in place came undone, something which I believe occurred at least once in the play. However this was probably not even noticed among the disorganised throngs of confused children trying to remember who was an orc and who was a member of the Fellowship (without much makeup we all looked rather alike). I also had a long purple dress fastened with a golden belt and a floaty white silk cape adorned with a tassel and beads. Canonical it was not but I remember having a wonderful time being aloof and speaking a majestic voice, I only wish I could do it again.