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Cosplay: A place to discuss and show off your costuming skills => SW Costumes Robes, Belts etc... => Topic started by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 08:44:21 AM

Title: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 08:44:21 AM
Okay, so I have to finish up all my lightsaber projects, then I need to save some money and also buy some real-world clothes, but I should eventually within the next year be able to afford a high-quality Jedi costume.

This is what I want to base my design off of:

So first of all, I don't have much in way of sewing skills, but my roommate makes costumes fairly often and can help me. Any suggestions on a good fabric to make this out of, so I can start planning? Those of you who have seen my lightsaber thread know that I plan EVERYTHING. There's 11 pages of planning before I even had any physical parts on-hand. I think this should be fairly reasonable to do, and I have a few kimono patterns that I could loosely base this off of.

I'm also not entirely sold on the blue, since my lightsaber will be green, but I really like the accent of the red tie on the blue fabric. I also look pretty good in blue, I definitely have a "Winter" skin tone. For the boots, I will just buy regular boots that I like and I need a nice pair anyhow, but I'll probably go with a chunky heel.

Thoughts, suggestions, advice? Thank you!

EDIT: I am also considering contacting TwinRoses about making this, but I will wait until I have at least a few hundred dollars ready to go.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Artorius Vidnyl on December 14, 2011, 08:48:57 AM
I bought from Twin Roses earlier this year.  I contacted them in March an didn't make a purchase until July.  If you want to start the ball rolling, get some info on price and some help on what they can order etc you can shoot them an early email.  They're really good with that.

Regardless, that looks like a cool and unique outfit!  Can't wait to see the finished product.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 14, 2011, 09:05:10 AM
Twin rose all the way.  For that costume if it were me I'd plan on maybe $300 for the top part. Plan several months out as they get busy at times.  I think I ordered three months out.

 Get your own leggings to match for cheap like we Jedi use kaki dockers for.  Just pick around for a color that matches or get white and dye them.

For the upper short robe you might want to think about something very lightweight that flows and blows freely, unlike wool that is heavy.  There are sheers, silk and other fabrics that would work great.

For boots the best of the best is Daniel in Peru.  Look up Facebook for jdos productions.  Mine were $300 shipped.  He does custom work and could most likely make you a pair.  Plan several months out.  I paid on 6-14 and got them a few days before Halloween.

You could also get black women's riding boots off eBay for cheap.  You could get some leather and Velcro on the front straps.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 09:07:21 AM
Thanks for the advice! I guess I'll have to budget for about $1000 for a complete costume then, which might mean delaying it a bit. I'm just finishing grad school and will have student loans to pay back soon.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 09:13:24 AM
Madden Girl has these two which might work and they're each under $100. I like the left one better. I'm also pretty short and wear heels everyday, so I'm still considering a chunky 2" or 3" heel.

I also really like the idea of something super-lightweight or sheer for the outer bits of the costume.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 14, 2011, 09:56:34 AM
Not counting my saber, mine ran around $800.

Twin rose took about $350
Boots took $300
My custom belt made by me took around $150 and that included pouches and capsules.

You can do it a lot cheaper if you can sew or know someone that can.



Those boots look great and almost like my son's boots I bought for Halloween.  $100 is a great price for them looking that awesome.  You could mod them by adding straps.  It would take a little trial and error trying to match stains. Your best bet is to drive to Tandy leather.  You have one about 20 minutes west of BOS.  They could help you match the color and also you could rummage through their scrap bins for cheap strips of leather to make the straps.  You could get out of there for about $12 or so.

Evenflo stain is around $6-ish.  Scrap leather in the seconds bin around $8-ish.

My only grip about the boots' and this is just me being picky, is the visible zipper down the side.  Certainly not worth passing them up for.  My sons boots have the zipper on the back.  Still visible but not as much in pics.

Great looking boots.  If I were you I'd go with those unless you want to cough up another $200 for handmade ones.  Before buying them though, sound a few hours searching eBay.  There are often great deals on women's riding boots.  Dont jump too quickly before you see what else is out there.  I spent several days searching for my sons boots.  I almost jumped on a real leather ones only to find his current pair.  I'm glad I waited because his new ones are far better than the original ones I saw.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 14, 2011, 10:08:27 AM
Madden Girl has these two which might work and they're each under $100. I like the left one better. I'm also pretty short and wear heels everyday, so I'm still considering a chunky 2" or 3" heel.

(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1100.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg410%2Furmnothanks%2Fzandorablk-2.jpg&hash=e0eb9f388325cb144253751feadfe0b116d74c8a) (http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g410/urmnothanks/zandorablk-2.jpg)(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1100.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg410%2Furmnothanks%2Fg-aviablk-2.jpg&hash=39bdebb50a24eec82f2c81802c94c2a60334c96d) (http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g410/urmnothanks/g-aviablk-2.jpg)

I also really like the idea of something super-lightweight or sheer for the outer bits of the costume.

Very similar to my son's boots found here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270836071120?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2587wt_922
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 10:08:41 AM
Thanks, LUKE.

I'm definitely the type to look around and explore all my options. These pair were off of eBay, but I'll also make a trip to DSW and stuff. I don't plan on starting buying stuff for my costume until I have all my sabers finished, which is a good bit of money in and of itself.

~$200 - to finish my custom saber
~$150 - to get another 3-cell Graflex flash
~$50 - to get another Exactra 20

So I've already spent too much on my sabers, so it might be awhile before this costume really gets under way.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Green Ranger on December 14, 2011, 11:13:33 AM
I like the costume, be nice to see it in person :) Maybe you will be at CVI to show off your Custom and your Costume next year?
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 11:16:41 AM
I like the costume, be nice to see it in person :) Maybe you will be at CVI to show off your Custom and your Costume next year?

Depends on money and time. I'll probably go to Anime Boston and PAX East in costume (if it's ready in time), but I don't know about CVI yet. I might also go to SDCC, because there's actually a professional conference going on in San Diego that same time period (Society of American Archivists annual conference).
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 14, 2011, 03:58:21 PM
Personally I'd put the costume before more sabers.  How many do you need?  But a costume?  You can start trooping if you like, you can enjoy cons in dress' etc etc.  A who,e bunch of sabers mostly sit on a shelf.

Just my $.02 on where to spend your money.  But, you know best what fits your goals and desires.  We are here to give you a different perspective.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Corran Horn on December 14, 2011, 04:26:50 PM
That is an awesome costume.  I like the idea of seeing a Jedi costume that is a lot more feminine.  The idea that all female Jedi wore baggy clothes, or jumpsuits always sort of bugged me.

I swear, my feelings on this matter have nothing at all to do with being a male of the species..... ;)
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 04:36:26 PM
Personally I'd put the costume before more sabers.  How many do you need?  But a costume?  You can start trooping if you like, you can enjoy cons in dress' etc etc.  A who,e bunch of sabers mostly sit on a shelf.

Just my $.02 on where to spend your money.  But, you know best what fits your goals and desires.  We are here to give you a different perspective.

For me it's about finishing one project before I begin another. Four of those five sabers are static props - only my custom saber will be LED-lit, the other four really are just display pieces. So I've got to finish those before my brain can move onto other projects.

That is an awesome costume.  I like the idea of seeing a Jedi costume that is a lot more feminine.  The idea that all female Jedi wore baggy clothes, or jumpsuits always sort of bugged me.

I swear, my feelings on this matter have nothing at all to do with being a male of the species..... ;)

No, it's true from the female perspective, too. Why would I want to wear something baggy, shapeless, and essentially color-less?
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: BEN KENOBI on December 14, 2011, 05:01:54 PM
 ;)

I really like your idea for a costume!!I hope it works out for you. ;)
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: DARTH MAUL on December 14, 2011, 05:05:37 PM
Just for reference if you did decide to join the rebel legion with the costume here are the requirements below. With the colors in the picture with current standards it would be classified as a generic new republic jedi:

Generic Jedi, New Republic
Required Items:

    Outer Tunic/Jacket
    Utility Belt (similar to canon belts in construction) with D-ring
    Leather, suede, leather-like boots at least calf length. No rubber boots or visible laces
    Lightsaber (no toys) and no red blade
    Pants or skirt
    No visible t-shirts
    No loud colors like pink or neon green. Natural colors like brown, black, grey, white, green, blue, and red are fine.

Formal Requirements:
You must have at least three items from the list to be formal.

    Robe or Cape (Recommended)
    Leather (or similar) Pouches
    Vest or tabards
    Obi/Sash
    Belt tools-- droid caller, battery packs, etc.
    Blaster with holster

The boots would be fine as they meet the requirements and the zipper as long as its inside calf is fine as well.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 14, 2011, 05:16:54 PM
Just for reference if you did decide to join the rebel legion with the costume here are the requirements below. With the colors in the picture with current standards it would be classified as a generic new republic jedi:

Generic Jedi, New Republic
Required Items:

    Outer Tunic/Jacket
    Utility Belt (similar to canon belts in construction) with D-ring
    Leather, suede, leather-like boots at least calf length. No rubber boots or visible laces
    Lightsaber (no toys) and no red blade
    Pants or skirt
    No visible t-shirts
    No loud colors like pink or neon green. Natural colors like brown, black, grey, white, green, blue, and red are fine.

Formal Requirements:
You must have at least three items from the list to be formal.

    Robe or Cape (Recommended)
    Leather (or similar) Pouches
    Vest or tabards
    Obi/Sash
    Belt tools-- droid caller, battery packs, etc.
    Blaster with holster

The boots would be fine as they meet the requirements and the zipper as long as its inside calf is fine as well.

I'm not really sure if I'm going to be trooping - probably just cons and for Halloween and stuff. I would also be using a Covertec clip, because let's face it, it's a better clip, despite my love for the D-rings on the OT sabers.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: LadySythe on December 14, 2011, 06:27:30 PM
I paid 200 for a custom sized raw silk kimono style tunic and matching waist cinched from Darkspectre. Alas I am unsure if their store is store open. Last time I tried to get into their website it was down. But the work is exceptional...though I had to modify it cuz of my hips... *coughs* Its now part of my official Dark Empire costume club Sith costume  ;D 8)

Woohoo! Their site works! Guess they were just updating the sits. http://darkspectre.com/ Thesw people are awesome and cery friendly :-)
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Corran Horn on December 14, 2011, 06:35:33 PM
I know exactly how you feel about the belt clip.  In fact, that is the only part of my costume that wouldn't meet the requirements for a Formal Application to the RL.  I also love the D-ring.  It's classic, you can't beat it for the nostalgic feel.  But really, it's not practical in my opinion.  And as far as that being a "New Republic" standard, I personally think it's ridiculous.  We're basing an entire standard on ONE Jedi.

Just because Luke couldn't seem to find a covertec, or he seemed to prefer the D-ring, doesn't mean (in my mind) that it should be THE choice for all New Rep Jedi.  For all intents and purposes, the only thing that makes my costume not "Old Rep" is that it's green and black. (Which, in following with Corran Horn's personal background would make it perfectly normal for an Old Rep Jedi, since his grandfather's robes were of the same nature.)

Some of the costuming standards need to be updated and broadened slightly to allow for a tiny bit more wiggle room.  The New Republic storylines are just FULL of Jedi wearing different colors and different styles.

(Ya, I know, we need to set the standard somewhere, but it's like saying that just because an airplane doesn't say American Airlines on it,  it can't be an airplane.)
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Forgetful Jedi Knight on December 14, 2011, 06:43:44 PM
Personally I like the D-ring (or something similar) and that's what I put on almost all of my designs.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 15, 2011, 04:22:43 AM
Personally I like the D-ring (or something similar) and that's what I put on almost all of my designs.

Same here.  Looooove it.

Mine will never come off and it looks great.  It's just as easy to take my saber off as using a covertec.  I think my big gripe with a covertec is you need that stupid button sticking out of your hilt.  It gets in the way of dueling.  A dring hangs off the end of your pommel and never gets in the way.

As for the RL and either clip.  Honestly, you will rarely ever hang your saber while trooping.  Kids want it out and lit.  I doubt I'll ever use it.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: ANAKIN SKYWALKER on December 15, 2011, 04:40:45 AM
I say it isn't just as easy to remove the saber.  Especially with a triangle d-ring (ROTJ sabers).  but seriously, the clip always comes off with the saber.  Also, the d-ring lets the saber swing and smack into stuff if you aren't careful.  covertec for me all the way. 
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 15, 2011, 04:50:07 AM
The whole Covertec = Old Republic and D-ring = New Republic seems strange to me.  The Covertec is an improvement over the D-ring. Did the Emperor destroy all the Covertec clips along with the lightsaber crystals? 'Cause they seem like they'd be easy enough to make. It just seems like an overly restrictive requirement based off of a very minor detail in the films.

It also seems like the Covertec would keep the saber more secure while running and jumping and doing flips and stuff than a D-ring.

I don't see too many people with their PDAs or cameras hanging from D-rings. ;) But really, I enjoy the D-ring aesthetic more, but on a 'practical' saber, it's Covertec for me. Also: pockets and purses for your cameras and phones people. :P
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: DARTH MAUL on December 15, 2011, 06:59:13 AM
The requirements are based mostly off the movies. As someone mentioned that really only gives you Luke for New Republic. There are also no future references that I know of in the Expanded Universe of people using convertec clips, but then I could be wrong there. The colors are the other part where in the movies you see no one in blue, but there are EU references to blue tunic/robes so again makes it New Republic. I had the same problem originally with my costume being 90% Old Republic, but I couldn't find anything but black boots. So I submitted as New Republic with a d-ring and then just used my covertec anyway.  :P That's usually what ends up happening. Now I have different brown boots and have a full OR jedi in their eyes.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 15, 2011, 07:13:54 AM
That's a great point maul.  I was told by the judges that I needed to fit a formal Jedi to be approved. That would ensure I had a costume for a sanctioned LFL event that is more critical I guess than an average troop.

I was also told that for regular trooping I could wear whatever type I wanted.  It didn't matter.

So really just play the game to get in I guess then as long as it's not LFL have fun with it.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 15, 2011, 07:32:33 AM
The requirements are based mostly off the movies. As someone mentioned that really only gives you Luke for New Republic. There are also no future references that I know of in the Expanded Universe of people using convertec clips, but then I could be wrong there. The colors are the other part where in the movies you see no one in blue, but there are EU references to blue tunic/robes so again makes it New Republic. I had the same problem originally with my costume being 90% Old Republic, but I couldn't find anything but black boots. So I submitted as New Republic with a d-ring and then just used my covertec anyway.  :P That's usually what ends up happening. Now I have different brown boots and have a full OR jedi in their eyes.

Ah, thanks!

I think the EU has Mara Jade with a Covertec clip. Since her saber was based of a Parks Saber to begin with, and the Master Replicas has a Covertec...I think.

It's not a true Covertec I guess - did they go out of their way to make it NOT a Covertec?

(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saberproject.de%2Fmr%2Fle%2Fmara%2Fmara26.jpg&hash=6c6913e43edbc496d94434892428893783d6cde7)] (http://www.saberproject.de/mr/le/mara/mara26.jpg)

(https://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg183.imageshack.us%2Fimg183%2F476%2Fmarajade34rtb1go3.jpg&hash=f4362dc5e9c755892d7f2f6c25d171179e4ea8be) (http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/476/marajade34rtb1go3.jpg)
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Corran Horn on December 15, 2011, 07:36:57 AM
I totally agree, sometimes you have to just play the game to get admitted.  But as for references in the EU, the neither the d-ring nor the covertec are overly referenced.  They usually just refer to the Jedi "clipping" or "holstering" their weapon.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Satele Shan on December 15, 2011, 07:52:26 AM
If I do decide to go trooping and apply, I'll be using a webbed belt with a Covertec clip on it, then I will wrap the obi over the belt so that only the clip itself sticks out the side of the obi. One thing I really liked about this costume was the elegance of it, and specifically not having utilitarian things like leather utility pouches. It seems really elegant and graceful, and only really needs the Covertec clip in an almost hidden area. It just works with my personal aesthetic sense.

I'm also not sure how much runtime my current custom lightsaber build will have. I can provide the specs, can someone give me a general runtime? I'm guessing 30-40 minutes.

I'm using two 18500 batteries at 7.4v and 1400mAh, powering a PC 1.6 with a 2w speaker and an RGGB 10w LedEngin, with the two green dice lit up as the main blade and the red and blue dice coming in for FoC. No rumble motor, and the only accent LED is on the illuminated AV switch.

Though now that I'm thinking about it, I'll probably build a trooping saber if I do this. I'm not the kind of person who does things halfway. I can make the trooping saber have an ice blue blade (RGBW with blue and white as the main blade, and red and green for a white FOC). Then I can use two 3100mAh 18650s or something like that for a longer runtime. I also didn't really want to duel with my first custom, I was intending it to be more of a show saber.
Title: Re: Satele's Jedi Costume
Post by: Luke S. on December 15, 2011, 09:36:39 AM
Did you already get your 18650s?  If not get the 3100mAh ones like I did.  They should provide for a great runtime.  I'm guessing more than I'll need.  At worst case one battery swap per event.  My setup is almost identical to yours.  RGGB.  No accents or other power drainers.  Simply green blade with FOC. Should be a great trooping saber.