Updated 6 August 2005 [home] [Sailor Saga]
So general notes, after browsing the TV books, going from top to bottom and NOT including Luna, as she's different enough to warrant her own volume of notes:
- Hair jewels are pretty straightforward, but we need to find the right look for the cabochons. Have found bracelets with large plastic cabochons - will be perfect when taken apart! Venus’ hair bow is easy to make.
- Headbands can either be purchased through Catzia’s Collectibles, or we can make our own. Decided to purchase - sent online order in on 4 July.
- Chokers are simply poly fabric with belting interfacing, topstitched on both edges for stabilizing (they use the same fabric for the collars and skirts); velcro closure, hot-glued charms (btw: all the grrls have CLIP earrings! Guess they think holes are gross?).
- Gloves: purchased matte nylon. Cuffs are painted, molded foam, attached by snaps or velcro (prefer snaps, as velcro will trash the gloves). The cuffs also have a small piece of elastic in them to tighten the fit and allow muscle movement. Since it’s insanely expensive to order custom foam (I requested quotes), I’ve ordered 1” diameter foam tubing from efoamstore.com. It’ll be sliced in half to create half-rounds, glued to a fabric base, then painted.
- Watches: purchased from Catzia’s Collectibles and Atamaii.com.
- Costume body base is heavyweight Spandex sleeveless leo that everything is attached to. Good source is Discount Dance Supply. As of 7 July, have decided to build our own. That way we know that the leos will fit, be opaque, and match the hip piping, which is very important. From Barnes and Noble, I've ordered Kwik Sew's Swim and Action Wear, which has master patterns for leos, bikinis, and swimsuits; and Haggar's Pattern Cutting for Lingerie, Beachwear and Leisurewear, which is more of an industry book.
- There appears to be another layer (guessing it to be bust support, made of 1⁄4” foam or Spandex) between the leo and the vest - they've also used it to attach the collar to. Don’t know if we’re going to include that or not. Probably not – as far as I can tell, it’s not necessary and it’s just one more thing to worry about.
- Vest: most likely a dense 1/4" thick craft foam, most likely covered with Spandex. Option for curvier ladies: make with 1/4" industrial felt – can steam and shape it easier than the foam. The problem is industrial felt is EXPENSIVE, e.g. approx. $65/yd. Instead, I’ve gone with 1⁄4" thick white Volara foam from foambymail.com. It’s about $10.68 per yard, 60” wide. In the photos, the vest edges are butted together, with some sort of white tape over the closure to hide and reinforce it. The vest closes by overlapping under left arm, and stays together most likely with (shudder) velcro. It’s better to use snaps, as they won't catch the fabric and shred it.
- Vest’s cap sleeves: assuming leather-look vinyl (easier to clean than leather) padded and channel-stitched, glued in place. (In some pix, you can see some stitching for the channels.)
- Collar attached to underside of between layer, as mentioned before. Mid-weight interfaced poly (same used in chokers and skirts) with middy braid.
- All bows poly; butt bows attach w/whopper poppers. Both the CF and butt bows are actually two rectangles pleated and attached together to give the illusion of bowage. The bow rectangle's long seam is in the middle of the back, so you don't see the seaming.
- Bow jewels (and Mars’ hip piping jewel): see hair jewels above.
- Jeweled belts: these are pretty straightforward plastic cabochons attached together by chain links. The chain one can get at craft stores, the cabochons are going to take some searching. We might be able to find something usable either online or in a store.
- Hip piping: Spandex around foam core tubing. The CF and CB are cut at a perfect right angle and the two pieces are butted together, then hand-stitched. The tubing is the same stuff as the cuffs, from efoamstore.com.
- Poly skirts pleated on a curve just above hip bone. Will do straight-pleated-to-a-circle with some slight angling to increase flare, as it will reduce the math involved. Each skirt will be pleated to the Sailor's body so it's a custom fit. Not sure how they do the piping/skirt thing, but most likely they attach the skirt to the piping, then the piping to the leo. This would be for ease of cleaning: just pop off the piping and throw the leo in the laundry. Poly is the same fabric as used in the chokers and collars.
- Hose: this is a shimmery (per the photos) opaque flesh tone, purchased from Discount Dance again. If it’s too shimmery, we can always go back to the matte flesh tone.
- Boots: purchased. The best thing to do, barring finding actual styles we can use, is getting a shoe base that works, then building a boot cover in the color of vinyl we need. If the boot is leather, it can be painted with Angelus leather shoe paint. If it’s vinyl or any other sort of artificial material, the paint won’t stick.
Do I not have enough to do? andrea at nekowafer dot net