Costuming Advice -- Attention All

[Elena]

This is from an article that is part of a piece in a series being done that includes LARPing and gender. What follows are highlights relevant to our game.

Costuming helps enhance and keep game atmosphere: I can't repeat this enough times. The game organizers can decorate the game space, have awesome NPC costumes and provide cool props, but that can all be put to waste if you suddenly have a cadre of PC's in shabby costumes (t-tunic just thrown over street clothes, for example). Yes, it can be harder to costume for certain genres, however most organizers also understand that if a honest, conscious effort is being made to be more forgiving. At the same time this isn't an excuse to show up in a sloppily created costume. Just as organizers should do all they can to provide a setting that helps you suspend your disbelief and create the feeling and atmosphere conducive to the game they are running, you too have a responsibility to do all that you can to costume appropriately to help enhance and uphold that atmosphere.

(This includes your makeup!)

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As you create or develop the costume for a character make sure that it's appropriate for the game's location, the game's genre and style and your body type. Showing up in a Princess Leia slave girl style outfit, as appropriate as it might be for the character you're playing, it might not be appropriate for the game's location or non-participants that might be in the area. Overly skimpy, risqué and excessively gruesome costumes should be kept to private venues and then only put on and removed within the confines of that venue's changing areas discouraged. ... If you really must wear something that shocking to a game that isn't at a private venue, tone it down as much as you can and then wear a skin colored body suit underneath, that way if something does shift the wrong way you won't suddenly have a horrible, embarrassing and inappropriate wardrobe malfunction. Better yet, have a "public safe" outfit that you can wear for such occasions.

(This can also go for guys!)

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Be aware of the materials you're using or incorporating to make sure that they enhance the costume in a way that fits with the genre. A bright, construction orange shirt probably wouldn’t work well for a fantasy themed game, but might be perfect for that post-apocalypse LARP.

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Be aware of your body type and costume accordingly; some materials and styles are flattering for only certain body types. Yes, this means that just because you can wear something doesn't mean that you necessarily should. Keeping this in mind will not only will help you create something that will flatter your body type and remain comfortable, but can also keep you from creating a health or safety hazard. Wearing a piece that's too large in some way can not only be cumbersome, but can lead to safety issues. Likewise, wearing something that's too small in some way can be a potential health hazard if you can't move or breathe in a fashion that won't cause you to keel over.

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Wear good shoes! It doesn't matter if you're going to be walking around a hotel ballroom or out booking it across a field with a horde of NPCs in tow. Take care of your feet and they'll take care of you. Most game organizers understand this and are willing to be more lenient with footwear/costume clashes (particularly if you have special shoe inserts/orthotics you need to wear). Make sure the shoes you wear are broken in and well cushioned too. Nothing will ruin your feet faster than wearing shoes that you've not broken in or are ill fitting. Likewise, don't wear a style of shoe you're not used to wearing. If you hardly wear high heels, don't suddenly wear a pair of stilettos to a game. Your feet will hate you (and your back might too). If you'll be participating in a live-combat game make sure you wear shoes with at least good arch support and good ground gripping tread on the bottom, good ankle support is strongly recommended.

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Cleaning, repair and storage: Keep your costume pieces cleaned and in good repair and they'll last you a long time. When they get dirty or smelly clean them as soon as you can to keep stains or smells from setting in. Torn or ripped costuming should be repaired as soon as possible keep further damage from compounding the problem or making the costume unwearable. If you don't know how to sew or the damage is beyond your skill to repair check around your LARP group or the LARP community in your area; someone is bound to know how to fix it or know someone who can. If your costume has been in storage for a while air out the pieces before wearing; a musty costume that's been stored away for months on end can be rather unpleasant smelling. Packing small blocks or balls of cedar wood around your costuming are not only good for helping to repel wool eating moths but also keeping mustiness at bay. You may also want to spray down your costume with a product like Febreeze to help clear out any nasty odors it picked up while in storage.

[Merciless Webgod]

You may also want to spray down your costume with a product like Febreeze to help clear out any nasty odors it picked up while in storage.[/i][/u]

By all that is holy, yes, please.

[Moira]

..
Be aware of your body type and costume accordingly; some materials and styles are flattering for only certain body types. Yes, this means that just because you can wear something doesn't mean that you necessarily should. Keeping this in mind will not only will help you create something that will flatter your body type and remain comfortable,

THAT.  Showing skin and wearing form-fitting clothing is a PRIVILEGE, not a right.

[Pickle]

I'm wearing what I want and can afford, I suggest everyone do the same.

[Razvan]

For people who play makeup races (or are interested in playing makeup races) during the summer months, I have one thing to say:

UnderArmour (or similar brand) Long-Sleeve Compression Shirts are a good thing.  They keep you cool, they don't make you waste makeup on your body/limbs, and you'll never have to touch up those areas.  You can also wear summer costuming over top of them and never worry about overheating.

Also, and this goes particularly to people who play Wilder and Sarr - if you're wearing costume ears, try and cover your real ears.  If you have long hair, wear it down.  If you wear a bandanna, pull it down to cover your real ears.  Yes, I wear a headband with ears glued to it.  You'll never see my real ears in play unless some portion of my costuming is accidently torn off.

And to all makeup races - either do the back of your neck, or cover it up.  If you need help doing your neck, just ask someone!  I promise they won't mind helping.  Or I'll gladly help!  Just find me at the healer's guild Friday night.  I respect people who play makeup races, especially in these months, but I respect them MUCH MORE if they take their time with their makeup.

[Elena]

UnderArmour (or similar brand) Long-Sleeve Compression Shirts are a good thing.  They keep you cool, they don't make you waste makeup on your body/limbs, and you'll never have to touch up those areas.  You can also wear summer costuming over top of them and never worry about overheating.

Honestly? They look kind of lame : / Better to get a period looking shirt than have a bright blue, bright red, bright green torso.

[Nicole Robben]

I would also like to throw out there that SOLAR is a PERIOD game.   I.e. set in a Medieval / Renaissance fantasy world, not 1985.  I literally saw a girl dressed in a black tank top and red/black plaid pants at this past event....not period, not even a little bit.  I didn't say anything at the time because I was in the middle of rp but I'm going to start pointing this out to people.  A tunic shirt and a pair of wrap pants will cost you maybe $40, possibly even less.  If you have friends that sew you might even be able to beg them to make you something for the cost of the fabric.

Please try to make your costuming look at least somewhat period; there's nothing that ruins in play atmosphere for me faster than seeing someone dressed like they just walked out of this century. 

[Elena]

Just as an FYI, because I can't edit my post from work, that whole post came from an article someone else wrote, which I linked at the bottom of my post. Im sorry if I didn't make that more clear! It was another piece in the series being done that included the piece on LARPing and gender. I merely posted what I thought was pertinent to our game, and bolded the important portions for those who didn't want to read the whole thing.

[Merciless Webgod]

Just as an FYI, because I can't edit my post from work, that whole post came from an article someone else wrote, which I linked at the bottom of my post. Im sorry if I didn't make that more clear! It was another piece in the series being done that included the piece on LARPing and gender. I merely posted what I thought was pertinent to our game, and bolded the important portions for those who didn't want to read the whole thing.

Was there some question about that? I thought you were very clear.

[Elena]

you can help me make it more clear by linking the article at the top - they blocked the website at work :B

[Merciless Webgod]

you can help me make it more clear by linking the article at the top - they blocked the website at work :B

I think I can manage that.

[Jessyka]

Yea, Hot Topic does not = LARP clothing... for serious.

I make some of my stuff but a lot of the costume pieces I have are actually thrift store finds. If anyone needs help making period style costuming with not a lot of money, I'd be more than happy to help you raid Goodwill and other thrift stores and show you exactly how easy it is not to look like you're a mall goth.

[Crinis]

For people who play makeup races (or are interested in playing makeup races) during the summer months, I have one thing to say:

UnderArmour (or similar brand) Long-Sleeve Compression Shirts are a good thing.  They keep you cool, they don't make you waste makeup on your body/limbs, and you'll never have to touch up those areas.  You can also wear summer costuming over top of them and never worry about overheating.

Also, and this goes particularly to people who play Wilder and Sarr - if you're wearing costume ears, try and cover your real ears.  If you have long hair, wear it down.  If you wear a bandanna, pull it down to cover your real ears.  Yes, I wear a headband with ears glued to it.  You'll never see my real ears in play unless some portion of my costuming is accidently torn off.

And to all makeup races - either do the back of your neck, or cover it up.  If you need help doing your neck, just ask someone!  I promise they won't mind helping.  Or I'll gladly help!  Just find me at the healer's guild Friday night.  I respect people who play makeup races, especially in these months, but I respect them MUCH MORE if they take their time with their makeup.

Seeing you in costume this weekend Tyler helped inspire my long-ago, far-off idea of trying out a Sarr.  I believe my ideas are inspired by ''Zoobaleezoo'', where their fine costuming animals included a lot of spandex for the character I have in mind.  And seeing your undershirt (your skin) really brought that to my attention.

  So, for a white-furred creature, it's perfectly fine and even recommended (if I wanted to say go ''light-armor'' and clothed) to have a white spandex under it all to cover wrists and body like you, right?

(For a better idea of what I'm talking about, ''Whuzzat'' the pink kangaroo from Zoobaleezoo is a perfect example and can be fund easy on youtube)

[Jen Pawley]

The rulebook clearly states if one plays a makeup race, all exposed skin must be covered in makeup. I personally spend the two hours it takes in the summertime to put makeup on my arms, legs, back and stomach so I won't overheat. I agree with Elena that Underarmor looks lame. Makeup like Aquacake is relatively easy to find, and is a water base, which makes summertime application nice and cool.

[John Urtnowski (Zealin)]

I would say if your going to use some kind of clothing to substitute full body paint, then use some kind of tights that you either decorated yourself or are from a costume fitting for your race. But makeup is definitely given much more props because of the time, effort, and the effect of it. Nothing beats well done makeup in my opinion.