Benny makes a Charlie cosplay

[Bennyspaceman]

OK so ive been wanting to cosplay Charlie for a little bit, but as the little cosplay perfectionist I am, im aiming for the concept of keeping the character in the time period rather than doing exactly what she looks like ingame.
So this means I have to do a bunch of research about the 1900s-1910s (which is, unfortunately, a very obscure and not easily researched time period), so i have to reach out to the 1910s-1920s, and a little into the Edwardian era when need be. I know very little about these time periods. Im also much too lazy to talk about what ive found and info ive dug up so heres my ideas so far;

I traced my own figure (on the right), then narrowed the waist down slightly further as if i was wearing a corset.
Ill be wearing a corset, and make a blouse from the 1910s (but exclude the sleeves) that has a lace neck that goes all the way up, and flares out ever so slightly. The dress itself is three parts; The grey underskirt will button around my waist as they did in the time, the black overskirt will either be part of the vest or also button around my waist, then the vest itself will be embellished with some black lace, since that was quite common for dresses at the time.

The hat is just a simple pillbox hat (which is from the 30s but honestly i couldnt find anything closer) with a large red ostrich plume attached to it. It would be attached to a headband. I bought ten red plumes from amazon and theyre exacly what i needed, and im slowly collecting the things i need for this cosplay so it doesnt end up being hundreds of dollars. I also plan on modelling and 3d printing the tragic torch at some point. Her makeup is going to be a bit difficult to figure out since its pretty hard to see the makeup of showwomen from that time period, but from what ive seen its pretty close to what she has.

As of right now, im going to focus on trying to find and possibly purchase patterns and make a mockup dress before using the nice expensive fabric.

I will also have to get a black wig, as I am a brunette. The hairstyle of the time that i found the most similar were certain images of a pompadour, which went all the way from the Edwardian era to around the 10s-20s. Some of those hairstyles look very similar to what she has, I will simply have to figure out which one and how style the wig.

 

If anyone else is able to dig up similar styles to charlie that are in the 1900s-1910s that would be pretty cool, since im still iffy on the neck and wrists.

[Bennyspaceman]

I plan on stacking two feathers on top of each other to simulate having one thick feather, since its really hard to find just ONE red plume at a decent price, not including $50 shipping yeesh. The feather with and without a slightly smaller one stacked on top. I chose the most untrimmed looking feather since it felt more lush and 1900s-y. Theyre longer than they look in the photo lol

 

[Bennyspaceman]

Wig came in!! I plan on styling it with a pompadour and rolls much like the other image attached. Dont worry about how bad the style is right now, that was me quickly slapping something together to see if my idea would even work lmao. Im going to have to hide the hairline of this wig since its very strange so the rolls are going to have to droop down a bit. The middle part on this thing is never going to come out so i have to work around that

Edited March 29, 2024 by Bennyspaceman

[Cackenberg]

This looks like its going to be awesome! Go9d luck with the rest

[Bennyspaceman]

Update! I think i managed to get all the fabric I need because conveniently a fabric store somewhat near my place was closing so I got banger deals. Just finished a test skirt made out of the cheapest fabric they had. It has the scouts oath on it lol. Camera wont show it though. Didnt bother hemming it up to the right height so its a bit long. Got my actual fabric all cut and ironed and the grey skirt part of the dress should be finished soon (my camera is trash I apologize in advance). The skirt tutorial i found was this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFpB9yS12PU. Im not making it nearly as short, though.

 

 

[Bennyspaceman]

The grey skirt is finished! Managed to find a grey thread for the hemming on the bottom. It was a bit old and delicate but i managed lol. The belt thats a big mess will be hidden by the vest so i just used a more reliable thread which happened to be white. I might tighten the elastic a little bit more so it stays higher up but other than that its all done >:) off to figure out the overskirt

[Bennyspaceman]

Whoopsie I thought I updated this with the overskirt as well, but Ive successfully made a test overskirt and blazer for the dress! (nothing is ironed lol its crinkly atm) Debating where to put the lace since I dont quite have enough for the whole outline. Before anyone asks, I got the blazer pattern by buying a cheapo fitted one from value village and taking it apart. I traced the peices onto paper and figured out how to put it together on my test fabric. Big thinky project. Next step is to make those two parts out of my black fabric and to make it look pretty with lace :)
And at some point finish styling the wig oml it is NOT cooperating

[Bennyspaceman]

Overskirt finished! My camera doesnt do it justice at all it looks way better irl, but i love the way it trails sm. Shoutout to markiplier for supplying all the videos ive been watching while making this

 

[Bennyspaceman]

Blazer is DONE!!! This thing took forever and SO much brainpower to try and attach the lining the original blazer came with. overall pretty happy! Might add another button, not sure yet. Ill make that decision after I make the Blouse. Again, apologies for the terrible camera

 

[gaymime]

will you be putting the structuring in it as well or are you going to leave it soft?

[Bennyspaceman]

2 hours ago, gaymime said:

will you be putting the structuring in it as well or are you going to leave it soft?

ive decided not to give it structuring, since im going for a more realistic dress in the time period than stylized

[gaymime]

48 minutes ago, Bennyspaceman said:

ive decided not to give it structuring, since im going for a more realistic dress in the time period than stylized

oh, no i am saying that because there would have been a fair amount of structuring to hold the shape while in movement and to keep it from falling after a sit!

[Bennyspaceman]

36 minutes ago, gaymime said:

oh, no i am saying that because there would have been a fair amount of structuring to hold the shape while in movement and to keep it from falling after a sit!

Everything sits quite nicely so far, ive worn this a bit to test out its comfortability and nothing falls off, hence why i put an elastic on the skirt

[gaymime]

13 minutes ago, Bennyspaceman said:

Everything sits quite nicely so far, ive worn this a bit to test out its comfortability and nothing falls off, hence why i put an elastic on the skirt

my apologies "falling" refers to a the piece losing its shape do to pressure, tension and crushing. the quintessential late edwardian "look" gets a lot of its structure from drawers, bum pads, a petersham and combinations. it not only provides the right shape but also gives you places to pin things so that they don't shift around ^^ the game does play a little fast and loose with time but charlie's other clothes indicate it is early 20's so there wouldnt be as much corseting(though it still certainly existed)

 

no worries though, if you are just taking pictures and not moving around it won't really be too noticeable to people who aren't into historical fashion<3

[Bennyspaceman]

1 hour ago, gaymime said:

my apologies "falling" refers to a the piece losing its shape do to pressure, tension and crushing. the quintessential late edwardian "look" gets a lot of its structure from drawers, bum pads, a petersham and combinations. it not only provides the right shape but also gives you places to pin things so that they don't shift around ^^ the game does play a little fast and loose with time but charlie's other clothes indicate it is early 20's so there wouldnt be as much corseting(though it still certainly existed)

 

no worries though, if you are just taking pictures and not moving around it won't really be too noticeable to people who aren't into historical fashion<3

Ah those. I did think of those, but the very specific fashion period of the 1900s-1910s doesnt actually have any butt bumpers or many artificial shapes. The most I have are shoulder pads on the blazer and a corsette mostly for the posture. That one specific period was moreso about having a slimmer dress overall while still having an hourglass. Womens fashion just changes so fast lol

Edited August 12, 2024 by Bennyspaceman

[Bennyspaceman]

The "blouse" is done! No way did I have enough to make a whole blouse so its really more of an overglorified bib that wraps around the neck lol. Its got snaps in the back to hold it in place. might add either pins or hidden snaps so it doesnt fall out of the front or anyhting like that when moving around. Might bother to reinforce it with either starch or a wire of sorts so it doesnt roll down my neck. Now I actually have to work on the wig ew

 

[Bennyspaceman]

Hat is pretty much done. I know its not really the hat she has, she has more of a default facinator, but neither this hat or her actual hat are really in the time period. Pretty sure this one is a bit closer to the time period, honestly i cant remember. I just wanted to make a pillbox hat lol. I just need to hunt down a plain thin headband and the hat is all set. The wig is still giving me issues so if I somehow cant style it by the comicon we are going wigless and Charlie will have brown hair lmao

[Bennyspaceman]

i COMPLETELY forgot about actually posting the finished result LOL. Blocking my face out bc i can but yuh. The only good photo I have of the cosplay atm (It was at the end of the comicon when the wig started unstyling itself a bit lol)
You can really see the difference in the dye colour for the lace top

ill probably post more (and better) photos of the cosplay at some point lol

[MaskedMildew]

WOW, seriously great work! I love when a cosplay is pulled off perfect. 

[This14Real]

Wow! You look really good as Charlie.