Costumes, masks , robes, etc.

[Ensign_202]

posted on 7-26-2002 at 04:40 PM

Costumes, masks , robes, etc.

I don't know much about the Klingon Empire; so I am open to history, and the language.
I would really like a Klingon costume but I don't have very much money. Is there some really cheap costumes somewhere? I am also looking for a good language course.
There are no Klingon Guilds in my area. Please Help!
 

[Kesvirit]

posted on 7-30-2002 at 10:14 PM

Costuming and Language Suggestions

I know of two excellent sites on costuming:
K'Put's Closet at http://www.geocities.com/barbebony/index.html
and the KAG Quartermaster's at http://qm.kag.org. Unfortunately both sites presume that uou know something about costume design and construction. As for cost, I don't think there is such a thing as a cheap costume. Certainly one that won't look even cheaper, and that's not what you want. The cheapest way to make a costume is to be able to improvise and most of us don't have the skills or the experience for that.

Having given the question some thought I think you're best bet may be to look into theatre tech classes at your school if they have them. If they offer a costuming class they can probably help you get materials a reduced cost; they may even be included as part of your lab fees. If you can provide a list of needed supplies and patterns that you got off the net they can walk you through the process.

Community colleges are another good option, thought they may have minumum age requirements for registration and expect a lot more from you in time and effort.

As for language, http://www.kli.org is the place to start.

- Kesvirit

[EnkiDu BaQ]

I too am fairly new at klindom and do not have access to other klingons as there are none in my area.

I found a pattern for  a mens renasaince shirt and used that for the basic tunic.  I bought a silver lamay material for the back and a quilted silver lamay for the front.  The sleeves I made from a black material with sequins on it.  I used a black cording for the area that goes across the tunic just below the brest bone.  For the collar piece, I used some more of the silver quilted lamay and a piece of thin vinyl for the neck piece.  I also used thin vinyl for the gauntlets.  These I attatched to the sleeves of the tunic.

I am in the process of making a female imperial costume.  I am again using a renasaince pattern.  I am using a pattern for a female vest.  This time the material is a gray vinyl that I found in a fabric store on the remnent table.  It was 3.99 a yard.

For the bottom of the costume, I am making a skirt of the same vinyl and I will make 3" panels all the way around it for movement. I will wear black leggings under this.

For the sleeves of the top I am using a foux fur material.  Again I went to the remnents pile for this.

Hope this helps you.  I have found that you can have a pretty fantastic costume and not have to spend a lot of money.

Enkidu

[qoSagh]

Costumes/Uniforms need not be expensive. Mine has built up over time, but has gon through many revisions. My first attempt was a black renasaince shirt worn under a black down vest. Very hot but had a semi-armored look. From there I was given a gift of a Gold tank top (similar to TOS style) which I still wear today. I was wearing a black turtle neck under that, then went to a black long sleeved t-shirt with a red turtle neck dickie under it. I recently purchased a Klingon Imperial neck goshee (sp) and arm braces, so now mine is a strange mix of Imperial and TOS, which had served to give me a unique appearance.

For pants I had originally started with black jeans but those faded to grey too fast. I went to black work pants but they were uncomfortable. I was wearing sweatpants for a while, these looked great from a distance, especially when tucked into & folded over the tall boots, but lacked durrability and pockets. By accident once I forgot to pack the sweatpants going toa paintball game where we were holding a Klingon trial after the game. I had to wear my black BDU's that I'd worn all day in battle, which brought many positive comments. I now wear the BDU's (minus the mud and dirt) with my uniform.

With the exception fo the newer vinyl pieces all of my uniform came from retail stores or was cheap handmade paternless stuff from fabric remnants. Any one piece is nothing special, but when put together they look good. I do hope to have armor someday soon, but am in no hurry.

 

[HoS'etlh]

I see I am not the only warrior that goes the BDU route.

I am always in need of pockets, and 'regulation' Klingon threads are short on those.

Qapla'


[Edit -- Discussion on Klingon britches continues here.]

[qoSagh]

One other way around the pockets issue is belt pouches. I actually have a Klingon fanny pack with the komerex stella silk screened on to it. I keep the small uniforms pieces in it, so I always have it with me if needed at conventions. Sadly it was an unlicensed product, and the dealer was shut down. I was able to get a couple of patches from her, but by the time I met her, paraborg was hot on her tail.

[Klythe]

Great idea!  Even if you can't buy them anymore, it is a great ideal for a project of your own.  Sewing a Klingon patch on a plain belt pouch or fanny pack is relatively simple and inexpensive.

    I was toying with sewing a pouch into my sash, to give it more weight as well as storage for small costume items and some things for quick costume field surgery, such as a small sewing kit, a small bottle of medical adhesive and a makeup stick.    My other idea involved spray painting mint tins and somehow attaching them to the sash.   I haven't exactly figured out how to attach them yet.  I was hoping for a system that would let me remove them later if I needed more room on the sash for awards and such, but I'm not sure how practical that is going to be.  I may have to just go ahead and attach pin studs to the tin and hold it on with pinsavers, bit I'm not sure how much weight that will hold.  And if the tins pop open, there could be a bit of a mess depending what I keep in them.

[qoSagh]

Weight isn't a problem with my sash, as it is made of metal. If there will not be much stored inside, howabout putting the pouch on the inside? That way it will not interfere with awards and be more or less invisible to everyone else? Although I think a belt pouch would be better, simply because it willnot interfere with the more ceremonial garment of the sash, and even unmarked, it won't look "unKlingon" to most folks.