Forays into Cosplay

[moon_custafer]

harley_closeup, a photo by ennalss on Flickr.

A couple of weeks ago, I started imagining a late-1940s version of Harley Quinn. I even think she could have a backstory where she worked either on a VA psych ward or in the psychological warfare/propaganda department, and by the end of the war she cracks, and takes refuge in a playful anarchy inspired by the Marx Brothers movies she loved as a kid.

Anyway, I've been making a first attempt at a costume. I'm not really happy with the sleeves (the shoulders should be puffier for one thing) and I need to find some way to get the half-peplum to jut out more. Also I need to make a matching skirt and a hat. But I think I like where this is going. I'm also going to try to make a prop "Flit" insecticide gun, as I envision it as her weapon of choice (Dr. Suess famously drew Flit's ads, and also one of their sprayers appeared in Animal Crackers).

Comments

[bleodswean.livejournal.com]

THIS. Yes!

[leave-harmony.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeeeeee so cool! :D

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

I also figure she should be rocking the sexy librarian look as seen on Dorothy Malone (http://youtu.be/AO9Q-81w6KQ) in The Big Sleep (she's a bookstore manager, actually, but you get the idea).

[donald hutton (from livejournal.com)]

A very good look but for Harley I think the Devil-May-Care attitude of the taxi cab driver in the same movie makes her a better fit.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Looking good. To get the half-peplum to jut out, would inserting some kind of stiffener do the trick?

[sushidog.livejournal.com]

Cute! Would making the peplum a bit fuller help? Or adding some firm interfacing.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

The pattern calls for interfacing, but I skipped it. I think I might add a half-circular peplum to that side when I make the skirt, and see if it can act like a mini half-petticoat under the jacket.