Post by StarWarsOnTheBrain on Aug 7, 2004 7:41:40 GMT -5
[glow=silver,3,000]Alrighty, since the official site is being...difficult I'm gonna have to put the info i have up here. If you know of a free site provider that you can recommend please let me know. Thanks.
The Elven Costume
If Ya Can't Be 'Em, Dress Like 'Em
This is my favorite part. I had a great time creating my Elven dress. Although it was a little hurried there at the end, I think I finished a great deal right before I had to leave on Dec. 16. But is was worth it.
I got most of my information from www.elvishcostume.org/, and alleycatscratch.com/lotr/. Elvish Costumes goes over the details of the movie costumes, and Alley Cat is n in depth guide to constructing LOTR costume. I won’t go into any too much that here though. I do plan on going over Elven fabrics, the colors you should use, and the different styles of Elven dress.
Fabrics
I will be going over fabric first. Be careful when you choose your fabric, choosing the wrong can will still give you an awesome costume, but it may detract from your Elvenness. Some good fabrics are:
Basically you want fabrics that flow well, stay away from rough fabrics such as wool or linen. Suede and leather can be used for the Elven “get dirty” (not that they do) clothes, i.e. Legolas’ jerkin, Haldir’s Lorien outfit, the Elven swordsmith’s clothes. Oh and try to stay from the fabrics that use for Disney Princess dresses, you know the ones that look like plastic (actually they are).
Color
The colors of Elven clothing is inspired by nature, which can be said about almost anything Elven. Keep in mind that the movie lighting washes everything out (which is why all actors wear make-up). For example, Galadriel’s Prologue dress is in actually (or so my sources say) ivory, but it appears white in the film.
The colors of your costume seem to depend on which neck of the woods your hailing from, which can be useful for those who wish to represent a particular Elven kingdom. So, choose you home and then choose you colors.
And Elves in general seem to stay away from black.
Style
The last subject I am going to cover is Elven style. If your going to make an Elven costume you will need to know what is considered Elven. I have made some drawings in which I have synthesized the basic Elven outfit. That said I will continue.
Elven Women
You don’t see many She-elves in pants so I’m just going to cover the basic Elven dresses. However, if you do wish to wear a more practical outfit you can take a look at my drawing of the Elven work clothes (below) and use it along with some of my other pictures.
There are two types of Elven dress seen in the movie, the first Basic Elven Dress 1 (I know I’m brilliant) is the simplest.
community.webshots.com/s/image8/9/31/57/126693157ivojBH_ph.jpg
It’s a dress with big sleeves, how simple can you get. There are two necklines seen in this type of dress, a scooped neckline like the one in my picture and a V-shaped neckline like the one in Arwen’s Mourning Gown. Ladies if you a severely lacking in the chest area I suggest that you stay away from the latter neckline, as it will not be very flattering (think big arrow pointing out that your gifts lay elsewhere). While the Elven women aren’t often seen wearing belts (they seem to been abundant in human clothing), there are a few who do. If you have a pattern that has a waist seam that is slanted like the belt in the drawing it is a useful tool (you don’t want too many seams showing). Many different styles of sleeves are seen on this dress
The second type of dress Basic Elven Dress 2 (there’s more original though for you).
community.webshots.com/s/image9/1/51/96/126715196fDaKfZ_ph.jpg
It is composed of an under dress with tight fitting sleeves and an over dress that is buttoned down the front to a cumberbund after that it is split down the front showing the under dress. It has a high collar and the sleeves open up mid-elbow to show those of the under dress (which is a darker color). The sleeves may vary as with dress one. Which brings us to our next subject, sleeves.
There are three different types of sleeves.
community.webshots.com/s/image10/1/54/16/126715416owKnQt_ph.jpg
The one-piece sleeve are the ones seen in dress one and in Galadriel’s dresses, they are made in different shapes and lengths. Petaled sleeves like those seen in Arwen’s Angel Dress and her Riding Outfit. Petaled sleeves a split at or just below the elbow so that the fabric underneath is visible. Sometimes they may be attached to the under-layer, as they appear to be in the Angel Dress. And then you have 2-piece sleeves (the lower drawing), these sleeves are seen in Arwen’s Blood Red Dress (seen in ROTK). As far as I’ve seen the upper sleeve is made of a brocade, and the lower sleeve is made of a solid color (normally the background color of the brocade) with a brocade ribbon separating the two parts.
Elven Men
I apologize that Elrond’s robes are not in color, but I got the drawings perfect, and I was afraid I would mess them up if I added color.
Elven Robes– The men’s robes are made of many different layers, a tunic and an outer robe. This is a drawing based on the tunic seen underneath Elrond’s and Celeborn’s robes.
community.webshots.com/s/image8/1/37/6/126713706CBiJIf_ph.jpg
Note: Celeborn’s underrobe is a false wraparound.
Long loose pants resembling coolats are worn underneath. The tunic is made of a lighter color than the outer robes, and the fabric is probably satin or silk duponi. The outer robes come in varying degrees of difficulty and simplicity.
community.webshots.com/s/image11/1/40/17/126714017RruKNo_ph.jpg
Elrond’s blue-silver robes in the library scene with Gandalf are as simple as we see them. The ones seen in the Rivendell council scene however appear rather difficult, and I wouldn’t want to try them with out a pattern. Dark with a contrasting lining (e.g. bronze velvet with gold silk lining), and I have yet to see them not made of velvet. The belt should be made of satin in a color to match the outer robes, it doesn’t have to have embroidery, but it looks more Elven if it does.
Elven work clothes— otherwise known as Elven “get dirty clothes”, not that they ever do. Since Legolas’ clothes are the only example I have I will basically be describing Legolas’ outfit.
community.webshots.com/s/image11/1/56/0/126715600podvpu_ph.jpg
First of all you have his pants, basically leggings, you’d probably made them out of a stretchy knit (make sure it’s smooth). His boots I haven’t quite figured out yet, but they’re moccasin like as far as I can tell.. Next you have his silk duponi shirt, seen in the Lothlorien scene and the Rivendell Council scene (underneath the his cloak), the shirt reaches all the way to his wrist and makes up most of the lower sleeve of his jerkin. Now we get to the suede jerkin, which appears to be two colors laid on top of each other, the sleeves only reach to about the elbow, and, like the shirt underneath, appears to open down the front (it’s probably a false front with a hidden zipper in the back).
If you would like to see the full size version of my drawings go here: community.webshots.com/user/marillethemadelf [/glow]
The Elven Costume
If Ya Can't Be 'Em, Dress Like 'Em
This is my favorite part. I had a great time creating my Elven dress. Although it was a little hurried there at the end, I think I finished a great deal right before I had to leave on Dec. 16. But is was worth it.
I got most of my information from www.elvishcostume.org/, and alleycatscratch.com/lotr/. Elvish Costumes goes over the details of the movie costumes, and Alley Cat is n in depth guide to constructing LOTR costume. I won’t go into any too much that here though. I do plan on going over Elven fabrics, the colors you should use, and the different styles of Elven dress.
Fabrics
I will be going over fabric first. Be careful when you choose your fabric, choosing the wrong can will still give you an awesome costume, but it may detract from your Elvenness. Some good fabrics are:
- Velvet or panne (a cheaper substitute for velvet, looks the same but the prices are much different, the difference being $15)
- Silk
- Brocade with an Elven design (no dragons)
- Satin
- Shimmery knits (i.e. Arwen’s Angel Dress)
Basically you want fabrics that flow well, stay away from rough fabrics such as wool or linen. Suede and leather can be used for the Elven “get dirty” (not that they do) clothes, i.e. Legolas’ jerkin, Haldir’s Lorien outfit, the Elven swordsmith’s clothes. Oh and try to stay from the fabrics that use for Disney Princess dresses, you know the ones that look like plastic (actually they are).
Color
The colors of Elven clothing is inspired by nature, which can be said about almost anything Elven. Keep in mind that the movie lighting washes everything out (which is why all actors wear make-up). For example, Galadriel’s Prologue dress is in actually (or so my sources say) ivory, but it appears white in the film.
The colors of your costume seem to depend on which neck of the woods your hailing from, which can be useful for those who wish to represent a particular Elven kingdom. So, choose you home and then choose you colors.
- Lothlorien– Lorien Elves seem to favor white, silver-gray, silver-blue, and light blue. While the guys have a slightly more colorful wardrobe, the ladies appear to wear white onlyLet’s not forget about Haldir and his friends. The archers at the edge of the Golden Wood wear subdued golds and golden-browns, helping them blend among the Mallorn trees. These colors however, do not make an appearance in Caras Galadhon.
- Mirkwood– If Legolas is to be believed Mirkwooders lean towards greens, silvers, and bronzes. Their clothes appear simple, lacking the yards of fabric Celeborn and Elrond seem to prefer. For Mirkwood hailing costumes brownish-green, dark green, silver, and the occasional bronze are appropriate.
- Rivendell– Imladris’ inhabitants seem to like color, and though Arwen does wear some white, that is probably because of her time spent in Lorien. The Elves in Rivendell wear mostly deep golds, red-tinted burgundys, deep reds and scarlets, mauves, silver-purples, maroons, deep blues and indigos, and dark green and dove greys. Elrond does wear light blue and blue-grey in the Council scene with Gandalf. No oranges however, for some reason orange just doesn’t seem Elven.
And Elves in general seem to stay away from black.
Style
The last subject I am going to cover is Elven style. If your going to make an Elven costume you will need to know what is considered Elven. I have made some drawings in which I have synthesized the basic Elven outfit. That said I will continue.
Elven Women
You don’t see many She-elves in pants so I’m just going to cover the basic Elven dresses. However, if you do wish to wear a more practical outfit you can take a look at my drawing of the Elven work clothes (below) and use it along with some of my other pictures.
There are two types of Elven dress seen in the movie, the first Basic Elven Dress 1 (I know I’m brilliant) is the simplest.
community.webshots.com/s/image8/9/31/57/126693157ivojBH_ph.jpg
It’s a dress with big sleeves, how simple can you get. There are two necklines seen in this type of dress, a scooped neckline like the one in my picture and a V-shaped neckline like the one in Arwen’s Mourning Gown. Ladies if you a severely lacking in the chest area I suggest that you stay away from the latter neckline, as it will not be very flattering (think big arrow pointing out that your gifts lay elsewhere). While the Elven women aren’t often seen wearing belts (they seem to been abundant in human clothing), there are a few who do. If you have a pattern that has a waist seam that is slanted like the belt in the drawing it is a useful tool (you don’t want too many seams showing). Many different styles of sleeves are seen on this dress
The second type of dress Basic Elven Dress 2 (there’s more original though for you).
community.webshots.com/s/image9/1/51/96/126715196fDaKfZ_ph.jpg
It is composed of an under dress with tight fitting sleeves and an over dress that is buttoned down the front to a cumberbund after that it is split down the front showing the under dress. It has a high collar and the sleeves open up mid-elbow to show those of the under dress (which is a darker color). The sleeves may vary as with dress one. Which brings us to our next subject, sleeves.
There are three different types of sleeves.
community.webshots.com/s/image10/1/54/16/126715416owKnQt_ph.jpg
The one-piece sleeve are the ones seen in dress one and in Galadriel’s dresses, they are made in different shapes and lengths. Petaled sleeves like those seen in Arwen’s Angel Dress and her Riding Outfit. Petaled sleeves a split at or just below the elbow so that the fabric underneath is visible. Sometimes they may be attached to the under-layer, as they appear to be in the Angel Dress. And then you have 2-piece sleeves (the lower drawing), these sleeves are seen in Arwen’s Blood Red Dress (seen in ROTK). As far as I’ve seen the upper sleeve is made of a brocade, and the lower sleeve is made of a solid color (normally the background color of the brocade) with a brocade ribbon separating the two parts.
Elven Men
I apologize that Elrond’s robes are not in color, but I got the drawings perfect, and I was afraid I would mess them up if I added color.
Elven Robes– The men’s robes are made of many different layers, a tunic and an outer robe. This is a drawing based on the tunic seen underneath Elrond’s and Celeborn’s robes.
community.webshots.com/s/image8/1/37/6/126713706CBiJIf_ph.jpg
Note: Celeborn’s underrobe is a false wraparound.
Long loose pants resembling coolats are worn underneath. The tunic is made of a lighter color than the outer robes, and the fabric is probably satin or silk duponi. The outer robes come in varying degrees of difficulty and simplicity.
community.webshots.com/s/image11/1/40/17/126714017RruKNo_ph.jpg
Elrond’s blue-silver robes in the library scene with Gandalf are as simple as we see them. The ones seen in the Rivendell council scene however appear rather difficult, and I wouldn’t want to try them with out a pattern. Dark with a contrasting lining (e.g. bronze velvet with gold silk lining), and I have yet to see them not made of velvet. The belt should be made of satin in a color to match the outer robes, it doesn’t have to have embroidery, but it looks more Elven if it does.
Elven work clothes— otherwise known as Elven “get dirty clothes”, not that they ever do. Since Legolas’ clothes are the only example I have I will basically be describing Legolas’ outfit.
community.webshots.com/s/image11/1/56/0/126715600podvpu_ph.jpg
First of all you have his pants, basically leggings, you’d probably made them out of a stretchy knit (make sure it’s smooth). His boots I haven’t quite figured out yet, but they’re moccasin like as far as I can tell.. Next you have his silk duponi shirt, seen in the Lothlorien scene and the Rivendell Council scene (underneath the his cloak), the shirt reaches all the way to his wrist and makes up most of the lower sleeve of his jerkin. Now we get to the suede jerkin, which appears to be two colors laid on top of each other, the sleeves only reach to about the elbow, and, like the shirt underneath, appears to open down the front (it’s probably a false front with a hidden zipper in the back).
If you would like to see the full size version of my drawings go here: community.webshots.com/user/marillethemadelf [/glow]