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[BakanaChan]

Please answer Cosplay.com I can't keep track of how many times
my threads have gone ignored. I know alot of people don't care, but at
some point you were like this too. There is a alot of creative smart people on this
site, hundreds of thousands of cosplayers. And I'm only asking for some
good answers. Internet is the age of information.

I'm getting a Miku Hatsune cosplay made that's almost completely made
of Leather. the collar is leather, the skirt is leather and the small details are
leather. The sleeves are too.
But the more I think about it the more I'm reminded of my fathers old
leather seat jeep. It was very hot and sometimes rather stinky.

Should I go for it, should I worry about any of that?
I normally would wear no scent baby powder for costumes of that sort.
But I'd like to hear a down to earth perspective.

Oh, I'm also making a Kid Flash costume, but for awhile, I didn't know
about making it outta leather.

!!!!!ATTENTION!!!!!!
I have found a Miku Hatsune Costume I'd rather get.
That does not mean I don't trust FM ANIME, I just found one I like
more.

[alpha_helix]

Well, I can't really know what you're trying to do without reference images

Yes, leather will be quite warm, it doesn't exactly breathe. Though, there are some things you can do to make it more comfortable.

-Avoid pleather. It's plastic and breathes even less than real leather. Plus, most of it that you'll find in the fabric store is super heavy and not useful for much outside of upholstery. Exception if you're making something skin tight, in which case a stretch material with a faux-leather finish would probably work better. Though, I can't tell if this is what you'd need without a reference image.

-Line in a natural fiber (like 100% cotton) or at least wear something cotton (like a t-shirt) underneath. This will pull away any moisture from your body and help with the stickyness factor. Also, your idea for baby powder is a great one.

-If you can get away with it, use lighter weight leather. Again, it's impossible to tell without a reference image.

[Mangochutney]

I've worn an outfit that was all leather and fairly tight from a high collar down to my boots, with long sleeves and gloves. I lived; it was occasionally uncomfortably warm but not a great handicap. Leather does definitely breathe. And since that's for full-body leather, I don't think Miku's outfit will have that problem.

alpha_helix is right: wear a thin layer of natural fiber between you and the leather. It makes all the difference in comfort. A thin, stretchy top...a pair of tights...you get the idea.

As for the scent, well, leather smells like leather and there's not a whole lot to be done about it if you don't like that scent. It absorbs other smells very well too, which may be why your dad's seats got stinky. While you're wearing leather, it's a good idea to avoid smoky places, car exhaust, and that sort of thing. Those are good things to avoid anyway, of course.

[BakanaChan]

Originally Posted by alpha_helix

-If you can get away with it, use lighter weight leather. Again, it's impossible to tell without a reference image.

Ah, yes, sorry.
http://www.fm-anime.com/vocaloid-hat...er-p-2664.html
This is the costume that I am getting.

And this is the costume I would like to make.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/K.../KidFlash2.jpg

[Kelley]

I don't really see why you would make either costume out of leather. For the first one, the patent parts look nice, although the silver doesn't look like leather.

The first costume you linked to is a scam. The pictures are blatantly stolen. $69 is not enough to pay for a real leather, hand-made costume, either. You are going to end up getting some crap that MAY resemble the picture, but poorer made and other materials. It will most likely not even be leather - maybe not even pleather or vinyl - could be something totally awful and wrong.

And that's if they send you anything at all.

Don't support dishonest sellers. Even if you have no moral qualms about people who STEAL pictures of other's work and advertise it as their own, you're still setting yourself up to get totally ripped off.

Another thread discussing this dishonest seller : http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=3718819 , and I'm sure you can find more.


For the second, perhaps if you're going for a "gritty reboot" type thing, but most superhero costumes are made out of spandex or a similar material. Maybe a stretch faux leather if you're going that route.

[BakanaChan]

@Kelley

Um, I don't mean to be awfully blunt here, but don't assume, seriously.

First off, my friends buy from there, I've bought from there, I've asked questions
from people who have bought costumes from there, it looks exactly the way it looks when
you get it. The shipping prices are the costy part of it, the shipping is probably 20$ to
maybe 30$ bucks.

Anything I've bought from there has come within' 2 weeks.

I completely trust this site 100% If I didn't than I wouldnt be asking
if leather was a good idea, I would be asking if this place was safe, which
I have already confirmed with my previous purchase.

Also, I realize that alot of Superheroes use Spandex,
but I'm going for a different approach, something different, new.
It's like when they make live action movies and change the costume
designs from the original, giving more detail.

[Kelley]

Don't assume ?

How can I NOT "assume" when they've (really obviously) STOLEN pictures ?


If you're morally fine with that, good for you. I'm not judging you (we all make trade-offs when buying things, after all), I was just telling you since many people are not comfortable buying from a company that steals like that (especially when they steal from the cosplay community that they're trying to sell to). If you're comfortable with that, again, good for you.

[belligerent]

Leather is always a good idea.

But, should you get a costume made out of leather? Uh, if you want, although the material in those photos, whoever they belong to, doesn't really look like leather to me. I agree that $69 is a fishy price, too. Leather goods are generally far from cheap. My alpinestars motorcycle jacket (for motorcycle riding) was $350. The leather motorcycle pants I have retail for $279 (but I got them on ebay for $55 from a guy who bought them for his wife). It might be some kind of faux leather, but I doubt it's actually going to be leather unless it's muskrat leather or something.

[HomeDepot]

bakanaChan, I don't know about the heat, I've never worn an all leather costume. I wanted to ask if you have worked with leather before? The one time that I sewed with leather it was really difficult. I would recommend starting with a smaller project first before you make a costume that's entirely leather. Though if you know how to sew with leather, rock on.

[Kelley]

The problem with sewing with leather is that you cannot make mistakes - the needle punches permanent holes in the leather.

If you're going to make a body-suit out of leather, I would recommend making it out of a sythetic that's like the leather you'll be using (in terms of thickness and flexibility) first. The body-suit pattern has to be custom-made, as well - or highly modified, since you won't have the benefit of stretch unless you use a faux stretch leather.

The thing about leather body suits is that too big - even by an inch or so will hinder your movement, not make it easier. It HAS TO "fit like a glove" or you'll have restricted and uncomfortable movement. The armscyes need to be as small as possible, meaning they're too small with seam allowance. Same goes for everything else, although to bend your arms and legs is different to fit for and you might need some extra in places, but a good pattern will help you move.

Since a pattern that is to your measurements might not be to your 3D configuration of fat and muscle, you can't just go by that - a mock up in similar material is essential - you might even want to make two, one to make corrections on, and one to MAKE SURE they work, since leather is expensive and cow-shaped (meaning you don't buy it in yards, you have to work harder to get all the pattern pieces to fit right).

[BakanaChan]

I am not making a entire costume from leather. I am also not making it alone,
because my dad can help me and mother can sew, so they have all the rad skills.
Plus my father has worked with leather before.
I am making the the shirt from Uniform Material and the leggings Faux Leather.
Also, I won't be buying that Miku costume anymore, I have found a better one
that is cheaper and more comfortable...My sister also made me. XD
But thank you for the replies, I still need the information in the future.

Also, I will be taking it slow, so that I won't make any mistakes.
I am noob with making body suits, so it will probably take me 3/4 months.

It was $69? .__. PLEASE check to make sure it's real leather. I highly doubt it is, my leather jacket was more than $100, and I only bought the one jacket. An entire outfit of leather, shirt, arm warmers, and skirt, for only $69?
I am really skeptical of this. Please report back when you get your costume, I'm really curious about this case.

[DaemonForce]

I can't hear myself think with all the arguing in my room but I'll try answering this anyway.

Originally Posted by Kelley

How can I NOT "assume" when they've (really obviously) STOLEN pictures ?

It's people like you that make it very difficult for anyone to shop. You think the web design, language and purchase system of a store dictates if they're legitimate resellers without ever actually buying anything. This mentality is the exact reason these outlets get a flood of non-customers leaving stupid DO NOT WANT comments on rating sites with your thumb in the air like you're ****ing Ceasar. As if your non-existent experience has any weight on the matter, people will read these and avoid because they get scared.

I deal with a lot of resellers that use copied photos in order to push lots of mass produced product. It's the same exact item that you would get elsewhere(unless you're looking at a variation) so why is the webadmin going to bother wasting his time getting the product out, get it on the doll(or summon a random Chinese girl to model it), throw down the background and then snap a photo if the exact same image could have easily been copied and loaded to the domain controller? It's time management on the most basic level. Even I can see that. If you want to complain about anything, go vulture the foreign websites on every English mistake and offer corrections to make them appear better. That would help tons. Anyway that site probably does the same copy practices but that outfit is a variation I've never seen before. It's probably really comfortable too. I bet the model wouldn't want to take it off either. Haha.

I know there are bad stores out there. They usually have a scam domain ID and little or no history behind them. Use some common sense and you'll be glad you spent money in a new place. I just blew $300 last night on some new suits from one of these foreign companies with a slow domain and bad English. I have a little bit of trust and a LOT of faith in them because I've seen their work before and they're a cut above the rest. If you want something done, try an order. It's not that hard.

Originally Posted by Yukikittie

It was $69? .__. PLEASE check to make sure it's real leather. I highly doubt it is, my leather jacket was more than $100, and I only bought the one jacket. An entire outfit of leather, shirt, arm warmers, and skirt, for only $69?
I am really skeptical of this. Please report back when you get your costume, I'm really curious about this case.

I've had complete leather jackets that look upwards of $100 but bought them for about half that. It's not surprising. Some people just manage their materials really well. I love the stuff. It's breathable, very durable and my thread patterns don't have any problems when sewing it. Leather is THE only material that I sew but I'm amateur at best and haven't had any practice with the stuff in a while. Other than weight, I can only say good things about it. I'm really looking forward to how this goes. Also, why so many questions about material? The desc has leather listed so it's probably safe to assume that's the only material for the outfit. If you don't believe them they have an email. Shoot them a message and get it figured out. If the bad communication is on your part, you only have yourself to blame. o.O

[Kelley]

I said nothing about the web-design, language, or purchase system. NONE of those things were ANYTHING I had an issue with, so I don't know why you're getting worked up about that. O_o

Just the stolen pictures. That is not bad web-design or a clunky check-out cart. Those are completely different issues and I have no problem buying from a legitimate store that has an ugly web-site (although the check-out should be secure).


If they have a right to use them, they should work with the people who produced them to reflect this. That is just good business, and it's not difficult. It's not complicated - if you can put together a basic web-site, you can definitely do that.

[BakanaChan]

Originally Posted by Yukikittie

It was $69? .__. PLEASE check to make sure it's real leather. I highly doubt it is, my leather jacket was more than $100, and I only bought the one jacket. An entire outfit of leather, shirt, arm warmers, and skirt, for only $69?
I am really skeptical of this. Please report back when you get your costume, I'm really curious about this case.

The whole costume isn't leather, just the skirt and small details.
It isn't actually that cheap, though. Some sellers show the price to snap in
buyers and put the rest of the price in Shipping, so the shipping is probably 30$ or 40$.

Plus I am still looking for Miku Hatsune Costumes, so this might not be
the one that I get. I am confident that what they are selling
is completely okey dokey, I just don't if it's the one for me...XD

But I will be buying a leather costume from them in the near future.
Either their Meltdown Kagamine Rin, or Love is War Miku Hatsune.