Posts by A.C. Rodgers

Patchy the Pirate from SpongeBob SquarePants

Spongebob might live in a pineapple under the sea but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have fans on land. In fact he has a whole fan club. And Patchy the Pirate (played by Tom Kenny) is the president. Self-appointed, of course. But that still counts! And with his trusty – if snarky – cohost Potty close at hand, he’s always ready for a special Spongebob adventure!

Patchy is pretty much your stereotypical pirate. He wears a black tricorn hat over a red bandana along with an eye patch and a scraggly black beard. A purple velvet jacket over a white shirt pairs with a set of black “pirate pants” and black boot covers for a look fit for a presidential pirate. A black sash repurposed as a bandolier, a hook toy for your hand, a fake peg leg, and a green parrot toy finish off the look!

Niko Bellic from Grand Theft Auto 4

Niko Bellic (voiced by Michael Hollick) is a complicated man. He’s not always on the right side of the law but he stands by his own moral code. From helping the defenseless to avoiding illegal drugs, Niko lives his life the only way that makes sense to him after surviving the Yugoslav Wars.

His style ties right into that. He wears running pants, a turtleneck, a zip up windbreaker, and a brown coat that are all easy to move in. Heavy boots and fingerless black gloves mean the look is year round. And in Niko’s line of work you don’t want to go anywhere without a pistol or a baseball bat. Just make sure you check the regulations for whatever convention you’re going to. Some might have restrictions on what type of weapons are allowed with cosplay.

Jack Dawson from Titanic

Jack Dawson from Titanic

Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is the tragic hero of James Cameron’s Titanic. While audiences went into the film knowing the ship would sink at the end, they had no way of knowing how much Jack and Rose’s romance would mean to them. Or how hard it would be to get through the end of the film.

Jack is a great cosplay option. His early century style lends means that most of the pieces can be used in other looks while still being classic Jack. Start with a pair of classic trousers designed for use with suspenders. Add in tan suspenders, a white undershirt, a brown shirt, and brown boots to corner Jack’s original look. You can also opt for a linen shirt with a low collar for a more relaxed look. Just don’t forget the hair pomade to style your hair in something close to Jack’s flyaway look. And what Jack would be complete without his sketchbook and pencils?

Frita from Animal Crossing

Frita from Animal Crossing

Frita is one of several sisterly villagers that might take up residence on your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. With a love for good food and K.K.’s Rockabilly music, she’s lively and fun. Don’t push it, though! She’s tough under all that wool!

One option with a character like Frita is to go all-in to get the same sheep-like look. In this case, however, we’re going for a version that blends human features with Frita’s most memorable traits. This includes her horns, her hotdog-style shirt, and a yellow ruffle skirt to imitate the wool ruff under her shirt.

You’ll have to do a little DIY and paint the hot dog design onto a shirt using soft touch fabric paint. And also have to paint the red and yellow bands on a set of horns, then cover the black base with green ribbon to mimic the green in Frita’s fur.

Aside from that, however, all you’ll need to complete the look is a pair of brown leggings, yellow ballet flats, yellow nail polish, and a yellow ruffled scarf to finish off the costume!

Skurge from Thor Ragnarok

Skurge from Thor: Ragnarok

Skurge is a character you both love to hate and hate to love. In Thor: Ragnarok, he quickly abandons his people to serve Hela on her return to Asgard. But in the end he throws himself to battle against her, trying to right the wrongs of his previous choices. Of course it might just be Karl Urban’s portrayal that gives Skurge the humorous charm he seems to have. But you be the judge of that!

Skurge’s costume is exclusively comprised of a complex set of armor. The one listed above is from another movie but looks very similar. If you add in a bald cap, face paint to recreate his tattoos, a fake goatee, and a sword, you’re ready to defend Asgard!

Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm from Hellboy

Dr. Trevor Bruttenholm from Hellboy

Most people today are familiar with Dr. Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm thanks to the 2004 and 2008 Hellboy movies starring Ron Perlman and directed by Guillermo Del Toro. Newer fans met the soft-spoken professor in Neil Marshall’s 2019 Hellboy adaptation starring David Harbour. And still others remember Dr. Bruttholm from the Dark Horse Comics. The source that started it all.

Both big screen versions of Dr. Bruttenholm share a certain style. They both like three piece suits and close-cropped goatees. Because of this there are two suits listed above. One in tweed with a more classic look and another with a sleeker, more modern look. The cane is part of the earlier look while the accessories – a leatherbound book, a rosary, and of course the goatee – are shared between both looks.

Antiope from Wonder Woman

Antiope from Wonder Woman

Most people know Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup from the movie The Princess Bride. In 2017’s Wonder Woman audiences discovered that Buttercup had transformed into the mighty Antiope. Sister to Queen Hippolyta and aunt to the fearsome Diana, Antiope is the beloved general of the Amazonian warriors. Her own sister calls her the greatest warrior their people have ever known. And without her Wonder Woman would never have become the hero she is today.

Unfortunately it’s hard to get Antiope’s armor without spending a large chunk of change. Leather armor is pricy and there are many distinct and custom pieces to this costume. There are, however, a few pieces you can use to get close and recreate her look pretty closely without making a huge investment. This will let you upgrade your costume over time if you find yourself reaching for your Antiope costume pretty regularly.

One piece – Antiope’s helm or crown – comes from Etsy and is custom made. It is fairly pricy for a single piece. But it is one of her most iconic pieces and well worth the investment.

You’ll want a long blonde wig to wear as well, given that Robin Wright wore her signature blonde hair long for the role. A Roman base costume gives you the general look of Amazon body armor which you can then add leather wrist bracers, a leather shoulder guard, and dark brown leather boots too. Wielding an Amazon sword and a couple of costume daggers, you’re ready to lead your sister Amazons into battle!

Peggy Cleary from The Kids Are Alright

Peggy Cleary is the practical, loving mother every sitcom needs. Especially one featuring eight boys living the “out until the street lights come on” life of the 1970s. Played by Mary McCormack she is a take-no-nonsense woman who is here to make sure that the kids really are alright.

Peggy’s hair is a classic look you can either style your hair into or recreate using the wig listed above. With that signature piece taken care of, the rest of her look is fairly easy to replicate. You need a comfortable and practical house dress, a thin leather belt to go over the top, and a pair of low heels to match.

Stinky Pete from Toy Story 2

Stinky Pete from Toy Story 2

Stinky Pete (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) is Woody’s complete opposite. He can’t stand children, was never loved or played with, and (at least for a time) finds life with children unbearable. He comes around eventually. But not before making life hard for everyone’s favorite cowboy-spaceman duo. And their friends.

Pete’s costume comes together pretty quickly but there are a few key bits you’ll have to factor in before you buy the pieces. Stinky Pete is a larger older man which might mean ordering a larger size than you normally wear. But if you skip a stomach cushion and order clothes to your usual size, you can still get Pete’s look while holding onto the pieces for another costume.

The costume also works best with a costume pickaxe. But as with most costume weapons, check your convention’s rules before you take it on the floor. If you’re wearing this costume to a private party you’re probably fine.

Once you’ve got all that sorted, you’ve only got a few costume pieces to buy. A prospector’s hat, a red button down work shirt, a pair of blue denim coveralls, and a yellow neckerchief. You’ll also need a pair of black boots. Western boots are very expensive, however, so I’ve listed an alternative that will work fine with the pants are worn over the top of the boots.

Finally you’ll want a fake white beard with thick white brows. You might have to trim the hairs a bit to avoid being tickled. But with the beard and brows in place and your costume on, you’ll be the most feared prospector in the toy box!

Carter from Disjointed

Carter from Disjointed

Carter (played by Tone Bell) is the security guard at Ruth’s Alternative Caring on the show Disjointed. He is also a character with one of the biggest development arcs in the show. And he is, for many, the character with the most heart wrenching backstory. An Iraq veteran with untreated PTSD, Carter struggles to process what he has been through and find peace. He does, thankfully, but it’s a long journey that Tone Bell plays phenomenally.

Carter’s look changes throughout the show, usually in a way that reflects where he is in his character arc. This version of his costume is toward the end of the first season. He’s relaxed a little and doesn’t wear a full security uniform but he’s also not entirely relaxed into casual clothes as he occasionally is in the second season.

The main pieces here are his black “Security” shirt and his combat boots. Adding in a pair of black Dickies and a black hoodie completes the look. Of course Carter is rarely without his word search book as well. Any other accessories you might want to add from the shows are entirely up to your discretion!

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