Carbon Costume Posts by Kennedy Lindberg
Cooper Howard from Fallout
A new TV series has been going viral online for its spot-on live action adaptation of the video game franchise Fallout that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. This series depicts the aftermath of The Great War of 2077, where survivors take refuge in fallout shelters or Vaults, which are actually all created as different experiments on the people who live in them. It follows a woman named Lucy who leaves Vault 33 to find her father in the dangerous wasteland of what is left of Los Angeles. She runs into a Ghoul bounty hunter, originally named Cooper Howard. He was a film actor before the war. In this guide I’ll be covering Cooper Howard’s cowboy costume in Episode 1.
Although this costume looks complicated to make, this guide is doable for an artist of any level. Starting with the iconic blue and gold western shirt, use a blue western dress shirt or just western-style shirt as the base to build off of. For the gold/ cream section on the top portion of the shirt and the sleeve cuffs, cut either a jacquard patterned or brushed twill fabric to the shape of the top of the shirt and either glue it down (the edges will be covered by the fringe trim but iron and fold edges for a cleaner look) or sew the fabric on top. If you’re skilled in sewing and want to take it even further, seam rip the top section from the collar and sleeves and use the removed blue piece as a pattern for the gold fabric, adding seam allowance to sew back in place. You can also add cream piping/ bias tape along the collar and front button panels.
Next, along the edge of the gold fabric you added, either sew or glue on gold fringe trim, following the edge across the front, over the shoulder, and to the back.
Now for the details on the gold fabric: if you choose a printed jacquard fabric, you can keep as is. It gives the same effect of having variety to the surface. However if you have more time to add detail, choose the solid brushed twill fabric and paint and/or embroider a similar pattern of line drawings of scorpions similar to the photos. Doing a combination of both flat painted and 3-D embroidered icons gives it the same variety as the one from the series. You can also paint or embroider (or both) the icons on the collar.
For the rest of the costume, wear brown pants like these western-style Wrangler pants. Bootcut works better to cover cowboy boots like the ones linked below. On top of those, wear a brown cowboy holster belt. More accessories to complete the look include a cream cattleman’s crease style cowboy hat, a sheriff’s badge and a gold neck scarf. To be even more screen-accurate for the scarf, take a solid cream or white bandana, and tie-dye it yellow.
If you have a kiddo that can match with you, you can also follow my guide for Janey Howard’s costume. Even further, I’ve also created one for Janey’s mother, and Cooper’s wife Barb Howard.
Patrick from Challengers
Patrick is one of the main characters in the new film Challengers, and is played by Josh O’Connor. Challengers is a drama/ romance film that centers around Tashi who after a career-ending injury, becomes a tennis coach and mentor for her husband Art Donaldson. They encounter a former lover of Tashi’s, Patrick Zweig as they prepare for their upcoming match.
To dress like Patrick as he dresses when playing tennis, wear a sporty red or black tank top and carry a matching red and black tennis racket. Other looks of his include black shorts, a green and white striped button-down shirt, and light blue polo shirt.
Lucy from Fallout (Wedding Gown)
A new TV series has been going viral online for its spot-on live action adaptation of the video game franchise Fallout that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. This series depicts the aftermath of The Great War of 2077, where survivors take refuge in fallout shelters or Vaults, which are actually all created as different experiments on the people who live in them. It follows a woman named Lucy who leaves Vault 33 to find her father in the dangerous wasteland of what is left of Los Angeles. She runs into a Ghoul bounty hunter, originally named Cooper Howard. He was a film actor before the war. In this guide I’ll be covering her costume from Episode 1, which takes on a transformation itself: going from a clean wedding dress to a bloodied and battle-ready one.
To dress like Lucy in her wedding costume in episode one, wear a 50s style retro white wedding dress as the base. For the one linked here, remove the sleeves for a more screen-accurate look. Adding a white petticoat will also give the skirt that fuller look. With this, pair a white clip-in veil, white retro heels, and a sunflower bouquet.
For the version in the later half of the episode where she gets to fighting, use red fabric paint for the blood stain on her dress. Black acrylic or fabric paint can be added at different layers towards the center for a more realistic look. To mimic the belt across her chest, you can wear a bullet belt/ sash. She also wears a contraption on her wrist that we continue to see throughout the series that in the game is called a Pipboy 3000, and like the one linked below, artists sell various versions of the prop they create online. Either wear a wig or style your hair like Lucy’s and add some red splatters on your face and arms to take the look even further.
Beca from Pitch Perfect
Beca is the main character from the 2012 film Pitch Perfect, and is played by Anna Kendrick. Pitch Perfect is a comedy that follows Beca, a college student that joins the all-girls singing group at her school called The Bellas who take on the rival all-male group in competition.
Beca has a much edgier style than most of The Bellas, reflecting her dream of being a DJ. There are a couple looks that can be recreated like this one with a gray sleeveless cardigan layered over a maroon lace-edge tank top, or her look with a cropped plaid blazer, a navy long sleeve shirt with lace detail, and a gray scarf.
Brian from The Breakfast Club
Brian is one of the characters from the iconic 1985 film The Breakfast Club and is played by Anthony Michael Hall. The Breakfast Club is a comedy film that follows five students from different backgrounds and each with unique personalities as they all endure Saturday detention in High School.
Brian is the brains of the group and his wardrobe is one that is both understated but fitting. To dress like Brian, wear a green sweater under a brown zip-up jacket, jeans, blue sneakers, and sunglasses for the look in that iconic scene.
Enoch from Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children
Enoch is one of the characters in the film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, based off of the book by Ransom Riggs. This movie is directed by Tim Burton and it definitely is fitting in its style. Enoch is played by Finlay MacMillan. The movie is about a boy named Jacob we follow through the story as he is transported into the past where a home of orphans with special powers live.
Enoch is one of the children at the home and his special power is the animation of things like dolls that he builds and creates. To dress like Enoch, wear a gray cardigan, a light gray button-down shirt, dark gray trousers, canvas suspenders, and brown dress shoes.
Beetlejuice from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
The new trailer for the second Beetlejuice film released recently and is called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, planned to release this fall of 2024. The film takes place in the future after the previous one we all know from 1988. Most of the cast is the same as the original, playing their original characters we all know and love.
One of the characters returning is of course Beetlejuice himself, played again by Michael Keaton. To dress like Beetlejuice as we can see him in the trailer, wear the iconic black and white striped suit, a white shirt, black tie, Beetlejuice wig, and face makeup for that undead look. Fabric paint can be used to distress the suit and shirt.
Richard Vernon from The Breakfast Club
Richard Vernon is one of the characters from the iconic 1985 film The Breakfast Club and is played by Paul Gleason. The Breakfast Club is a comedy film that follows five students from different backgrounds and each with unique personalities as they all endure Saturday detention in High School.
Richard Vernon is the power-hungry principal in the film and gives these five students detention. He wears a beige blazer, black button down shirt, beige pants, black dress shoes, and a gold watch.
Emma Bloom from Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Miss Peregrine is one of the main characters in the film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, based off of the book by Ransom Riggs. This movie is directed by Tim Burton and it definitely is fitting in its style. Emma is played by Ella Purnell. The movie is about a boy named Jacob we follow through the story as he is transported into the past where a home of orphans with special powers live.
Emma is one of the children at the home and her special ability is floating and air. To dress like Emma, wear a light blue dress, a small brown watch, platform buckle boots to mimic the ones she wears to weigh her down to the ground, and a blonde wig.
The Ghoul from Fallout (TV Series)
A new TV series has been going viral online for its spot-on live action adaptation of the video game franchise Fallout that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. This series depicts the aftermath of The Great War of 2077, where survivors take refuge in fallout shelters or Vaults, which are actually all created as different experiments on the people who live in them. It follows a woman named Lucy who leaves Vault 33 to find her father in the dangerous wasteland of what is left of Los Angeles. She runs into a Ghoul bounty hunter, originally named Cooper Howard. He was a film actor before the war.
To dress like The Ghoul, wear a brown cowboy hat, a distressed brown trench coat, a brown leather vest, a brown shirt on which you can use blue fabric paint to replicate the original one on the collar, brown leather gloves, brown western style pants, a bullet belt prop, and brown belt. The face can be created with your own way of making prosthetics with something like a sculpting wax, along with different foundation shades.
