Carbon Costume

Maudie Miller (played by Anna Cooke) is the protagonist of Netflix’s The InBESTigators.  When Maudie meets Ezra Banks, the two decide to create a detective agency with fellow classmates Ava Andrikides and Kyle Kimson in order to solve mysteries at school and in their neighborhood.  Maudie wears many different outfits throughout the series, but if you want to dress as her, you can’t go wrong with a pinafore dress over a long-sleeved shirt, as she dons similar outfits on several occasions. Such instances include a blue corduroy pinafore she wears over patterned leggings and a striped shirt, paired with brown booties.  To really drive home her P.I. aspirations, you could also add a trench coat.

Marlene (played by Merle Dandridge, the only actor to reprise her role from the original game) is the leader of the Boston Fireflies in the HBO video game adaptation The Last of Us. At the start of the series, Ellie is in the custody of the Fireflies under Marlene’s command, but she asks Joel and Theresa to take custody of her after a deal gone wrong leaves her injured.  Marlene’s clothing is indicative of her status as a militia leader.  She wears sturdy boots and tactical pants with a form-fitting tank top layered over a utilitarian sports bra.

Kathleen Coghlan (played by Melanie Lynskey) is the leader of a rogue group of survivors in HBO’s The Last of Us.  After taking over the QZ and Fedra in Kansas City, Kathleen and her followers, including Perry, seek to hunt down a man responsible for reporting on her brother to the military police force they’ve since overthrown.  Kathleen has long, dark hair that she pulls back, and wears rugged jeans, sturdy boots, and a grey military jacket over a beige collared shirt.  She straps her handgun to her left thigh with a black holster.

Romi (voiced by Lie Ji-hyun in the original Korean and Catalina Natasha in the English dub) is the main protagonist of Catch! Teenieping.  Romi is a princess from the Emotions Kingdom who now lives as a regular high schooler in Harmony Town while secretly collecting the Teeniepings.  Romi has long pink hair and can often be found wearing the same shade throughout her outfit.  It might be tricky to try to recreate her look exactly, but there are certainly ways to get close.  For instance, a bright pink sailor suit could work for her season one look.  Otherwise, a pink skater skirt with a puff sleeve blouse and light pink bow tie will also be a close match.  To recreate her look later in the series, try to find a pink plaid skirt with attached suspenders and swap out the pink bow for a blue one.  Either way, complete the look with white and pink knee socks and bright pink mary jane shoes.  Lastly, a Teenieping plush can add the finishing touches to your costume if you’re a fan of props.

Queen Tara (voiced by Beyoncé) is a character in the CGI animated feature Epic.  As the ruler of Moonhaven, Queen Tara was dedicated to her people and protecting the forest.  When recreating her look, it’s important to take a little care to layer a few pieces together to get as close to the original movie look as possible.  First, you’ll want to choose a skirt with plenty of ruffles.  Depending on where you’ll be, a shorter skirt may be more practical than one with a train that looks closer to the original.  A petticoat, which is normally worn under a dress, can be a good match.  For her intricate top, try layering a bolero shrug under a cold shoulder top with a more asymmetrical look.

Ellie Williams (played by Bella Ramsey) is a main character of HBO’s horror series The Last of Us.   Ellie is a young teenage girl who appears to be immune to the devastating fungal infection that has turned much of humanity into zombie-like creatures.  Ellie ends up leaving the Boston Quarantine Zone with Joel and Theresa after Marlene is injured.  Ellie’s costume is relatively simple, with lots of practical layers including jeans, a baseball tee, a hoodie, and a study jacket.  She also carries a switchblade, which a prop knife can be used in place of.

Lisa Garland (voiced by Thessaly Lerner in Silent Hill and Maude Théberge in Dead by Daylight) is a nurse at Alchemilla Hospital.  She is responsible for treating Alessa Gillespie.  Lisa’s appearance is mostly the same between the two franchises, though she is a bit rougher-looking in the more recent Dead by Daylight.  Her costume consists of a white nurse’s dress and cap, as well as a red cropped sweater and matching heels.  She wears an armband and name tag that say “SP.”  To recreate these accessories, you can wrap a bandage around your upper bicep and handwrite the designation.  You can do the same with a name tag.

Frank (played by Murray Bartlett) is a survivor of the fungi outbreak in HBO’s video game adaptation The Last of Us.  Frank is on his way to Boston from Baltimore when he lands in a trap laid by Bill, who is initially reticent to let Frank stay on his property.  Soon enough, though, Bill demonstrates that he’s an excellent chef, and the two bond over their love of Linda Rondstadt.  It’s not long until they fall in love and spend the rest of their lives together in Bill’s fortified neighborhood.  When Frank first appears, he is dirty and disheveled from his travels.  He emerges from the trap wearing a ribbed crewneck sweater.  After a shower, he changes into one of Bill’s plaid shirts.  He continues to wear plaid as he ages, and when the two marry at the piano that first brought them together, Frank wears a black blazer over a white shirt.