Books
Linh Song from Keeper of the Lost Cities
Linh Song is a character from Susan Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities book series. Linh is an elf with hydrokinetic powers and an ally of Sophie Foster. She also has a twin brother named Tam. When recreating Linh’s look, it’s important to remember you may not be able to find exact replicas of her costume. Instead, focus on similar color palettes and silhouettes. You can layer a turtleneck under a sleeveless piece, or opt for a darker color or shorter-sleeved tunic instead, depending on your preference and which you think is closest. Pinning the wig’s bangs to the side will make it look more like Linh’s side-swept hair, or if you have long black hair already, you can dye the tips with temporary silver spray. If you’re crafty, you might be able to replicate Linh’s crest-shaped brooch with a little DIY. Otherwise, a pin with two wolves can serve in its place.
Glinda from Wicked
Glinda (formerly Galinda) is one of the main characters in the musical Wicked, which tells the backstory of Elphaba, better known as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Glinda begins her journey at Shiz University, where she is accidentally assigned as Elphaba’s roommate. Despite the rocky start to their relationship, the two eventually become friends, though not every fairy tale in this case gets a happy ending. While there are certainly more well-known costumes for Glinda in other media, the costume she wears when she arrives at Shiz is a classic white outfit with nods to vintage styles including oxford pumps and a white beret.
Greg Heffley
Greg Heffley is the protagonist and narrator of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. He is a middle school student who isn’t really all that likable. Like any pre-teen, he doesn’t think before he acts. While he has some moments of caring and kindness, his paranoia often gets the better of him. His brothers are Rodrick and Manny, and his best friend is Rowley Jefferson. This costume guide shows you how to dress as Greg in the book and the live-action movie adaptation, where Zachary Gordon portrays the character.
Paul Atreides from Dune
Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) is the main character of Dune. Paul is heir to a powerful family, the son of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica. Paul has visions of the future in his dreams, including many of Chani Kynes, a Fremen from the desert planet of Arrakis. On his home planet Caladan, Paul is often seen wearing dark military-style suits with band-style collars and knee-high boots. When his family is attacked and he and his mother seek refuge with the Fremen, they wear stillsuits designed to recycle their sweat and tears into drinkable water. Recreating the complex suits can be tricky, so it will help to be a little flexible with the design. Layering padded motocross armor can help achieve a similar look, and don’t be afraid to use some spray paint to get the color right. Cut the sleeves off a hooded cardigan to finish the look.
Lavender Brown in “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”
Lavender Brown is a character in the Harry Potter series. Silly and sentimental, she is a pureblood witch who gets sorted into Gryffindor. Her favorite class is Divination. In her fifth year, she joined Dumbledore’s Army, initiated by fellow student Harry Potter. A year later, she started a relationship with Ron Weasley. However, she was rather clingy and annoying, which resulted in their breakup, and he eventually ended up with Hermione Granger instead. Lavender fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, but she died from the injuries of a werewolf attack. In the movies, she is mainly portrayed by Jessie Cave.
Hester Shaw from Mortal Engines
Hester Shaw (played by Hera Hilmar in the movie) is a remarkable heroine. She is strong-willed, smart, and determined. She is also easily identified by her scar, received at the hands of a man she now wants revenge on. The scar is less obvious in the movie but still an important part of Hester’s story. And that’s where any good Hester cosplay is going to start.
Scar wax is key for Hester cosplay, as is a long auburn wig. With those elements in place, Hester’s outfit becomes a snap. A long dark green coat, a long sleeved grey shirt, black fingerless gloves, black pants, black boots, and a long red scarf wrap up the rest of her look.
Tom Natsworthy from Mortal Engines
Tom (played by Robert Sheehan) is a young historian working on the city of London. He idolizes Thaddeus Valentine and wants to serve his city through his work at the museum. His life takes a wild turn, however. And for all that he starts out a London boy, it’s not long before he’s swept up into wild adventures that take him far from home.
A windswept brown wig starts off any good Tom cosplay. Unless, of course, you already have dark hair of a similar cut, in which case all you need is a little styling. From there you’ll need to layer a dark blur shirt under a silver brocade vest and add a black military-style jacket. Black pants, a black belt, and black boots finish off a look fit for anyone hanging onto their roaming city.
Dudley Dursley from The Sorcerer’s Stone
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, while the Dursleys intended to send their nephew Harry Potter to the local state school, they enrolled their own son Dudley (Harry Melling) in the fancier Smeltings Academy. Dudley proudly models the Smeltings uniform, which consists of a maroon tailcoat, orange knickerbockers, a straw boater hat, brown socks pulled up to the knees, and a knobby wooden cane called a Smelting stick, which was mainly used to hit other people.
Dudley Dursley from The Order of the Phoenix
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dudley Dursley (Harry Melling) and his gang torment his cousin Harry Potter on the playground. Dudley taunts Harry, asking him “Where is your mum, Potter? She dead? Is she dead?” In this scene, Dudley is dressed is casual athletic gear, as opposed to the formal attire of his Smeltings Academy uniform.
Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”
Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is the antagonist of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. He is the son of pureblood wizards Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, and a first-year student at Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat places him in Slytherin. Draco bullies Ron and Hermione, thinking himself better than them. He extends friendship to Harry Potter, who declines, for he doesn’t like his pompous arrogance. This begins their well-known rivalry. In contrast to his power-hungry cruelty, Draco is actually quite a coward, as he’s known to whine: “Wait until my father hears about this!” Use hair gel to slick the wig or your own back.