Movies
Sabina Spielrein from A Dangerous Method
Sabina Spielrein (played by Keira Knightley in the 2011 film) was a very real person caught between two men who both sought to develop psychoanalysis in the field’s early days. Though much Freud’s work has been debunked, his name has still carried through time while Spielrein’s was less common until her story was more clearly told in A Dangerous Method.
When cosplaying this character, it is important to remember that she was a real person and a driving force in the early development of modern psychological treatment and practices. Even after parting ways with Jung and Freud she continued to train psychoanalysts until her death in 1942 at the hands of the Nazis. Spielrein was a brave and brilliant woman who should still be given the respect she deserves.
As the film is a period piece, Spielrein’s costume is as well. It consists of a blouse and skirt, hat, and period-accurate boots from the early 1900s. White gloves add another element to the costume while a long brown wig styled into a bun completes the character’s appearance.
Riley Andersen from Inside Out
Riley Andersen (voiced by Kaitlyn Dias) is a main character in the Disney/Pixar film Inside Out. Much of the action of the film takes place inside of Riley’s brain as Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, and Disgust work together to help her adjust to her life in a new home. Riley’s costuming often reflects her moods, but her yellow jacket and blue backpack are two of her most well recognized accessories. Riley is also a fan of ice hockey, and eventually becomes a member of the Fog Horns, a youth team in San Francisco.
Michelle from 10 Cloverfield Lane
In 10 Cloverfield Lane, Michelle (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is one of three people living in an underground bunker after the surface becomes uninhabitable. Early in the film, Michelle’s vehicle is driven off the road by a pickup truck, after which Howard finds her and brings her below ground. Michelle and Emmett become close and eventually decide to escape from Howard and his bunker when they uncover information about his past. Michelle’s clothing consists primarily of jeans and a white tank top. She also uses crutches for a portion of the film a result of injuries sustained during her car accident and has chipped red nail polish.
Doctor Kōsaku Tokita from Paprika
In Satoshi Kon’s science fiction anime film Paprika, Doctor Kōsaku Tokita (voiced by Tōru Furuya in the original Japanese and Yuri Lowenthal in the English dub) is a genius inventor. He is the creator of the “DC Mini” device, which in the film allows users to enter other people’s dreams. He works closely with Doctor Atsuko Chiba, a psychiatrist and researcher who uses the device for her work. Doctor Tokita is shown to be have a childish personality and his wardrobe favors an orange polo shirt paired with green slacks.
Merry Brandybuck
Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck is a main character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He is a Hobbit who joins the Fellowship of the Ring and its quest to destroy it and defeat Sauron. Although Merry is actually one of Frodo‘s cousins, Pippin is his constant companion. They like to adventure and pull pranks together, and while more silly than resourceful, they’re the ones who form an alliance with Treebeard. Merry himself even fights in the Battle of Pelennor Fields, and helps Eowyn kill the Witch King. He likes boats and ponies, while also taking interest in the maps of Middle Earth. In the movie adaptations of Tolkien’s novels, Dominic Monaghan plays this role.
Merrill Hess from Signs
Signs was something of a cultural phenomena when it came out in 2002. A genuinely scary movie with a twist that most did not see coming, it set the tone for the next decade of horror movies. Part of its appeal was a cast that delivered consistently strong performances. This included Joaquin Phoenix as the washed up local hero Merrill Hess.
Once destined for baseball greatness he now lives and works on the family farm without much ambition toward anything. His clothes – work jeans, work boots, and a dark henley – are all ideal clothes for working on a farm. And when the aliens touch down, he’s one of the first to accept the idea that it’s aliens and reach for a tin foil hat. Of course it’s his trusty bad that really makes the costume and with a little help from Etsy you can have your own Merrill Hess slugger ready and waiting! Just don’t forget to keep a glass of water nearby.
Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson from Lady Bird
Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson is the rebellious teenage protagonist at the heart of Greta Gerwig’s semi-autobiographical film Lady Bird. Lady Bird dreams of a big life in a big city on the East Coast, but her family struggles financially, which often causes tension as Lady Bird’s mother thinks she is not grateful enough for what she has. Lady Bird’s clothing is a mix of simple pieces and vintage thrift store finds, giving her a cool ’90s vibe even as a high school student in the early 2000s.
Annie Porter from Speed
Annie Porter (played by Sandra Bullock) is one of the main protagonists of the film Speed. With the help of police officer Jack Traven, she is responsible for keeping the passengers on her city bus alive by driving them through downtown Los Angeles and maintaining a speed of at least 50 miles per hour. Annie wears a grey tank top, combat boots, and a floral dress.
Mitsuha Miyamizu from Your Name
Mitsuha Miyamizu (voiced by Mone Kamishiraishi and Stephanie Sheh) is the main female character in the anime movie Your Name (Kimi no Na wa). Mitsuha lives in a small town and begins switching bodies with a high school boy named Taki Tachibana who lives in Tokyo. Mitsuha is an adventurous girl who feels confined and restricted in her hometown of Itomori. She performs duties as a priestess at her family’s shrine, and her father becomes mayor, which further strainst heir relationship as she feels more restricted than ever. Mitsuha can often be seen wearing her school uniform, which includes a red bow and dark grey skirt. During the epilogue, Mitsuha wears peach-colored capris, low yellow heels, and a star necklace.