Carbon Costume

Benny (Corey Hawkins) is a character in the movie musical, In The Heights. He works at the dispatch for Kevin Rosario’s taxi service, and falls in love with his daughter, Nina. His friends include Usnavi and Sonny. One day, Benny dreams of opening his own business. He is the only person in the movie who does not speak Spanish. Fun Fact: Christopher Jackson, who made a cameo as the ice cream man, played Benny in the original Broadway musical.

Vanessa Morales (Melissa Barerra) is a character in the movie musical, In The Heights. She works at Daniela’s salon. She is the prettiest girl in the Heights, but she only has eyes for Usnavi. She wants to get out of the barrio and get an apartment downtown. Fun fact: Vanessa is named after Lin’s actual wife, Vanessa!

Ercole Visconti is the main antagonist in the Disney Pixar movie, Luca. He is the well-known bully of Portorosso and consistent champion of the annual triathlon. Even though he’s sixteen, which is too old to compete, he continues to keep his bragging rights. He particularly enjoys picking on Giulia Marcovaldo, whom he calls “Spewlia” because she gets sick during the race. Alberto call him Signor Vespa because he owns a Vespa, but later Luca calls him a catfish (because they’re bottom-feeders with two sad little whiskers). Narcissistic and pompadoured, Ercole believes his presence is adored by all. His two lackeys, Ciccio and Guido, accompany him at all times to do his bidding.

Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos) is the main character and narrator in the movie musical, In The Heights. His name comes from the first sight his parents saw when they arrived in America: a ship that said “US Navy.” After the passing of his parents, Abuela Claudia, the beloved neighborhood matriarch, practically raised him. He owns a small bodega in Washington Heights, but his dream is to move to the Dominican Republic. It’s no secret Usnavi is in love with Vanessa. You may recognize Ramos from his role in Hamilton, where he starred alongside Lin Manuel-Miranda, who composed and wrote both shows. In addition, Manuel-Miranda originated the role of Usnavi on Broadway.

Rachel Patton (played by Alexandra Daddario) is a struggling journalist and the new wife of Shane on HBO’s The White Lotus.  Rachel is not from the same wealthy background as the other visitors to the luxurious resort, a fact which makes her an easy target for ridicule, especially from teenagers Paula and Olivia.  Rachel goes everywhere with her expensive shoulder bag, as if trying to advertise that she truly belongs at the Lotus.  Mrs. Patton wears several unique outfits, so there are plenty to choose from, but her white bikini and mismatched coverups culminate in one of her most memorable scenes; a dip in the pool after bearing the brunt of Paula and Olivia’s jeers.

Christopher Smith (played by John Cena), better known by his moniker Peacemaker, is a violent extremist who believes no amount of carnage is too much if it achieves peace.  In The Suicide Squad movie, Peacemaker works with other members of Task Force X including Polka-Dot Man, Bloodsport, and Ratcatcher 2 to stop the giant extraterrestrial Starro the Conquerer.  Peacemaker’s costume is reminiscent of classic super heroes, with a red, white and blue color palette and a silver mask.  Finding his exact shirt can be difficult, so don’t be afraid to use a plain red t-shirt as a cost effective stand-in.

When you think of a queen, you likely think of poise and grace. You probably think of beauty and wisdom, too. Queen Ramonda of Wakanda embodies all of these traits as well as the strength and foresight to lead her people after both of her children are lost in Thanos’ snap. She is a natural queen played by Angela Bassett, a queen in her own right and star of numerous hit productions.

Mimicking Queen Ramonda’s royal bearing isn’t easy, but you can start with her look. The most iconic piece of her costume is the isicholo or Zulu hat that she wears. There are many tutorials on YouTube or you can purchase one from at Etsy seller, such as the one pictured above. She wears two different versions throughout the film, one in black and one in white. With her white isicholo hat she wears flat profile earrings, thumb rings, and the kimoyo beads that all Wakandans seem to wear.

Queen Ramonda also wears a white A-Line gown and a shoulder mantle. In the movie the mantle is 3-D printed. However the file linked here is for a laser-cut version.

Finally, the Queen’s shoes are not seen. Because of this, three options have been included. One is a pair of white dress sands, the second a pair of white lace heels, and the third a pair of white flats.

Giulia Marcovaldo is a character in the Disney Pixar movie, Luca. She is a human girl who takes pride in being the underdog. Her father is Massimo Marcovaldo. Expressive and tomboyish, Giulia dreams of winning the Portorosso Cup and dethroning the despicable Ercole. When he picks on Luca and Alberto, she comes to their defense and eventually befriends them. The trio then forms a team to compete in the triathalon. Her interests include stargazing and attending school in Genoa, which confides in and shares with Luca. Her exclamations involve Italian cheeses, such as “Santa mozzarella!”

Cleo Cazo (portrayed by Daniela Melchior) is the daughter of the villain Ratcatcher who goes by the name Ratcatcher 2 in The Suicide Squad film.  Ratcatcher 2 can train rodents easily, as well as control their minds on a large scale.  As a member of Team X, Ratcatcher 2 works alongside Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and Polka-Dot Man to stop Starro the Conquerer from destroying Corto Maltese.  Ratcatcher 2’s costume includes a long, dark jacket with hood, fingerless gloves, and a mask that helps her filter out the overwhelming smells found in the sewers.

Calaveras is a frightening foe. She is the Black Moon Clan’s answer to Sailor Venus with the strength and drive to prove it  Her fearsome whip is no easy weapon to face down and if she were to ever cooperate with her sisters, it would be a dark day for the Sailor Scouts.

The first step to developing a Calaveras cosplay is to get a long brunette wig and style the hair into a bun, then attach a large gold bow on top. You’ll then want black crystal earrings and face paint markers for the black crescent moon. Gold cuffs, a gold bustier, gold boots, and a red pleated skirt round out her look. And of course you’ll want your trusty whip. Just be sure and check convention regulations before taking it inside an event.