Carbon Costume

Natalie doesn’t have the best luck in the love department, so she’s not one to binge watch romantic comedies. Natalie loses consciousness during an attempted mugging only to end up in a dimension exactly like a PG-13 romantic comedy. She’s not a fan of cliches, but thinks it’s her only way to escape this horrid fantasy. Natalie, played by Rebel Wilson, sets out find true love in “Isn’t it Romantic?”.

Bloom – also known as Princess Bloom and the Fair of the Dragon Flame – is the leader of the original Winx Club (voiced by Molly C. Quinn on the Nickelodeon version). She is also the protector and Princess of Domino. All of these together have led her on some amazing adventures and each of them have added to or changed her look in some way. But there are two looks that are iconic and stand out as her original costumes.

These are her two looks from the first season – one when she is a civilian and the other when she is in her fairy form. In her civilian form she prefers yellow wedge-heeled sandals, bell bottoms with stars around the cuffs, an a crop top in yellow and blue. You’ll have to layer two tops – or do a bit of sewing – to get a top like hers. And you will have to add applique stars to the bottom of some bell bottoms to get that exact look. But with a long red wig, you’ve got a spot-on cosplay!

Her fairy form is a little glitzier. Blue wings match a shimmering blue skirt and crop top as well as heeled boots in darker blue. Any large gold pendant can stand as her necklace and a little styling turns the wig from her normal look to one fit for a fairy!

Meg March (played by Emma Watson) is the eldest daughter of the March family in Little Women.  As such, she is the only one of the children who remembers what their family life was like before they lost their fortune, which means she has more of a taste for extravagance and indulgence than her sister Jo.  Meg marries sensibly for love, but not before spending much of her time putting on plays with her sisters and attending dances and balls in the most fashionable dresses she can afford (or borrow, in the case of her luxurious pink satin ballgown).

Jo March (played by Saoirse Ronan) is the main character in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.  The latest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel shows Jo’s journey from young girl to published author.  Jo is fierce and outspoken, with a stubborn streak to match, and her clothing is a mix of men’s and women’s fashions from the Civil War era, including a pair of pants worn under her skirt, which makes it easier to run home after speaking with her publisher.

Elle Woods is the protagonist of the movie Legally Blonde. Though she has many amazing outfits, one of the most popular is the dress she wore in court. It can be recreated with a knee-length hot pink dress and a pale pink ribbon belt. Layering a rhinestone belt over that creates the dual effect of Elle’s original dress. Strappy pink heels that match the ribbon belt and a blonde wig complete the look, though this cosplay also requires a full face of makeup as well as a manicure and pedicure as it is Elle’s signature look.

Triss Merigold (played by Anna Shaffer) is a Temerian sorceress who asks Geralt for help curing a striga who is also the rightful heir to the throne of Temeria. Triss wears jewel-toned solid color dresses, and has a warm fur coat. Her chandelier earrings are gold with white beads.

Strawberry Shortcake has been a childhood staple since her introduction in the 1980s. Her Berry Bitty line was part of the 2009 relaunch and led not only to new toys and movies but to a whole new look for Strawberry Shortcake and her friends. In this version, Strawberry Shortcake has traded her bonnet for a cap and her dress for a skirt, top, and striped tights.

Most of the costume is easy to put together, but the line was short-lived and finding the hate premade is next to impossible. Thankfully, it is fairly easy to recreate. All you need is a pink newsboy cap, some green paint for the bill, and pink felt dots to cut into ovals for the strawberry seeds. A white ribbon just above the bill of the hat completes the look. As long as you have a glue gun and some extra time you can make your own cap to finish off this look!

When Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto departed from the cast of NCIS, Kasie Hines (played by Diona Reasonover) took over as the new forensic scientist. Kasie’s outfits tend to have bright, eye-catching, but coordinating colors, combining preppiness with a touch of whimsy. She may have some big boots to fill (although she seems to be going for comfy Vans sneakers, personally), but she lends her own spin on a quirky demeanor and fashion sense that is all too familiar yet refreshingly different at once.