Carbon Costume

Long before she was Bloody Mary, Mary Tudor was just the daughter of a king. A daughter pushed aside by her father when her mother fell out of favor. Then further still when first a sister and then a brother were born. Sarah Bolger plays her to perfection on “The Tudors”.  And though the show doesn’t go on long enough to see the tyrant Mary would become, Bolger does an amazing job showing how a sweet girl can turn into the woman now remembered as Bloody Mary.

To copy her look, or something close to it, you’ll need a Tudor gown. Since the fashions of Mary’s day hinged on small details and intricate work that is expensive to reproduce, the gown above is simpler than something she would have worn but it is a similar style. The white socks and red flats aren’t period-accurate but they’re close enough while still being versatile pieces that can transition into other cosplays. And of course Mary would never be caught without her rosary. Finally a long brown wig and a regal red Tudor necklace complete the look.

Anne Boleyn – both the character and the actual woman – was cunning and clever. She knew how life at court worked and did all she could to make the best life for herself in a world that seemed stacked against her. Natalie Dormer’s portrayal of her is a fan favorite from The Tudors and brought new attention to the tragic life lived by the mother of Queen Elizabeth the First.

Though Anne wears several gowns on the show one of her most popular is the yellow gown she wears to Catherine’s funeral. Given the intricate styles of the Tudor era it is hard to easily replicate the dress. Etsy sellers have a few listed, one of which is pictured to the left in the image above. The option to the right is from Amazon. With either option you’ll want a hoop to fill out the skirt, a brunette wig, and a Boleyn necklace. A pair of thigh high socks and white ballet slippers dyed yellow finish the look.

Catherine Howard (played by Tamzin Merchant) was the youngest of Henry VIII’s wives, marrying him and 17 and dying by his order between the ages of 18 and 19. The reason was adultery, though some argue that the charges were false. But even if they were true, it’s hard to blame the young queen for looking for love when her husband was 49 to her 17, a 32 year age gap.

Catherine’s story is one of tragedy and heartache, ending in her execution. It is the scene that sticks most with fans, closely followed by the way she danced both for the king and for herself. A specific request came in for her execution gown and that is what we focused on for this write up.

A simple white gown dyed black serves as the basis for the costume, one with a black slip underneath. A long black coat with attached goes over the top. And the costume would not be complete without a long blonde wig and a white cap.

Hippolyta wasn’t always a queen. Before the gods took pity on her forlorn soul she was a mortal cavewoman. Her mate murdered her and the gods plucked her soul from the Underworld to create the Queen of the Amazons. Her sister Amazons were women who also suffered violence at the hands of men, ultimately leading them to the secret and secluded island where they remained until their Princess Diana left to join the wider world to become Wonder Woman.

Hippolyta has had several different looks over the years but this one is closer to her classic comic appearance. Long dark hair worn loose around her shoulders, a gown of deep purple accented by a gold belt, gold sandals, silver bracers, and a small crown atop her head.

In The Favourite, Abigail Masham (played by Emma Stone) is the picture of demure innocence. Until someone gets in her way. Her own cousin isn’t safe from Abigail’s quest for security and power. Though in a world as tumultuous as the English royal court, who can blame her?

Period costumes are always a little difficult unless you sew your own. But there are some options that get you close. A simple black dress mimics Anne’s generally unassuming daily style, especially once you add a lace collar. A pannier keeps your skirt full while thigh high socks – held in place with double sided fashion tape – and heels complete the outfit.

Round out the look by styling the wig using this tutorial. It is technically for Elizabeth Swan but is a great low profile style for costume from around the same period.

Elle Fanning plays Catherine the Great in the Hulu miniseries, The Great. The plot follows the longest ruling Russian empress from her youth to her rise to power with satire and comedy galore. While drawing from Russian history, this drama is fictionalized by adding Catherine’s plan to murder her idiotic husband, Emperor Peter II.

Anne Boleyn was the real-life wife of Henry VIII. The mother of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne was beheaded shortly after her daughter’s death after being falsely charged with several crimes against the crown. Though her story was largely untold in the centuries following her death she has been given a voice in more modern times in both academic and pop culture circles. One such outlet for Anne’s story is Six! The Musical, an edgy take on the lives (and deaths) of Henry’s six wives where Millie O’Connell plays Boleyn.

Cosplaying as this particular version of Anne Boleyn takes a little bit of DIY. All of the musical’s costumes are very unique and you aren’t likely to find an exact match. To get her look you want to get a bright green dress and use tape to create the black gridwork pattern seen in the show. The original dress’ grid is made of small studs but you can start with basic black tape and upgrade if you decide to keep the costume going.

A connected high-neck collar and set of cap sleeves finished the dress while black nylons, black-heeled boots, green hair bows, and Anne’s signature “B” pendant finish off the outfit. The musical’s version of Anne also has several piercings and prefers bright green eye makeup, so a few fake piercings and shimmering green makeup are must-haves.