This year I decided to attend the
Sydney Supanova Pop Culture Expo. It's a celebration of all things nerdy and features a range of special guests from TV, movies, animation and comics. Most years I find out about it when it's too late to buy a ticket, but this year I was organised! And just to make it more interesting, I decided to go in costume.
So this is how I made my Viper cosplay.
Inspiration
After a couple of nights researching various female comic book super heroes and villians, I settled on
Madame Hydra/Viper.
- Her look is basic green - easier to work with for a starter costume.
- Being a bad guy is fun!
- Snakes are cool.
Construction
I was very lucky to score a beautiful snakeskin brocade on sale at The Remnant Warehouse, and chose a lovely green poplin for the rest of the dress.
This is the first dress I've made, and while a skirt is easy, a bodice is another matter entirely. I purchased a couple of vintage dress patterns, but unfortunately my current measurements make it hard for me to fit a standard dressmaking pattern. So after a dissapointing mockup using an old sheet, I decided to try another approach.
This
Body Coutour Cosplay Tutorial on YouTube was most helpful! If you're not familiar with how to use a bodice sloper, or if you have a tricky figure, this is a pretty good approach for a one-off design (provided you can get a dress form with your measurements. I had to make some..ahem..additions in the bust region).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlXuNVeS0DofyEVMed7tI8zGkqQrzMgpOMs9YbwJNqu_RSn_FphCLMrz8iDLI93R6Hi11Ra4NBpdVECko-HqL6WVnDoeEuRSB0SaIhXtTko4ckL3s1n58HDwdBgG9clhax7lrnIGoSE1P/s1600/received_m_mid_1401708403606_9368e66beef4021d00_0.jpeg) |
First I made a paper+tape bodice to fit Dolly |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST4d2Gex1LyFEOkDPGw2acs3sggpZYJ1qRscvjGBlImsuKW78FioZ5unq3km6EnZI-sOWS-igy5KmanfWRDBa_kfjOV3sL-yIWJtYvX1lt7DTyooa6Corir2i5QpJ3OSqQGW50dInFyNj/s1600/IMG_20140602_221818.jpg) |
Cutting a practice bodice from muslin. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JwGZoiHXUXzaeM7iqtVbW49nSIqd8P5A5oCVYOV1ZYNLViRYQjWNHCT8uJsQ2rVNlt4CTei1jSZsBVx58IKkskhnhi6gYNm9zWdGmtePPgg_D6WLxkvhS1b9t_n6G1IcuxIVsP6gFZyD/s1600/IMG_20140603_091928.jpg) |
An acceptable fit! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS-oMxzTFA4lTpdT4K2yrPEkbxrYZdS1HmtyImq2DqqV82ivIEG-nhZ0vC0Ryp34UMDADkURHoJoC3GtpqPQ-9dNaJhfuGFq2dlvbFLxFoO70AAbJywcOlQVOzgqAKmPnabSWv2ivjp_z/s1600/IMG_20140604_233720.jpg) |
Cutting the bodice from the brocade and poplin. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-mXbriguDIFj2N6_eKCvPteZ2HjiMmvMxfyyG1Rl5MLacyDiIvGI3djEtyiS7j8HVhrHQNCxNKeYNCGaLGZO3x1YNHKOu1RH-TDop1qo5sb2cqpzP2UW3hKexIALSqMc7uOZRA9aA2WO/s1600/IMG_20140604_233732.jpg) |
The skirt cut and sewn, with pockets! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIoEVup9ndrlB1Zgmv1wFZFwmOX-risueuIskrcjM9afYAGilYwDXg4oJQGrrjGvRXPdlA5DlBYNYwfO1yHZ7sn_cBCIaVL1EC-v_LZwXT4mxQ4HY1j9f-2olA4SuPSYNLKkR_buSW1Di/s1600/IMG_20140605_193031.jpg) |
Back view |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS12KRDdaQO-hu9AvcpLnvuvMndvGwyDjKmhidr0SuC20XS0D5v_o9QfGhkXYwLeX3mKbFmy5CUXYm9T7G0JL0hYNUQibz4DmmVqzrdbdVrc2VSG3SnNy3kLrAUZcwA7haAIdTe9sGLUP/s1600/IMG_20140605_193016.jpg) |
Front View |
At this point, I still had to add some facing to the bodice, and fix the ugly side zipper.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKSUIl40yZdt0mD0RfHP1YJgb6qA4fboHDnNp0ln9lG1bWvbzx7yaRn12gdpGaT8OSScYjaN377OaRDSnsq4FZSAjH4cuS8W4s-bRipeZwLc0LpRlXBUKUP4RkcPQ2qHtQaQm3lvTpxT3/s1600/IMG_20140610_211557.jpg) |
Back view |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRP2Od9Rwl4V_QyHiPU4xkQgAXvBqvhmsVDsF_EWk4YVMFwNuk5cmGQt-A1XI4SbFNKt2HYQGsRHXthRE-bWjc99oXwaV819FU3TTzLpwCK-5f4e-mSF6wsHhwHl1pawbHAF5wHdMUJhK/s1600/IMG_20140610_211520.jpg) |
Front View |
The buttons are to hide the spot where the seams all join.
Results
With some fun accessories off ebay, and a bright green wig, it wasn't exactly what you'd call an authentic cosplay, but it was fun to wear. And the best bit was that it made wandering around a crowded convention centre much more fun. Now to plan next year's effort :)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqIxZhJCQAENzlY.jpg) |
Heading to Supanova!
|
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BqKi5FFCYAE8mD3.jpg) |
Wearing boots to cover up a bandaged ankle. |
And best of all, there was a fantastic camera to take a picture of my work!
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