ANH Senatorial Leia build

Annie Organa () · Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:28 pm Post subject: ANH Senatorial Leia build

Hi there! I already posted something rather similar to this over in the Echo Base build threads, but I want a more widespread opinion from some other Leias on my costume. Currently, I represent the Galactic Academy--I turn 16 next month, so I've got some time before I can join the Legion. However, I want my costume to be as accurate and as close to the standards as it can be.

It's not 100% RL standard-accurate, but it's getting there. If you've any tips, please feel free to share. I'm pretty new to all of this so I'm trying hard to get it right!

So here's the full costume:

It looks pretty good from this angle; the lack of slits in the gown is not noticable.

Two with the hood up:

Ignore the painted-black Jango blaster, I'm working on getting a DDC Defender to go with my Leia.

The back of the costume (this is a terrible angle, but it gives you an idea) :

Currently, I wear a wig with some of my hair sprayed over it to give it a natural-looking hairline. Although the costume standards state that the buns should be made from my real hair, I have shoulder-length hair and I can't really do anything with it at the moment. I've had no luck with extentions so far, so I'm sticking with the wig until my hair gets long enough to style it myself.

Any thoughts? I'm trying to get my Leia costume as accurate as possible so by the time I can switch to the Rebel Legion from the Galactic Academy, I'm all good to go.
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Galactic Academy alumna CLOR0509

SongofAmazon (Jenna) · Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:30 am Post subject:

Well, I can say that you don't need to use your natural hair for the buns. It's a natural hair color that we care about. I like what you did with your own hair to disguise the wiggy-ness of it. Though, I can't see a back part in your wig, so that could be problematic.

Parting wigs nicely is about the worst thing ever, but here's a tutorial for that: http://www.pettingzoowigs.com/wigtutorial_parting.html
Alternatively, Arda Wigs sells a really nice pre-parted wig: http://arda-wigs.com/products/leia

If you wanted to use your own hair, there are couple ways to do that. My hair is about jaw-length, so I use insta-buns. Here's how I made mine: http://silentsong.toweroftime.com/bun-tutorial.html I don't have any tutorials to point you to, but I know some folks who twist in ponytail extensions with their own hair to get the thickness required for the buns, but you need longer hair than I have now to pull that off.

Slits up the side are necessary, but that's a fairly easy fix.

If you are going for super accuracy, you should probably interface your collar so it stands up stiffer. Another fun fact is that the hood hem is actually hand sewn, though that is not a RL requirement at all.

I hope to see you joining us in a couple of years. Mr. Green

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In planning and progress:
Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden

Charter Committee | Galactic Senate DCO | RLGS Web Site | She/Her

Annie Organa () · Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:01 pm Post subject:

The lack of a part could possibly be from the fact that my hair is getting longer and when I pull it over the wig's hairline, it comes right over the part.

Last night, I went to an event and decided to keep my hair entirely under the wig, so these pictures show off the back part:

As for the collar and hood, I didn't make my costume. I have very minimal sewing experience, so I had it made for me by a lady online. So I don't know if she hand-sewed the hood, though that is nice to know if I grow as a seamstress and do eventually make my own costume!

SongofAmazon (Jenna) · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 3:05 pm Post subject:

Ah, okay, I see that part now. Smile

But know that if you ever want to use your real hair and not have a hot, heavy wig on your head, there are options for other buns too. I'll pester DWH to get that twisted buns tutorial up that she promised a while ago.

No time like the present to start learning to sew little by little! I started costuming seriously when I was about 16, so by the time I was old enough and found out about the Rebel Legion, I was already making some pretty decent stuff.
_________________

In planning and progress:
Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden

Charter Committee | Galactic Senate DCO | RLGS Web Site | She/Her

Annie Organa () · Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 7:06 pm Post subject:

The wig isn't really that bad once I have it on for a while. I think, now that I know it isn't a requirement to use your own hair, I'll wear it just in case I ever dye my hair.

Those insta-buns are an awesome idea, by the way! I bet if you sold those, you could get rich from them, LOL.

SongofAmazon (Jenna) · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:44 am Post subject:

I know of a couple of blond Leia's that use temporary hair spray dye in dark brown to match their hair to their buns for troops. I'm tempted to make a more Leia-accurate colored buns and spray darker brown for more formal troops, but so far no one has called me out for being a bit blonder.
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In planning and progress:
Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden

Charter Committee | Galactic Senate DCO | RLGS Web Site | She/Her

Annie Organa () · Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:48 pm Post subject:

I've been doing some styling on the wig (one bun is higher up than the other, I had to fix that), and I'm trying to get it to look as natural as possible. It has two hairnets (one for each bun) strategically pinned down to hold the hair in place, and I'm working on making the back blend in with my real hairline, which is pretty low so it's a good thing the wig hair matches the hair on my head.

(Pictures soon to come)

And the dress is currently being updated, too. I have a Luke that I've trooped with putting slits in it, so when he gets that done I can have a Leia that meets Legion standards!
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Galactic Academy alumna CLOR0509

Annie Organa () · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:33 pm Post subject:

And the slits are in!

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Galactic Academy alumna CLOR0509

SongofAmazon (Jenna) · Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:57 pm Post subject:

Slits look great! Fantastic!
_________________

In planning and progress:
Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden

Charter Committee | Galactic Senate DCO | RLGS Web Site | She/Her

RebelSenator () · Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:01 am Post subject:

I'm glad to see that you are already planning to join the senate when the time comes Smile

. The academy always does a fantastic job with recruits!
Nice work on your costume.
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Stay on Target

Princess Leah () · Detachment XO Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 615 Medals: None

I'm looking at your belt and only have two notes. Also, welcome!

The first is the center front piece should be straight across at the top, not dipped in the center.

The second is that the belt overall seems very large on you. Have you considered scaling the entire thing down a small bit? The metal pieces seem large and the belt doesn't seem to fit you that well. If you're not done growing, ignore this tip. If you are (like I was at 16), then maybe look at knocking 10% off the size of all the pieces. Maybe make a paper mock up and see how it looks. Its one thing to be hyper accurate to the measurements taken from the screen used costumes, its another to scale it properly to your dimensions.
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Corellian Base

PatchworkPirate (Courtney Hudgens) · Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:54 am Post subject:

I'd have to say I'm with the Insta-buns! I combined Jenna and Rachel's tutorials for mine and I must say I will NEVER GO BACK TO USING A WIG! Seriously, I used to use Arda's "Leia" wig and not only was it a pain to restyle (after every.single.troop.) it also weighed a ton! The instabuns weigh practically nothing. Love them.

Annie Organa () · Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 12:02 am Post subject:

Annie Organa () · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:34 pm Post subject:

And now I have acquired a DDC Defender to use with my costume! I don't have any photos of me, in costume, with the blaster, but here it is by itself:

All I need to do is fix the belt issue and my costume will be screen-accurate! Although the belt is low down on my list of priorities because I still have two more years until I can submit my costume.
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Galactic Academy alumna CLOR0509

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