SciFi Costuming on a Budget

by Kathe Gust, First published for the July/August 2013 issue of Finery

Thrift store science fiction costuming can work if you are open about the character you are willing to attempt. If you are planning to replicate something exactly, this is may not be the method for you. If you are willing to be the Ambassador from Planet X, a starship mechanic, a denizen of a hive of scum and villainy, or a classic 1930’s serial character, you may be pleased at how well this can work. Just remember clothes are clothes – there are no men’s or women’s departments in the store.

Ambassador/Ambassadress from Planet X – You need one really great signature piece. Preferably a vest or robe and the rest can be as plain as you like, or as gaudy. If a robe has sleeves and you don’t like them – take them off and finish the edge with bias tape or a fancy trim. A great hat, hair-do, sash or other accessory just adds to the splendor. Draft a bodyguard and consort to add to your consequence.

Starship mechanic – Look for a jumpsuit of some kind, or try to find a vest to wear over plain tan, khaki or black shirt and pants. Add some patches or ribbons to make the vest look more like a uniform. Patches can be made of heavy felt. Use fabric making pens to draw on your logos and the name of your company or affiliation then tack on with a few stitches. Accessorize with boots and tool belt. Smear a bit of grease on your forehead or cheekbone.

Denizens of sci-fi hive – These unfortunates seem to wear earth tone colors quite a bit. They also wear bits and pieces of decommissioned military garments. They may be neat and tidy, but the clothes needn’t really match with each other. For some reason Star Wars types gravitate toward wrap garments, but others do not seem to be fussy about closures. Everyone likes overcoats, dusters and hooded robes, but you only NEED those if you are the alpha character. A few belts worn in unusual ways and hung with mysterious pouches is never amiss. Want to be over the top? Wrap your boot tops and lower pant legs in strips of cloth to resemble puttees.

Classic science fiction– Costuming in the days of the old serials was not very fancy. For either a guy or gal, grab a long-sleeved round neck shirt in your favorite sci-fi color. I like neons for choice. Or grab a few yards of thrifted sheet or other fabric to make a T-Tunic robe. Use felt to cut out a big logo you can tack onto the front with a few stitches: comets, planets and stars are good. Add pants and boots. To fancy things up you can make a collar and belt and add a paint punked water pistol “ray gun”. For a classic 1930’s heroine consider “goddess” dresses.

There are plenty of other ideas as well. Princess Leia seems to have quite a lot of white outfits in her closet and I’m betting we haven’t seen all of them yet. Just wear one of her signature hair-dos and you are good to go. The gals on Firefly run the gamut from greasy to glam. Choose your character and go with a compatible look and accessories. Can’t find anything but khaki pants and a tank top or a skimpy frock – consider Battlestar Galactica.