At Silicon they are going to have a panel about “Iron Costuming” sorta Iron Chef but with bolts of fabrics a sewing machine, and a limited amount of time.
This is based of “Chaos Costuming” that is popular in the UK:
…This is an opportunity either to add the finishing touches to a costume you’ve brought with you or to make yourself a last minute costume from scratch at the convention itself in time to enter the masquerade competition on Sunday evening. Materials will be provided but anything you’d like to donate would be gratefully received.
Chaos costumes can be as permanent or temporary as the participant wishes. Outfits may be created for the masquerade, as hall costumes or just for the fun of it. The outfits can be as professional (ie well made) or thrown together as people wish. You need more time for “properly sewn” stuff, and we can help people with such, but we are not above staples and glue which can be just as good. You’ll be amazed what you can do with a couple of bin liners!
So basically you just make a costume on the spot, based on what materials are on hand. It seems to me that this would be popular with gals, but with guys who like a challenge. And lets face it walking around in some strange outfit that you whipped out in 15 min might be more acceptable to the shyer folks out there.
And with Halloween coming up, many of use will be throwing costumes together, but imagine having someone who knows what they are doing at your side.
LINK to the WORLD CON page about this subject. World con is a large convention that they have all over the world. They give this excellent reason for doing a “chaos costume”
Because we appreciate the difficulty of transporting costumes over the Atlantic. Even if you could fit it into a suitcase and get it through customs, that’s so much less space to take home books and things you might want to buy on your travels.
So, wouldn’t it be nice if all you had to take with you was the idea? (And perhaps just a few essential bits?) And then make the actual costume at the con? And be able to leave it there after, to be recycled?
