So, I got really into making outfits based on fictional characters lately. It wasn’t like some big plan, just kinda happened. I saw this character design online, I think it was from some indie game, and just thought, “You know, I bet I could actually make that.” It looked cool, a bit weird, and seemed like a fun challenge.
First thing I did was basically raid my own memory banks and bookshelves. Started pulling out old graphic novels, looking at movie posters I have, even scrolled through some game art. I wasn’t looking for anything specific at first, just grabbing characters whose outfits seemed interesting or iconic to me. Made a messy list on a notepad.
Figuring Out Where to Start
That list got long pretty quick. Had to narrow it down. Decided my first attempt shouldn’t be insanely complex. Didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew right away. I picked this one character, kind of a space adventurer type, mostly because their outfit involved layers I thought I could find or modify easily.
Okay, planning stage. I’m not much of an artist, so no fancy fashion sketches here. More like scribbles on paper, breaking down the outfit into main parts:
- The weird asymmetrical jacket thing.
- Those rugged-looking pants.
- Some kind of harness or strap system.
- Specific boots, always the boots.
With that rough idea, I started the hunt. Hit up like three different thrift stores first. That’s usually my go-to. You find the weirdest stuff sometimes. Found a jacket that was the wrong color but the right shape, kinda. Grabbed that. Pants were easier, found some cargo pants that looked close enough.
Putting It All Together
Now the fun part, actually making it. Took that jacket, first thing was to dye it. That took ages, and the first try came out splotchy. Had to bleach it slightly and try again. Made a total mess. Then I had to alter it, cutting off one sleeve, adding some weird patches from scrap fabric I had. Just sewing and hoping it looked right.
The harness thing was tricky. Ended up buying some cheap belts and nylon straps. Cut them up and stitched them together based on my scribbled drawings. Lots of trying it on, adjusting, sewing again. It was fiddly work, poked myself with the needle more times than I can count.
Boots are always a pain. Couldn’t find anything perfect, so I bought some basic work boots. Roughed them up with sandpaper, added some paint to make them look worn, glued on some extra buckles I salvaged from an old bag. Looked okay in the end, surprisingly.
Checking the Fit and Finish
Then came the moment of truth: putting it all on together. The jacket hung a bit weird on one side, had to add some stitches inside to fix that. The harness needed tightening. The pants were fine, thankfully. It wasn’t perfect, definitely looked homemade up close, but stepping back? It captured the vibe of the character, which was the main goal.
Felt pretty good, honestly. Seeing all those random bits and pieces come together into something recognizable. It took way more time than I expected, lots of little problems to solve along the way. But yeah, I made a thing. Already thinking about who to tackle next. Maybe someone with more armor pieces? That sounds like a nightmare, probably gonna do it.
