Re: BATMAN Character Costumes for School Play (Pic Heavy)
I am in awe of your work, especially Batman and Robin. It's like you stepped inside my mind and took the concepts from my childhood. Wow.
How did you come up with such an amazing cape pattern? It looks so fitted with the cowl, almost one piece.
What a really nice compliment! Thanks so much.
Even though I do NOT consider the 1966 "Batman" TV series costumes to be the definitive interpretations of these characters (I have yet to see that), the guidelines established by that production really influenced a LOT of my approach here.
The near-seamless relationship between cape and cowl was definitely one of those guidelines.
I must tell you, the cape and cowl combination was a matter of trial and error and little bit of luck. I
did spend a lot of time shopping for cape material that would closely match the black urethane cowls of Batman and Batgirl. But I never thought I'd find anything perfect. I figured I would have to settle for something close.
But I eventually lucked out by finding a dull black stretch PVC fabric who's color and sheen were virtually identical with the cowls. I couldn't believe my luck! And by fashioning the garment out of a stretch fabric, I was able to have a cape that always fit
snugly around the wide neck sculpt of the cowl.
Design-wise, it only made sense to me to create The Batman's uniform in a way where the cape would be worn over the cowl, NEVER underneath it (as we have seen in virtually every live-action version of the character since Michael Keaton in 89).To my eyes, the figure is much more elegant, stately, and powerful (as I believe The Batman should look) when the lines of his neck, shoulders, and cape enclosure are as un-cluttered and un-interrupted as possible.
I believe that the look of a cowl worn OVER the cape goes against this clean, powerful look for Batman. It makes him seem messy... un-kempt. Also (to my eyes) it makes him appear neck-heavy and stoop-shouldered, rather than imposingly broad shouldered (which is more my preference).
Also, as a fan of The Batman all through the 1970's, 80's and 90's, it seemed pretty clear to me that the character (as represented in the comics) never wore his cowl over his cape.
I also strongly believe that a cape designed with a
fitted shoulder seam is an essential part of completing the formal look of The Batman's broad, square-shouldered outline.
(Photo Credit: Lynn Williams from her sewing blog: "Caped Crime Fighter- Cape Alterations"
http://sewingcafewithlynne.blogspot.com/2011/09/caped-crime-fighter-cape-alterations.html)
After all, the character's cleanly-defined silhouette is a vital aspect of his persona. And properly shaped shoulders go a long way toward defining that silhouette.
Now, with all due respect to my many talented Batman costuming contemporaries, many cosplayers prefer to construct Bat capes based on a circular pattern with a neck hole cut in the center... a basic cape "poncho". But those types of capes never have the look of a proper neck closure, nor do they look particularly good (to my eyes) when worn closed (at rest) in front of the body (which is the way I believe The Batman should mostly wear his cape).
I think it's important to point out a serious and costly ERROR that I made when fashioning The Batman's cape: At first, both the cape
and the lining material were stretch fabrics. The result was a cape that had an "overly rubbery" and "bouncy" consistency when worn. It also felt unstable around the neck, like if it would easily shift position.
I learned that when a cape is this long and massive, it needs sturdiness somewhere within its own construction so that it can maintain a basic shape and properly support its own weight. Without structural sturdiness, a stretch-fabric cape will warp all over the place when sitting upon the figure and appear lifeless.
I corrected this problem by removing the original inner lining material that I used on this cape (a "wet-look" stretch lycra spandex). I created a new inner lining with a (non-stretching) heavy, low-sheen, black bridal satin.
After that, the cape was steady as a rock! All of the beautiful, regal gathers at the rear of the cape became defined, consistent, and far more powerful!
As for Batgirl, I found myself unconsciously taking a page out of the 1960's TV show again. It made sense to me to fashion a cape for her that featured a gathered turtleneck-style enclosure which would appear to be an extension of her cowl. Unfortunately, there was still a considerable amount of her bare neck showing between the collar of her cape and the bottom of her cowl (as evidenced by this behind-the-scenes still, taken during this summer's rooftop photo shoot)
To correct this problem, I am now adding a "wonderhood" garment (fashioned out of the same cape material) to the Batgirl costume. This open-faced wonderhood garment will be worn underneath the cowl, and it extends down to fully cover the neck (where it will meet the tall turtleneck cape enclosure). With the previously exposed neck now covered, the illusion of a seamless cape and cowl will be complete.
