Harry Potter: Snape Build (HBP)

[PadawanLearner]

So, this is really kind of an after thought build thread. My friends and I were planning on wearing costumes to the opening of the Half-Blood Prince, but those plans fell through. Thankfully there was also a convention here on the weekend of July 4th, so I had made that my goal to wear, then I'd have it for sure done for the movie.

Anyway, in doing research I came across a site of a lady who did one for Dragoncon a while back, Yvette has some pretty amazing work. She went off a pattern for the main suit portion of the costume and then decided to just create her own robe...well, I'm not that cool so I had to do some further digging. I found out that Snapes robe, which is pretty much the same movie to movie from what I can tell, is a Masters Robe. One that someone wears for a graduation ceremony. I found a site that had them for sale, pretty much what I was looking for but it was like $80, and I wasn't looking to spend that much on the entire outfit.

Another issue of Snape is he doesn't get much screen time and mostly his shots are all in the dark. But I went mostly off Goblet of Fire, but I decided I wanted a full length suit rather than the vest like style he seems to be wearing:

After doing some shopping about one of my friends stumbled upon a pattern that would pretty much work! And then I took another friend out material shopping and she found me some fantastic stuff.

For the suit, I used Butterick Pattern 6844 (which is what Yvette suggested) and bottom weight black cotton:

For the robe, I used McCalls 3789 and no idea what the material is as we found it at a cloth warehouse, I'm guessing it's some kind of synthetic but it hangs beautifully:

Snapes wand can be found for $25ish licensed and what not, but really all the shots I found looked like a black stick with nothing special about it. The licensed props have a very intricate handle, which is never-ever seen in the movies. So, my friend gave me a wand she attempted to make a while back and did nothing further with it, I did not take a before pic, but here it is after some sand paper and paint:

That is all the time I have for now, I'll add more pics of the final product, oh here's a shot I came across, the only one from while I was working on it. I became suddenly afraid that the bottom weight cotton would show through with a flash, so I had a friend hold it up to her while I took a pic with flash to test, hopefully she won't mind:

she's such a cutie and the one that found the McCalls pattern

 

[hoverboy]

Ooh! I can't wait for more updates on this. Great job so far! Those patterns look really close!

 

[PadawanLearner]

Alright, now that I have a little more time...
So, to make the outfit screen accurate with the patterns above there are only slight modifications that need to be made.

We'll start with the suit, or rather the Butterick pattern. The pockets are not on the side seam but rather on the front hips and the buttons go from the top of the collar to the waist. If I remember...you also need to make the collar a little longer than what the pattern calls for. I would totally suggest interfacing the collar.

For the robe, or the McCalls pattern, the back panel at the top of the neck, instead of being a box style needs to be a W style. The sleeve opening needs to be at the elbow rather than all the way to the wrist.

Other items for the outfit, pointy shoes (possibly ankle boots), either white under shirt with tall collar or just white material sewn into the suit to appear like it (which is what I did) and a black scarf necktie dealy (don't know the actual name of them). However, if you do decide you want to do the black scarf on the neck, I would advise against sewing white material into the suit and just doing a whole seperate white shirt under the suit.

Oh...I almost forgot, the buttons I used were "Half Ball Cover Buttons", which were made of brass and purchased at Joann's. They came three to a pack by Dritz and their part number is 213-45. Sadly the size marking was under the packaging and I have opened all of the boxes, so that part of the cardboard is lost on all of the empty packages. But basically you want to make your buttons as they are cloth covered with the same material.

A note on my outfit that I will show in the following pics, I need more buttons and I ran out of time so the buttons are not actually functional.

I think you know why I'm displaying this pic :love

And now for a little advertising, our little convention in Minnesota is a lot of fun, it's fairly small but there's plenty to do. It's over the Fourth of July weekend, so...if you're looking for a place to travel that's nice and also has a geeky event, there yah be. The URL is in the original post.
We also had a professional photographer swing by and you can check out his pics of that con at: http://bryanhumphrey.zenfolio.com/p208481849
also check out the rest of his site, he goes to Dragon Con every year and does some amazing pics...so, if you want good pics of your outfit while you're there, find him!

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Wow! Excellent work! I'm glad I found this thread; I'm building a Snape costume for myself, and want to have it ready by Halloween, and for next year's Deathly Hallows premiere. Like yourself, I considered using the cassock pattern, but decided to use the MCall's Civil War mens jacket M 4745 pattern instead, as it has the horizontal waist seam, and modify it according to the hi-rez studio photos and DVD snaps.

I'll post some photos here, once I get past the research/planning stage and into the building process. :cool
Rob

 

[Sparticle]

From Chamber of Secrets, you can see his jacket is knee-length
http://splunge.net.au/events/alan-rickman-film-festival/chamber_of_secrets.jpg
Also, there are buttons below his knees and from the elbow down.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Here's a good shot of his coat length...

Here's his sleeve with 9 buttons....

And here's his pants leg, with 4 buttons...

The major difference I see is that his jacket and robes appear to be pure black in the first few movies, but the recent HBP hi-rez images show them to be different shades: a deep, dark blue jacket and black robes.
Rob

 

[Sparticle]

Here's a good shot of his coat length...
Here's his sleeve with 9 buttons....
And here's his pants leg, with 4 buttons...
Rob

Perfect, just perfect!
If I were 100 lbs thinner, I would make this costume!
It looks to be wool or a wool blend, usually quite pricey, but you can't beat it for the fit and shape. I'll have to look for a poly/cotton/wool blend in black to save a few shekels.

 

[JoMamma_Smurf]

I'm not tall enough...lol. But I do have red hair so I reckon I could pull off a Ron costume.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Aw, c'mon guys....DO IT! :thumbsup Remember, Severus Snape is more an attitude than a look....I don't resemble him very much, either (we're about the same age and height), but I'm "going for it" anyway....:lol
Rob

 

[juno]

I'm not sure how true it is, but supposedly there is only one Snape costume currently being used in the films. The costume at the exhibit in Chicago is a replica.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

I'm not sure how true it is, but supposedly there is only one Snape costume currently being used in the films. The costume at the exhibit in Chicago is a replica.

I've heard the same thing, but to be honest, the costumes look different between the films...in the early films, it seemed to be a black-on-black wool ensemble, but in the latest incarnations, it looks a more black-on-deep-blue ensemble; the high rez shots look that way, too....(these pics are kinda big....)

Early films:

Later films:

HBP:

Costume at the Exhibit (looks like the early film version):

Now, Alan looks to have put on a bit of weight during the last 9 years...I can't hardly believe he still wears the same costume....
Rob

 

[juno]

Oh, I didn't mean it was the same costume through all the films. I meant that there is only one filming costume currently. Although it isn't impossible that they continually altered the costume. However, I am almost 100% positive that the Snape piece is a replica. (The docent who told me had gotten the info from the exhibit designer.)

The Lupin costume on display is different from the one that started the exhibit. The original exhibited piece was pulled and sent back to be used in the wedding seen in DH.

 

[PadawanLearner]

all this reference material being gathered is really making me want to make another run at this outfit and this time do the buttons for real.
I'm glad a picture from the exhibit was posted, that was really the main outfit I was looking forward to seeing in person, but since it's a replica I'm not as enthused and won't be sad if I can't make it out to Chicago for it.

 

[rickrickrick]

sorry, dbl post

 

[rickrickrick]

Ghostsoldier, I think ALL of the pix you posted clearly show a blue coat underneath a black cape. Early films included.

Perhaps the difference is bigger now, but it looks to me like it was always black and blue.

Rick

 

[juno]

It's all black: All Clothing, Shoes, Hair PMS Black 6 C. I think you're just seeing a variation in how the fabrics catch the light.

Does this help (from Sorcerer's Stone):

 

[rickrickrick]

I respectfully disagree about the color. There is no doubt in my mind that his coat/pants are deep blue.

I'm sorry I can't do screen captures - don't have the right set-up. I have ORDER OF THE PHOENIX on my DVR in hi res from HBO, and Snape is unquestionably in deep blue. He is seen more in this film than several of the earlier ones, and in brighter light.

Further evidence below: take for the example the very photo you attached, which is extremely dark. If you lighten it up, with no color correction at all, the coat looks distinctly blue compared to the cape. And you're right, his hair is black, so if you compare that to his coat, his coat always looks much bluer.

Has anyone posting here actually seen the costume on exhibit to judge? I haven't. I can only go by what I see on screen and in photos. And I see blue.

Rick

 

[juno]

Yes, I've seen the costume on exhibit. Plus, the color I posted came directly from the WB styleguide. (They even list Ron's cloak as being more grey than Hermione's and Harry's.)

And I still say black. What you're seeing as blue is just the absorption of the colors on different fabrics.

This photo is probably the best I could find in nice light that shows what the costume looks like on exhibit.

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/ph...h-Necklace-harry-potter-3309042-1800-1200.jpg

 

[kibosh]

I saw the exhibit when it opened, and Snape's coat and pants were black. Oddly, the cape seemed to have a hint of green.

 

[rickrickrick]

We'll just have to agree to disagree. I don't buy that any amount of different reflectivity of the fabric would create such a large difference in HUE.

And WB style guide for what? For illustrations? For officially licensed artwork? Look at the post above with the closeup of Snape's sleeve - nine buttons. The Gentle Giant bust has 12 buttons on the sleeves! Did the sleeves change, or was the artwork in error? I can't even begin to comprehend all the inaccuracies there are in the licensed STAR WARS merchandise (which are discussed on these boards ad nauseum)! So style guides in my opinion are not infallible. Especially since they are generally generated by people who have nothing to do with production.

And all black is not as interesting. Look at the all-black ensemble by Yvette - it is definitely missing "something." I say that something is deep blue.

Rick