Fantasy and craftsmanship

[cjsmith]

Sometimes, when I enjoy a science fiction or fantasy novel, I want to see the world the characters inhabit. I want to see the dilithium crystals, touch a wizard's robes, all that stuff. In particular, I am definitely not too old to want to play dress-up. I would love to have a replica of Talia's Whites or Rivakonneva's armor hanging in my closet right beside all the other specialty garments I never wear. I'd want them to feel and fit as much like the originals as I could imagine; a polyester-cloth version of boiled leather armor wouldn't cut it.

Childish, in a way, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Fifteen years ago, when I used to go to cons, some part of the dealers' room was usually dedicated to just this sort of fantasy... but it wasn't very good at satisfying any specific yearning. There were people selling generic chainmail, generic cloaks, plastic phasers, and poorly-crafted daggers. I wonder if it's changed much.

If it hasn't, I wonder if there's room for a craftswoman who replicates specific things. Someone who reads the book, researches its universe a little, and can put together an outfit and a bunch of accessories that lets the wearer pretend. Unfortunately, that's probably time-consuming and expensive, so it'd be marketed to the aging wannabes with careers (like me) and not really to the penniless college wannabes (like I used to be).

It does sound a bit too much like work though... especially having to re-fit any given design to a wide variety of sizes and imaginations ("Del's tunic does too have a sash to belt it!"). Maybe I should just whip up one or two for me, twirl around in them, and hang them in the closet next to everything else I never wear.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Does anyone make and SELL it, as a business? People making it for themselves I'm familiar with.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Not in fandom, though I know that the SCA has some armorers who do custom armor. Some of the Trek fen may have costumers who cater to them, but I've never seen it.

Anything that involves uniforms can be done reasonably easily. If you want to do Valdemarian Herald uniforms, just order yourself a whole lot of white cotton or cotton/polyester blend. The basic cut of a herald's whites is very simple, as I recall.

You could do something similar with Dendarii Free Mercenary uniforms. Basic gray infantry battle dress, with low infantry boots. People could pin on the rank insignia of their choice, or you could use standard US Army pin-on insignia.

For dress uniforms that are more closely fitted, it gets trickier. I guess it depends on how much time you want to put into this, and how much someone would be willing to pay for - say - a complete Dorsai dress uniform.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Not in fandom, though I know that the SCA has some armorers who do custom armor.

That makes sense, given what little I know of the SCA (and that's really very little).

If you want to do Valdemarian Herald uniforms, just order yourself a whole lot of white cotton or cotton/polyester blend. The basic cut of a herald's whites is very simple, as I recall.

Not what I'd choose for the finished product, but excellent for playing around. Yes, simple... and never one hundred percent described, not that I found. I'd fiddle around a lot creating just the right pattern. Might actually use some of the cover art in this case.

For dress uniforms that are more closely fitted, it gets trickier.

Like your Count Piotr Vorkosigan. I believe I've seen photos. Now THAT's an achievement! :-)