# Cheap and easy costume stuff? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 16, 2002, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-and-easy-costume-stuff/132479 "2002-10-16T07:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2002, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-and-easy-costume-stuff/132479/1 "2002-10-16T07:25:06Z")
Okay… this is for something other than Halloween. I mean, Halloween is fun and all but I need something for my LARP game [Purgatory](http://purgatory.thistown.com/). It’s set in London and everyone has costumes but Liam and I… now I know what I want to do… see Zil is Scottish but she runs around in mens clothing… as it’s 1250 I’m planning on doing a mix of mens and womens clothes… breeches and a long shirt with a cloak wrapped around… the thing is… I have no money whatsoever to do this with… So does anyone have any ideas of what I could do? If you have any ideas for Liam too I’d bet he’d appreciate it. He’s playing a Lasombra, Bishop of the Church… very dark and shadowy clan for those who don’t know Vampire. Oh his character is also minor nobility… mine is a peasant… Any ideas or tips would be appreciated… ---
**Author:** ![iconoplast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3d9bf3/32.png) [@iconoplast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iconoplast)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2002, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-and-easy-costume-stuff/132479/2 "2002-10-16T10:19:32Z")
Thrift stores are always a good start. I’ve found my best costumes at Salvation Army, myself. Also, a good level of improvisational skills come in handy. I NPC a lot, and so my costuming varies pretty wildly. Secondly, I recommend what we’ve always called “engineer sewing,” where one hems fabric by using glue, folding it into a hem, and ironing it. We made a very nice looking tunic for a friend by just taking a rectangle of fabric, hemming it, and cutting a neck hole in the middle. (We cinched it at the waist as well.) Pretty inexpensive costume, and not too difficult. You can make pants in a pretty similar fashion – get your measurements, slit up the middle for legs, use elastic for the waist. You can also use elastic on the ankles for a “fluffier” look. (I see your character seems to be Gangrel, in which case I might recommend forgoing hemming as well, and just letting the fringe fly, as it were.) However, these things still cost money, if even a small amount. Most of my costuming is for more modern-day LARPs, and I can’t remember any costumes that I’ve used for Lasombra (which probably means that they weren’t very good). I do hope that helps, though. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-and-easy-costume-stuff/132479/3 "2002-10-17T00:59:00Z")
It helps yes… good ideas… the thing is… when I say I have no money to work with… I mean literally no money. I have exactly the amount needed to cover the cost of the game and won’t get anymore till the end of the month. It’s always fun being a student with no job _sighs_