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Cosplayer ladysasha > Costume of Katniss Everdeen (Hunger Games, The)

Most Recent Photo
04-01-2012
Series
Hunger Games, The
Character
Katniss Everdeen
Special Variation:
Arena
Year Completed:
2012
Construction Difficulty:
Difficult
Costume worn at:
Fan Expo Vancouver 2012
Tsukino-Con 2012
Permanent Link:
About this Costume
Construction Details:
Okay, this cosplay has been a much longer, difficult, and much more expensive venture than I originally planned on. But that pretty much goes for anything I throw myself into whole-heartedly. My first Katniss cosplay was, in other words a last minute scramble pieced together in three nights to be worn Sunday at my last con. This new, updated, and much better version has pieces of that plus so many more hours of work and blood, sweat, and tears on top of what I had already done.

I have chosen to portray Katniss very much based on what Suzanne Collins had described in her novel. As much as I support the film as an /adaptation/ of the novel, there were many details I feel were not upheld in the transfer from book to screen. This being said, I realize I have have taken a risk to portray Katniss in this fashion, given my skin tone is darker than what Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal has no doubt influenced many on how Ms. Everdeen looks. However, this is how I feel I can best portray her given the details in the novel and each to their own favoured depiction I guess.

As for construction of the cosplay itself… Oh boy, what a ride. So here’s the break down – pretty much everything was store bought but then altered beyond recognition. The pants were no doubt the hardest part; we (Peeta and myself) bought our pants at the same time, at the same place – they were men’s pants as we needed the pants to look masculine on her and if we had bought women’s they wouldn’t give the same effect. However, wherein lay the problem was given me only standing at 5’2 max, they did not look like they fit me at all. So alterations were a must. In essence, they were taken in, taken up, shortened; the pockets were taken off and re-sewn in the proper position in reference to my leg length, and the front pockets were taken out as they gave an unflattering line given the new fit. Next was the shirt, which again, posed another list of problems. Again, it was a men’s shirt, which I had to alter to make it fit me. So again, it was taken in, the sleeves were shortened, the shoulders were taken in and it was given a curve – women apparently have curves, who knew? :P
The boots were another nightmare; We knew the arena uniforms are identical so why shouldn’t the boots be as well. Problem? Finding the same boots on a budget. TranquilChaos28 (Peeta) and myself are university students. We don’t have a lot of money to spare. So we found Her boots at Value Village, and Then I had to track down a pair similar to them. I managed to find ones somewhat the same given the to and leather texture, but guess what? More alterations. Just putting this one out there: I /HATE/ sewing leather. So a buckle removed, a buckle added a change of laces… We’re pretty close but I know in the future when I have time, and do not have to worry about term papers and exams I will be attempting to alter them more, just to make them that much closer in style.
The jackets we left pretty much alone as they were a perfect fit to begin with, I just added the Mockingjay pin – which I love by the way – and they are easy enough to put on and take off given that they do keep in the heat much too well… Not indoor cosplays for very long that’s for sure. :P
We also wear belts but you rarely see them – we were lucky enough that I have two seemingly alike but mines more petite given I’m smaller.
The backpack was a lucky find on line, as was the bow. I’m lucky enough that I’m a lot smaller than most so I can use a child’s bow and get away with it not looking to small. This we painted silver, and I am currently working on the quiver and arrows, but everything else is 100% done.
My make-up takes the longest time, go figure ~ :P I probably spend at least half and hour just trying to get my skin tone right and letting TranquilChaos28 work her magic with the bronzer… that’s not including adding the dirt smudges or the special effects make-up I put on after everything has been deemed “too perfect.” The easiest part of the whole thing is the hair – a braid; got to love that! ;D

The full thing in it’s entirety will debut at Fan Expo Vancouver on April 21-22, 2012.
Personal Thoughts:
I actually never thought I would cosplay Katniss, but somehow I was convinced... I decided to pursue the book's version as I actually prefer it over what they offerred us in the movie. I know I've taken a risk cosplaying Katniss with a darker skin tone, in my head this is how I see her and I hold no apologies for those who don't quite see it. Each to their own idea I figure...*shrugs* :S

I've tried to construct this as close to the book as possible, so much so there is a soft cover volume marked with tabs of every description given of the charcater, their clothes, etcetera... :P
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