So, from a technical perspective, it’s all working. Now, if we want, we can fancy things up on the aesthetic side…
The default eyes seemed…friendly and sad. I whipped up a set of swirling demon eyes more suited to the skull mask. These are included in the graphics bundle described in the main MONSTER M4SK guide, along with installation instructions.
The configuration file for this eye is already set up for a deep monstery voice. Rar!
The mask is just one part (often the most important) of a whole costume. What are we gonna do about the rest of this?
What luck…I already had stuff around to accessorize the goat skull demon!
See? “Having way too many random craft supplies just lying around” isn’t my only superpower.
What if you’re not weird like me and don’t have various monster garb on-hand?
Ask around! Cosplayers, Renaissance faire regulars and Halloween people all seem to collect multipurpose costume detritus over time, and may have hand-me-downs or are willing to trade. Otherwise…
“Generic warlock/monster cloak” and “skeleton jumpsuit” are the hydrogen and helium of the Periodic Table of Monster Costumes…a lot of stuff can build on them. These were literally right next to each other in a Halloween store.
If you’re a costume person, generic monstery items like this can be picked up on clearance after the season and easily find uses in future improvised get-ups. Often very cheaply made though.
Thrift stores can be a gold mine! Coats, belts, ISO Standard Werewolf Flannel. Some tips:
- Costume hacks have no gender…it’s okay to look in The Other Department. If it fits and works as part of your outfit, it’s fair game. That “ladies” faux-fur vest could be part of a Viking getup. That “mens” motorcycle jacket looks good for a cyborg. You won’t catch cooties.
- “Too nice” garments can be distressed to look old and tattered…it’s fun! Belt sander, bleach, spray paint and so forth.
- Give it the sniff test before buying. Sometimes items get donated because the cat got mad, and that smell never washes out.
Maybe you want to DIY a costume, but don’t have much practice with sewing? That’s great! Monsters are notoriously bad at sewing…so if a DIY costume comes out rough-looking, that can be an asset here.
Another haunt/cosplay staple is strips of linen fabric, dyed in dark or earthy colors. Don’t finish the edges, just leave them raw and frayed! Rinse out any extra dye and allow to fully dry, then sew or hot-glue to a costume or mask. These make fantastic monster “hair” or dreadlocks, or as tatters to cover the transitions between costume pieces…at the tops of boots or gloves, for instance.
Page last edited March 08, 2024
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