Completed July 2008

I’ve been called Leeloo in the streets for 6 years while I had RED hair… more accurately, “HEY, RED! FIFTH ELEMENT. THAT’S COOL” catcalls from strangers. Yeah. No. Her hair is orange, people. Well, I decided to irk myself further by making this costume, so that whenever I wear it, I can not only receive aforementioned catcall, but also “MULTIPASS!!! Huh-huh. ….HEY! MULTIPASS!” So that was my inspiration, folks! A deep self-loathing for my eardrums.

Inspiration
This costume started out as a throwaway costume idea for Halloween. I just wanted a costume to be recognized in. Pris from Bladerunner, which I thought was a mainstream shoe-in, was drunkenly mistaken too many times as a sexy raccoon. That would not do.

Construction
I sewed the pants using Burda pattern #7791. I used a 2-way stretch microsuede wrong-side out, because it was the only shiny accurate color I could find. I airbrushed the inner and outer thighs and topstitched the black piping. If I can find 4-way stretch fabric, I’ll definitely replace the pants because they limit my mobility somewhat. I sewed the bootcovers and belt out of pleather. The belt buckle I scavenged from a thrift store belt. The shirt was also a lucky thrift store find – all I did was crop it. The wig was an old, ratty yellow wig that I cut, dreaded, and dyed. I made a tutorial and posted a pattern for the silicone suspenders.

Photos by Paolo Cellamare – Las Vegas, NV; Elemental – Chicago, IL