Dissertation: Costume

Ok so the creation of the costume has started! I purchased all of my fabrics today and I washed and dyed them to match that of the female tusken raider. So far so good! However, I am having some problems getting into my schools sewing labs which could be pretty bad if I don't get in there soon.

I am still trying to figure out the mask. I was looking at the website instructables.com (which i am in love with) and found this tutorial

http://www.instructables.com/id/S74RFWLFT7PS981/

Which could be the best way to get the rounded shape (using a helmet) and would cut my time in half.

or this one

http://www.instructables.com/id/Iron-Man-Helmet/

which, i think, would take much longer. The clay would take a day to dry on its own.

So much work to be done and so little time!!!!!!!

Dissertation

The dissertation is almost done!!!!!!! Just some revisions and then I can get some sleep!!!!

As I am re-reading the paper though I am wondering what other people might think about the topic....

I am writing my dissertation on Costume and Community and using Star Wars and Fandom as my case studies, and stating whether dress and costume can create/enforce a community (I believe it can and does). However, within this discussion I am using the fundamentals of ethnic grouping as my definition of community. Stating that there are common visual/physical signifiers and features (which is the area I am focusing on mostly because of dress) as well as kinship and devotion (like religion or worship) that bring a community together.

What is your opinion on what brings a community or group together? Do you think it can be costume/fashion/dress?

Project: Female Tusken Raider

So in addition to my dissertation I am also creating a female tusken raider costume. I am going to use this blog as a diary to show my daily findings and post some photos of the work as I go along. Very exciting and very stressful seeing as my deadline is in a week!

Here are a photos below, any tips?

(Images were found at http://imageevent.com/kay_dee/fidm/sandpeople)

Look, the whole family! I am sure under those masks they are just thrilled to be together!

Maybe they are off to a picnic or just getting ready to attack a small village, whichever.

(Image taken from the FIDM gallery website)