Hi,

during christmas hollidays I was in Disneyland (which is an genius idea during school break, but well Florida is far...), and I was realy impressed by the SW costumes. There are Stormtroopers etc running arround, and I thought "maaaan, they realy look awesome". At some point I found a place where i could actually buy them, but my enthusiasm (like "I dont care if it is stupid to spend much money on that, I want it) was killed by the prices there... 1.700$ for a Stormtrooper, 3000$ for Darth Vader.

Moaning and thinking about a way to justify why I could spend that much money on a costume (but i did not find any excuse...) I checked the internet for costumes, and i found on http://www.officialstarwarscostumes.com some affordable ones. I mean, it is still a donkey full of money, but it is not like a car...

My question: Does someone of you know, if there are quality differences or something like that between those costumes (the one on the side and the one in Disneyworld)? Or is an expert of costumes in general? Some good advices?

And do you use any kind of costumes during your game? And may it just be a hoody when you play a jawa.

(Sorry for beeing a little bit offtopic but this the best SW forum I know)

I dress like a retired pirate all the time....

IIRC, the 501st is the best place to start looking for high quality Star Wars costuming information.

See http://databank.501st.com/databank/Costuming:CRL

I used to dress (in the Spring and Summer because UK weather is crap) like an extra band member for Faster Pussycat or Poison... it put me in good stead MAAAAANY years later.

I turned up for a Saturday afternoon gaming session, for D&D, ready to go straight out partying/clubbing for the evening... the look on my mate's mom's face was priceless. She said 'I'm a teacher and working with kids, I thought I'd seen it all'.... good times

I used to dress (in the Spring and Summer because UK weather is crap) like an extra band member for Faster Pussycat or Poison... it put me in good stead MAAAAANY years later.

I turned up for a Saturday afternoon gaming session, for D&D, ready to go straight out partying/clubbing for the evening... the look on my mate's mom's face was priceless. She said 'I'm a teacher and working with kids, I thought I'd seen it all'.... good times

I dunno. These guys look pretty lame to me:

The issue with the 501st, and the Rebel Legion, is that their costuming requirements on quality are VERY high, and the best people to get advice from, and IN the respective groups... and the only way to get IN, is to have a quality costume...

Catch 22 I know, and they know,... but they cannot advertise the help, becuase the costumes are Copyrighted.

It sucks, but thats the only way they can stay legal.

What they suggest, is pick something simple, and easy to make, JUST get into into the group, and then you have access to all people who support the group from within.

So rather than going Stormtrooper to start, go with Imperial Officer (Simple uniform in comparision), then you get access to those who can help you do the Trooper, much cheaper.

The issue with the 501st, and the Rebel Legion, is that their costuming requirements on quality are VERY high, and the best people to get advice from, and IN the respective groups... and the only way to get IN, is to have a quality costume...

Catch 22 I know, and they know,... but they cannot advertise the help, becuase the costumes are Copyrighted.

It sucks, but thats the only way they can stay legal.

What they suggest, is pick something simple, and easy to make, JUST get into into the group, and then you have access to all people who support the group from within.

So rather than going Stormtrooper to start, go with Imperial Officer (Simple uniform in comparision), then you get access to those who can help you do the Trooper, much cheaper.

Whilst I am not a member, from what I have heard on a podcast this is not true. There was a guest on the show talking about being a member of the 501st despite not having a costume of her own yet. She was working on it, but had been a non-costumed member for some time doing club events and helping out "backstage" etc. I believe you do have to join to get into the forums or whatever, but you don't have to have a costume to join the club. You only have to have a (film accurate) costume to join in the costumed events. Otherwise, as you say, it would be catch 22.

I do keep thinking I should join, but I doubt there are many people down in the south west of the UK anyway.

ANOVOS currently has the license from Disney for the "high end" costumes and are considered "screen accurate" they are not cheap. https://www.anovos.com/collections/star-wars

The 501st also deals with "screen accurate" but they make/assemble their own costumes as much as they can. http://www.501st.com/

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

The best resource for "screen accurate" props/costumes is the RPF. http://www.therpf.com/

There are "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes out there. Many costumes and various levels of accuracy, you just need to know what "quality" or accuracy level you are looking for and what you want to do with it. As with anything, cost is always a factor in decision making.

DISCLAIMER: I use the term "screen accurate" as in actually accurate OR as close as possible to it. I am not an authenticity judge in any group and only offer my opinion on the best places to look. Also, my use of "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes is NOT meant as derogatory or criticism, only to differentiate the various levels of Halloween costumes out there.

Hope this helps.

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

The issue I see here is that the RL site appears to be badly organized, with a variety of cross-links to nowhere, and what costume references I do find are basically just pictures taken from different movies, TV shows, etc…. They don’t give you anywhere near the level of detail in their costume references as the 501st gives you.

Sad, but true.

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

The issue I see here is that the RL site appears to be badly organized, with a variety of cross-links to nowhere, and what costume references I do find are basically just pictures taken from different movies, TV shows, etc…. They don’t give you anywhere near the level of detail in their costume references as the 501st gives you.

Sad, but true.

Well, they are a bunch of rag tag rebels just trying to survive each day in their fight against the Empire. They don't have time to do a good website, heheh.

The issue with the 501st, and the Rebel Legion, is that their costuming requirements on quality are VERY high, and the best people to get advice from, and IN the respective groups... and the only way to get IN, is to have a quality costume...

Catch 22 I know, and they know,... but they cannot advertise the help, becuase the costumes are Copyrighted.

It sucks, but thats the only way they can stay legal.

What they suggest, is pick something simple, and easy to make, JUST get into into the group, and then you have access to all people who support the group from within.

So rather than going Stormtrooper to start, go with Imperial Officer (Simple uniform in comparision), then you get access to those who can help you do the Trooper, much cheaper.

Whilst I am not a member, from what I have heard on a podcast this is not true. There was a guest on the show talking about being a member of the 501st despite not having a costume of her own yet. She was working on it, but had been a non-costumed member for some time doing club events and helping out "backstage" etc. I believe you do have to join to get into the forums or whatever, but you don't have to have a costume to join the club. You only have to have a (film accurate) costume to join in the costumed events. Otherwise, as you say, it would be catch 22.

I do keep thinking I should join, but I doubt there are many people down in the south west of the UK anyway.

Huh... Maybe they changed it, or I remembered wrong, but what I said I read from their own site directly.... I could have misunderstood its been a few years since I last looked into it

Your friends are (depending on what you want to cosplay as) the 501st Legion, the Rebel Legion and the Mandalorian Mercs (I'm working on getting membership for the latter with a Sabine Wren costume as their resources are much better than the RL).

I know for a fact that the Mercs have a subforum for other Star Wars costumes for advice and tips and forum membership at the very least is free. I've also seen better prosthetics tutorials from the Mercs than any of the Rebel Legion (though there is a substantial cross-section of membership) if you want to be alien or horrifically scarred. If you're looking for armour tutorials, they have some pretty handy threads.

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

Thx, but I m applying for an US greencard so i cant be seen with terrorists

It is always surprising and amazing, no matter with what issue someone starts, how much detail and love people can put into their hobbies. May it be SW costumes, (ok, or everything with SW ) Shavingknifes or god knows what

edit: @old stormtrooper under the first link u posted, those key chains look awesome!

ANOVOS currently has the license from Disney for the "high end" costumes and are considered "screen accurate" they are not cheap. https://www.anovos.com/collections/star-wars

I need help convincing myself that I don't need that shoretrooper helmet

Gah! 600 bucks for a Proton Pack? And you still have to put it together? And there's no electronics? Phooey! you can easily get one commissioned with lights and sound, assembled, for about 7 or 8.

ANOVOS currently has the license from Disney for the "high end" costumes and are considered "screen accurate" they are not cheap. https://www.anovos.com/collections/star-wars

I need help convincing myself that I don't need that shoretrooper helmet

Give in to the Dark Side.

I am a member of the 501st legion and strongly encourage you NOT to buy any commercially available armour if you want accuracy and affordability. You do not have to be a member of the Legion to access the Detachment forums where you can find information and guidance on everything you will need and how to obtain it. Start here: http://www.501st.com/resources.php

Find the Detachment that pertains to the costume you want to build and register.

You should also find your local Garrison and reach out to them for help. Garrison members will welcome you and help you every step of the way. Find what Garrison is close to you here: http://www.501st.com/members/displayUnits.php#garrisons

If anyone needs any help or further guidance I am happy to assist!

TK-7802

Canadian Garrison of the 501st Legion

ANOVOS currently has the license from Disney for the "high end" costumes and are considered "screen accurate" they are not cheap. https://www.anovos.com/collections/star-wars

The 501st also deals with "screen accurate" but they make/assemble their own costumes as much as they can. http://www.501st.com/

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

The best resource for "screen accurate" props/costumes is the RPF. http://www.therpf.com/

There are "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes out there. Many costumes and various levels of accuracy, you just need to know what "quality" or accuracy level you are looking for and what you want to do with it. As with anything, cost is always a factor in decision making.

DISCLAIMER: I use the term "screen accurate" as in actually accurate OR as close as possible to it. I am not an authenticity judge in any group and only offer my opinion on the best places to look. Also, my use of "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes is NOT meant as derogatory or criticism, only to differentiate the various levels of Halloween costumes out there.

Hope this helps.

I've heard of people waiting for a year or more for their ANOVOS costume though. They're both expensive, and can take a long time to ship. It should be possible to make a account at somewhere like whitearmor.net and ask for help and advice. In my experience they're usually happy to help you get started.

I'm also willing to help in whatever way I can.

DZ-4792

501st Legion - 70th Explorers Garrison

Rebel Legion - Dantooine Base

ANOVOS currently has the license from Disney for the "high end" costumes and are considered "screen accurate" they are not cheap. https://www.anovos.com/collections/star-wars

The 501st also deals with "screen accurate" but they make/assemble their own costumes as much as they can. http://www.501st.com/

The Rebel Legion is the flip-side of the coin for the 501st if you are looking for "good guys". http://www.rebellegion.com/

The best resource for "screen accurate" props/costumes is the RPF. http://www.therpf.com/

There are "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes out there. Many costumes and various levels of accuracy, you just need to know what "quality" or accuracy level you are looking for and what you want to do with it. As with anything, cost is always a factor in decision making.

DISCLAIMER: I use the term "screen accurate" as in actually accurate OR as close as possible to it. I am not an authenticity judge in any group and only offer my opinion on the best places to look. Also, my use of "lower" or "lesser" quality costumes is NOT meant as derogatory or criticism, only to differentiate the various levels of Halloween costumes out there.

Hope this helps.

I've heard of people waiting for a year or more for their ANOVOS costume though. They're both expensive, and can take a long time to ship. It should be possible to make a account at somewhere like whitearmor.net and ask for help and advice. In my experience they're usually happy to help you get started.

Yes all true. ANOVOS can take a year to get anything. I have friends in the 501st who ordered kits even longer than that back and have decided to cancel and get their money back.

whitearmor.net is the 501st detachment that covers Stormtrooper costume building and all related parts.

Check these guys out. They do great work, and are currently working on a costume for me for Celebration.

https://www.facebook.com/saintscustoms/?fref=ts