Convention Fans

There’s no doubt that Twilight has quite a presence at fandom conventions, which is why I felt compelled to put together this Twilight Movie Costume Guide. However, this guide is far trickier to put together than the other ones I’ve done (see Pirates, Zombification 101, Star Trek Uniforms, and Ninjas). The main characters in the Twilight movies wear regular teen street clothes for the most part, which means the movie lacks a truly iconic costume for each character. If your goal is to have a Twilight costume that is instantly recognizable, and gets you attention at conventions, you can’t do it half-assed. Otherwise you’ll end up looking like every other teen coming in and out of Old Navy.

Twilight Replica Costume Pieces

Unless you’re just an incredibly gifted sewer and pattern maker, you’ll probably be looking to the internet to purchase or commission a costume. Luckily, there are some tailors out there creating Twilight movie costumes. For example, you can get Edward Cullen’s grey jacket for sale on eBay for about $100 (+$40 for shipping).  You can also find Bella Swan’s “fantasy prom gown” for sale on eBay for about the same price, $100 (+$10 for shipping).

A lot of Twilight movie replica accessories are also available for sale online. Etsy.com has a slew of Twilight jewelry available, including Bella’s Turquoise bracelet and moonstone ring ($144, or the bracelet by itself for $110), Edward Cullen’s wrist cuff, and Cullen family crest earrings, pendants, and chokers (ranging from $10 to $36).

Creating Edward Cullen and Bella Swan’s Hairstyles

In all seriousness, I recommend getting a wig, unless you happen to be sporting the exact same style and color as these Twilight stars. Both have very distinctive heads of hair, and you may have trouble achieving that in time for a convention without months of preparation. Because the costumes are so generic, and the accessories (while a nice touch) might not be enough for instant recognition, the hair becomes very important. Having perfect Edward Cullen hair could make all the difference (especially since he runs around in a nondescript grey jacket and t-shirt shirt most of the time).

You may want to find a friend or fellow cosplayer to help you style your hair or wig, especially if you don’t have experience in doing so. If you have the funds, consider purchasing two - which leaves one for practice. A lot of cosplayers recommend the wig company CosWorx for all your wig needs.  Of course, these aren’t anime characters with crazy blue locks, so you may find what you need at a conventional wig store. Be prepared to cry a little at the cost, however.

Final Touches for Your Twilight Costume

In addition to the screen accurate jewelry, you may want to consider investing in some quality contact lenses, body glitter, theater make up, and vampire teeth. With the exception of the body glitter, I don’t recommend buying this stuff online if you can help it. Most conventions have vendors selling these items, and at least at a con you can inspect them and speak with others who know how to use them properly (or who can vouch for their quality). Don’t buy cheap contact lenses or vampire teeth online. You’ll probably be disappointed. If you can’t get to a convention, try a professional costume store.

Twilight Costume Links

Twilight Costume LiveJournal Community
How to be Edward Cullen
Twilight Vampire Make-Up Tips
Bella Swan Costume Ideas
BuyTwilightStuff.com

Trackback URI | Comments RSS