Frugal-nomics DIY: Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire Inspired Costume

I gotta admit, I’m not a big Halloween celebrator….but get invited to parties and am always up to network with friends and contacts. But what do I wear?  For one party I wanted to wear my No Sew TuTu and go as a ballerina (which I did, and it was a big hit), but wondered “what else was out there for other events?”

Even though the movie isn’t out yet, in my mind I gotta admit that I kept going back to Jennifer Lawrence’s wardrobe in the new Hunger Games 2 movie, Catching Fire. I mean, what’s not to love? She just looks tough….the feathers, the flashes or red—I was immediately sold! I paired my edgy top with a snakeskin pair of black faux leather jeans and ankle boots, and my ensemble was complete. Tell me below what you’re creating for this year’s Halloween costume.

SUPPLIES: Black feather trim (in the end I used about 7 yards), 4 red feather patches, 2 red guinea feather pads, straight pins, plastic garbage bag, e6000 glue, scissors, an old tank top, a zipper, and a needle and thread. 

HOW-TO:
I used a mannequin, but feel free to do this with the tank top lying on a flat surface like I did in my Ostrich Feather Skirt post.
1. To use a mannequin, I suggest first covering the form with a plastic garbage bag so as not to get glue on your mannequin.
2. Slip your top onto the mannequin.
3. Measure your first row of trim by wrapping it around the mannequin, and snipping it at the desired length.
4. Secure one end of the trim to the shirt with a straight pin.
5. Apply glue to the entire band of trim.
6. Wrap the trim you just applied glue to around the form about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the tank, then press it into place, and re-secure it with the straight pin.
7. Start the next row of trim up about 2 inches from the last one….and continue.
8. For the main part of the body I made complete revolutions — using about 6 rows of trim on the bodice alone, going right up to the underarm.
9. I wound up using shorter pieces for the upper chest and top back , but as I finished the main bodice I lined the last piece up against the underarm (Note: It’s a little less noticeable if you opt to use a black tank instead of a colored one like I did).
10. Apply a line of glue to the entire neckline — meaning from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.

HOW-TO CONT’D:
Now, for this part, I didn’t originally intend for their to be a zipper, but when I couldn’t get the costume off my mannequin….I had to improvise.
11. Take a piece of trim and place it on top of the glue line you created around the neckline.
12. It’s now time to do the top back quarter.  So, take a piece of trim the desired size and pull a few feathers out of the band on either side of the trim.
13. Glue this back piece into place, being sure to tuck the tiny tabs you’ve created on either side,  into the tank.
14. Repeating Step #11, glue a row of feathers along the back neckline (Note: I originally only bought 6 yards of feathers, but had to use another spare yard of a different set of black feathers I already had across the top back).
15. Take 2 of your red feather pads and 1 of the red spotted guinea pads and fan them out in the pattern you’d like (Note: here I nestled the red spotted guinea one in between the 2 red ones, but ultimately didn’t like it since I couldn’t get it to look the same on both sides. So, I decided to place the spotted one on top of the 2 red ones).
16. Place some glue on each shoulder, and set the 3 feather pad in place.
17. Hold your “feather pad trio” into place for a few minutes, feeling free to use binder clips if needed.
18. Near the underarms you may have some empty spaces, feel free to glue some smaller pieces into these vacant spots where you may see your top. Then allow the whole thing to dry for at least 3 hours.
19. Take your scissors and cut your top up the entire back.
20. Using straight pins, hem your back edges about an inch on either side.
21. Again, using your straight pins, pin your zipper into place on either side of the back edges.
22. Hand stitch your zipper into place, and voila — you are all set!