Mad Moxxi - Borderlands

Why this costume:
I love the Borderlands series and when the DLC Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot came out I fell in love with Moxxi. Her character was really just something written after my own heart. I just knew I had to make this costume at one point or another.
Make-up:
All done with make-up I previously owned, except the base white make-up which is
Mehron in Clown White.
Details Construction:
I made this costume over the process of about three weeks. I began by using some scrap material I had first attempted to dye similar to hers (and failed) as pieces to draft my pattern. After tweaking...and working pieces out I finally had a base design. A lot of people who cosplay Moxxi do an Under-bust style top, where her's is very clearly over-bust. I wanted to make sure, even though it was way more fitting and work, that I had the over-bust. Another detail most people miss is the fact that one side of her outfit is actually raised slightly higher than the other...which is why you only see her teal panties from one side! Another detail I made sure to add to the pattern.
After the base pattern was done I cut it out of my actual material (Some really nice red Egyptian cotton sheets I found to be perfect for a base). I then also cut out the lining of her tail coat from a different material. I bought some very nice quilted material that I lined the tails with. I then finished the edges of the outfit with yellow bias.
Next came the collar and sleeves. At first I had purchased some black and white striped cotton. However, I quickly found the stripes weren't wide enough for my taste. I took white material and drafted a pattern for both the sleeves and the collar. Once it was finished I measured and painted the black stripes onto the white material to ensure I had the width that was accurate. I then added her teal swirls. Sewed them into place and started the accessories.
I used an actual belt I purchased for her main belt with the belt clip and Rubi holster. I painted and modified it to work with my accessories and fit the design. Rubi's holster was made from foamies as was the belt clip. I hand painted all the designs to accurately match. The second black belt is one belt that doubles up I made from some spare black material I had. I sewed it extra long and wrapped it around twice allowing it to be tied like hers in the front.
The chaps were made from white duck cloth. I drafted their pattern to sit on top of the pair of heels I had for Moxxi. I then sewed on the yellow bias and hand painted the black details. To get the red "blood splatters" I watered down some red paint and splashed it onto the chaps.
I then took to the task of painting the outfit. I took four different shades of red and painted on the stripes as accurately as I could. I then took white, cream, black, and blue paints and added details to the stripes to make them more defined and add that cel-shaded look. The design on her back is unique and I knew I wanted it as accurate as possible. I took an in-game shot and then cut out the proper shape from interfacing. I hand painted the design to interfacing and sewed it onto the back of the coat. The black details around her design were then painted onto the back of the coat to finish the look and make it stand out appropriately. I also used a sharpie for the black diamonds on lining of the tailcoat to give them definition similar to hers. She also has two sets of patches on her coat. I painted both of them on with the appropriate shade of paint.
I took two sheets of thick foam and lined them with 12 gauge wire by enclosing them with ribbon. I left the lining on the top of the tail coats open like a finished loose lining so that I could slip the sheets of foam in and out of the tails. This allows me to clean the coat without fear of the foam as well as bend the tails so they curled just like Moxxi's or even to any extreme I wanted.
The 19 buttons were hand painted to match hers and cel-shaded as well. I then sewed them onto the coat, cuffs, and the chaps. I then painted on the "fake" missing button.
The gloves and stockings were ones I actually already owned and modified to fit the Moxxi look.
The hat was actually my Zatanna hat that I re-covered with the same red cotton as the costume and distressed. I used the same method as with the cuff and collar and hand painted the black striped onto white cotton for her striped details. I hand picked and painted the feathers. Then finished the look with a Queen of Hearts that was also distressed appropriately.
The garter was quickly sewn together with some elastic, lace and then painted. Her choker is simple black ribbon. And my Microphone is a real working one! I then painted it from it's simple base white to the black and orange look of hers.
Many thanks to Michael Iacca for the lovely Photos!
I love the Borderlands series and when the DLC Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot came out I fell in love with Moxxi. Her character was really just something written after my own heart. I just knew I had to make this costume at one point or another.
Make-up:
All done with make-up I previously owned, except the base white make-up which is
Mehron in Clown White.
Details Construction:
I made this costume over the process of about three weeks. I began by using some scrap material I had first attempted to dye similar to hers (and failed) as pieces to draft my pattern. After tweaking...and working pieces out I finally had a base design. A lot of people who cosplay Moxxi do an Under-bust style top, where her's is very clearly over-bust. I wanted to make sure, even though it was way more fitting and work, that I had the over-bust. Another detail most people miss is the fact that one side of her outfit is actually raised slightly higher than the other...which is why you only see her teal panties from one side! Another detail I made sure to add to the pattern.
After the base pattern was done I cut it out of my actual material (Some really nice red Egyptian cotton sheets I found to be perfect for a base). I then also cut out the lining of her tail coat from a different material. I bought some very nice quilted material that I lined the tails with. I then finished the edges of the outfit with yellow bias.
Next came the collar and sleeves. At first I had purchased some black and white striped cotton. However, I quickly found the stripes weren't wide enough for my taste. I took white material and drafted a pattern for both the sleeves and the collar. Once it was finished I measured and painted the black stripes onto the white material to ensure I had the width that was accurate. I then added her teal swirls. Sewed them into place and started the accessories.
I used an actual belt I purchased for her main belt with the belt clip and Rubi holster. I painted and modified it to work with my accessories and fit the design. Rubi's holster was made from foamies as was the belt clip. I hand painted all the designs to accurately match. The second black belt is one belt that doubles up I made from some spare black material I had. I sewed it extra long and wrapped it around twice allowing it to be tied like hers in the front.
The chaps were made from white duck cloth. I drafted their pattern to sit on top of the pair of heels I had for Moxxi. I then sewed on the yellow bias and hand painted the black details. To get the red "blood splatters" I watered down some red paint and splashed it onto the chaps.
I then took to the task of painting the outfit. I took four different shades of red and painted on the stripes as accurately as I could. I then took white, cream, black, and blue paints and added details to the stripes to make them more defined and add that cel-shaded look. The design on her back is unique and I knew I wanted it as accurate as possible. I took an in-game shot and then cut out the proper shape from interfacing. I hand painted the design to interfacing and sewed it onto the back of the coat. The black details around her design were then painted onto the back of the coat to finish the look and make it stand out appropriately. I also used a sharpie for the black diamonds on lining of the tailcoat to give them definition similar to hers. She also has two sets of patches on her coat. I painted both of them on with the appropriate shade of paint.
I took two sheets of thick foam and lined them with 12 gauge wire by enclosing them with ribbon. I left the lining on the top of the tail coats open like a finished loose lining so that I could slip the sheets of foam in and out of the tails. This allows me to clean the coat without fear of the foam as well as bend the tails so they curled just like Moxxi's or even to any extreme I wanted.
The 19 buttons were hand painted to match hers and cel-shaded as well. I then sewed them onto the coat, cuffs, and the chaps. I then painted on the "fake" missing button.
The gloves and stockings were ones I actually already owned and modified to fit the Moxxi look.
The hat was actually my Zatanna hat that I re-covered with the same red cotton as the costume and distressed. I used the same method as with the cuff and collar and hand painted the black striped onto white cotton for her striped details. I hand picked and painted the feathers. Then finished the look with a Queen of Hearts that was also distressed appropriately.
The garter was quickly sewn together with some elastic, lace and then painted. Her choker is simple black ribbon. And my Microphone is a real working one! I then painted it from it's simple base white to the black and orange look of hers.
Many thanks to Michael Iacca for the lovely Photos!