Can Latex Come Out To (Cos)play?

In previous columns I’ve alluded to many different materials that can potentially make an amazing cosplay outfit. Every situation calls for something different, but my personal favorite medium and one I think is the most adaptable is latex.

Because of latex’s shine, it can add a real color ‘pop’ to anything that you might be thinking of cosplaying. 

This makes it a great fabric to create bright costumes from. It of course works just as well with plain black latex, the contrast of the mirror like sheen against the dark obsidian makes for a great look. 

 

It was also used as the primary material for Malin Akerman’s Silk Spectre costume in Watchmen

It’s available in an enormous range of colors and finishes, so whatever you are trying to create, you will be able to find the perfect piece of latex somewhere. It is also very versatile, which some people might not consider when making a new costume. 

Obviously it can be worn skin tight, which suits many cosplayers anyway – as all our favorite super heroes seem to favor the aerodynamic and body-hugging ensembles. But it can also be worn draped in folds, or inflated for a completely different effect all together.

Latex is a great idea for cosplay. 

Not only has it been growing in popularity amongst fashion designers and cosplay artists alike the past few years, but it isn’t too far removed from what a lot of our favorite characters wear already. I have always wondered why superheroes opted for wearing pantyhose with their underwear on top. 

But now after spending a few years wearing latex and thoroughly enjoying it, I can see the appeal of a dramatic silhouette amongst other qualities. 

Granted, most of the characters I am talking about usually wear what looks like a nylon fabric (although of course it’s made from something much more scientific and probably flame retardant.) But in the way that it hugs your body’s shape, it’s only one small step away from latex. Because of the nature of latex, with it’s potential for loud colors and extreme shine, I think it has more of a larger-than-life-cartoon feel; which is just perfect for cosplay.

I feel that the two most obvious choices for latex cosplay would be Catwoman, whom we have seen in movies wearing similar materials already like leather and PVC, and probably Venom. A lot of people choose to go with some kind of tight all in one suit with sections ripped away to show bare skin as though mid-transformation. 

Lots of cosplayers also go for body paint for a Venom costume, but they are massively overlooking the use of liquid latex as a body paint. Not only can it get the gleaming shine that any other latex can, but it can also be peeled away in a stringy rubbery representation of a Symbiote attack. Just another way in which it can be an ultra versatile craft substance.

Other choices that could just be one easy step away from a latex transformation would be any of the Power Rangers, Spider Man, the X-Men from the days of yellow jumpsuits, Harley Quinn, Batman and Robin and a host of others that all wear ridiculously tight and revealing clothes. This makes their costumes easy to replicate from latex, but as a fabric it certainly isn’t limited to this one style. 

When it hangs loosely, the contrast of shadowy creases sat next to gleaming folds looks awesome which makes it a great material for a cape, a gladiatorial skirt or toga. Latex can also be made into inflatable suits, which could make you into a much bigger character like The Fantastic Four’s The Thing or The Hulk. If this is something you are interested in creating, then please mentally prepare yourself before typing “inflatable latex suits” into Google. What you find may startle you, but you might get some great ideas or find a designer that could help you.

Latex of course is also linked with the fetish world, which is something that not all of us are comfortable with and that’s fine. 

But as a bunch of adults desensitized by comic book violence and video games, it needn’t be an issue. I think we can all be mature enough to make the distinction between latex for the sake of fetish and how awesome shiny rubber costumes look sometimes.

However, because of its connotations, latex can give a costume a bit more sex appeal (if that’s what you’re into.) Which can be dangerous territory if you’re cosplaying as a character that young children are familiar with, and you’re going to be around infants whilst wearing said sexy costume. I remember having Christmas ruined for me one year at a young age, after accidentally seeing a picture of a crotchety old lady in fantasy Mrs. Clause outfit.

Can. Not. Unsee. Even after all these years.

I would hate to do that to someone else’s kid.

Sometimes, under different circumstances, adding a hint of sex to a costume totally works. And again, as grown ups, I think we can all nod appreciatively of this and not feel like a pervert (unless that IS what you’re into.) Your costume may already rock, but this is just another little factor that could give you that “head-turning” effect. 

That’s not to say I think you should dress like a stripper and pray for any and all kinds of attention, but if what you’re wearing makes you feel good then that’s just great.

But just because a costume is made from a material often associated with fetish, it does not mean that the costume has to have anything sexual about it at all. It could just be the best way to make a certain outfit.

If you weren’t sure about wearing something made from latex because you’ve never done it before and you’re worried it may be uncomfortable; you could always opt for spandex or nylon. These are a good alternative to latex if what you’re going for is that skin-tight effect. 

But with all of these materials, you may find that after a few wears and washes, tiny little threads will start to appear as they break after stretching too far, the color will eventually fade and the fabric may start to ‘bobble’ when the little loose fibers knot on the surface. This happens to all our clothes every day, it’s not so much of a drawback really – but if you want your costume to look it’s best every time you wear it, latex could really be the way to go.

When looked after correctly, latex can retain it’s shine, finish and color for years and will always spring back into it’s original shape after being stretched. 

Also, if you have the knowhow and materials you can repair it fairly quickly, compared to hand sewing a prominent tear in nylon for example. Also, these flexible fabrics are only really any good for being stretchy. Latex however is also waterproof, easy to clean and can be inflated which gives it the edge of versatility when choosing what to make your outfit from. 

If you wanted huge metallic armored shoulder pads as part of your outfit for example, you could have inflatable segments on your shoulders with metallic latex panels in shades to match the rest of your outfit. Or you could have a mask with an inflatable headpiece for a character like Twilight Princess’ Midna, horns like Loki’s, or maybe just some bunny ears.

The main body of this outfit is made from latex, and as you can see there is real potential for an inflatable headpiece, which would probably be a much lighter alternative to this hard version.

Latex does have its drawbacks however, and it’s easy to see why people might be intimidated if they have never worn it before.

It’s very hot to wear, which can make it uncomfortable on warm days if you’re going to be in your outfit for a while (remember to drink lots of water!) It can be difficult to put on. Which is a big deal really, as that’s about the only thing you want to do with your costume. If it’s super tight, wiggling your arm or leg all the way into the position it’s supposed to be can be a bit of a problem, especially if you’re a little on the Wookiee side. Body hair and or sharp claws can make latex wear that little bit more difficult.

If the latex it’s self is very thin then it could rip or pop easily whilst you’re trying to get into it. Alternatively, very thick latex can be very heavy, extra hot to wear and inhibit some movement. It’s all about picking the right latex for the job.

Thinner latex is great for decorating and embellishing your outfit and will glue on to the base layer smoothly and easily. It will always stretch further, but eventually it will break so that’s something to bear in mind. The thicker it is, the harder you will find for it to stretch and where your costume needs to bend (knees and elbows for example) you may find that where the material gathers it will feel like there is a hard knot of thick rubber which again isn’t great when being worn for long periods of time. 

This would act like wearing rubber bands around your joints and would eventually do bad things for your circulation if you were wearing it all day.

Latex can also be hard to get hold of in the amounts that you want. You’ll always find it’s cheaper to buy it in bulk, which would be annoying if you only wanted one color for little decorations rather than the main body of the piece. It’s for reasons like this, and how difficult it can be to work with and make patterns for sometimes, that you’re probably best trusting a designer to make it for you and help you draw up what you want.

Because latex has grown so much in popularity recently, finding a latex designer couldn’t be easier right now. 

Just type “latex” into your Facebook search bar and you’ll find an abundance of people just dying to hear from you with a commission idea. There are plenty of up and coming latex designers that will probably be a cheap option if you’re just starting out and looking to try it for the first time. If your idea is fairly simple then this would be a great cost effective way to go, and you would be supporting a new artist and helping to find their feet in what is becoming a huge marketplace. 

However, if you’re thinking of trying someone new to the scene you should do your research and see what their current work is like. Latex can be difficult to work with, so if your designer hasn’t had much experience in cutting patterns for clothes then your finished piece might not be exactly what you wanted or may not fit as well as you’d hoped. You also want to know that the latex is the right quality and thickness for the job, it would be a shame to spend money on a custom outfit only to burst out of it the first time you try it on.

To make sure that your latex lasts a long time and retains its color and quality, it’s important to take good care of it. 

Firstly, to avoid any damage when putting on or removing any latex garment, it’s important to use either talc/baby powder or a latex friendly lubricant. I would always opt for a lubricant or latex shine for this, I find that powder doesn’t help me very much and can be a bit messy. Always make sure that any kind of shiner or lubricant that you use is latex friendly, using anything oil based will break down the natural latex and discolor, rot or disfigure it. 

Once your latex is on, you should polish it up with a latex shiner. Polishes that are made especially for latex help condition it and will make your garment last longer and help it keep its shine every time you polish it (rather than just absorbing all the shiner and looking dull.) Again, make sure that your polish is NOT OIL BASED. 

My favorite range of shiners and lubricants are by Pjur Cult, I think they leave a lasting shiny finish and make my latex feel well cared for

After you have worn it, it’ll be all covered in icky leftover polish and probably a lot of sweat. 

Eww. 

So it’s important that you wash it as soon as possible afterwards, as sweat is another thing that can eventually break down your latex and ruin the garment in one way or another. And if you don’t wash it, it’s probably going to stink pretty bad. 

The best way to get it clean is to submerge it all in warm, slightly soapy water and swish it around by hand. If there is a lot of polish you may have to use a little more soap, but don’t use anything stronger than a mild dish detergent. Make sure you rinse it thoroughly, and if you like you can add a drop or two of your latex polish to the water of your final rinse. I don’t usually choose to do this, but some people find that it helps maintain the quality of their clothing and stops the wet latex sticking to its self once it’s been hung out to dry.

Once everything is clean, let it drip for minute or so over whatever you were using to wash it in. Because it’s waterproof, little pockets of water will be sitting in folds all over that you don’t want to accidentally dump on the floor of your house. It’s happened to me before and I had to explain to my mother that the carpet and cat were both soaking wet because I was trying to wash my latex catsuit. 

Luckily for me she thought it was hilarious, but the cat most certainly did not.

Hang your latex on plastic hangers, if you’re worried about it snagging then put paper towels over the shoulders of the hanger for the latex to sit on. 

Don’t leave it in any direct sunlight, this might speed the drying process along, but prolonged exposure to bright light could lead to discoloration. For this reason it’s good to keep your latex stored away in a drawer or closet once it’s dry and powdered. Powdering your latex once it’s dry will make it easier to put on next time and stop it from sticking together. I usually only apply powder to the inside of the garment and wrap it all up in paper towels to stop the outside from sticking to its self and protect it from anything else that may get stored with it. 

You can put your latex in a plastic bag, but I think wrapping it first is good for extra protection. Or better yet, hang it in a black garment bag in a dark wardrobe.

If your outfit has any metal parts on it, you should always wrap these in tissue paper or similar before putting it into storage. Metals like copper, nickel and brass can also discolor and de-shine your latex. This includes jewelry and coins so make sure you don’t leave anything like this touching the fabric when you put it in your wardrobe.

Latex might sound like more trouble than its worth, but in my opinion it can make some of the best costumes out there and it is still being explored as a material for cosplay. 

It has such potential that I don’t think that anyone should write it off for being too pricey or high maintenance. If your costume is worth something to you, then it’s fine to commit time and money into making and maintaining it. The comfort issue when wearing it shouldn’t really a problem either. Something that has been made correctly should be comfortable to wear for hours and hours, and something that has been thrown together will work great for a set of photos or to wear at a party for a few hours without feeling too tight or hot. Have a scout online for different designers or outlets you could buy rolls of latex from to get a feel for what you want and how best to get the final result. 

As with any costume, research is key. 

And if it’s something you’ve never tried before, you might discover a whole new world of fun things you never even knew you liked.