How to Make Latex Costumes

Approaching the process of making latex costume pieces can be daunting, particularly for those with little experience working with the materials. Professional latex bodysuits and headpieces are often made through bodycasting, which is difficult to do and can be fairly dangerous for a beginner to attempt. However, you can still make a convincing-looking costume without having to make a bodycast or perform any complex mold-making processes. You can create your own latex costume using liquid latex and simple craft materials.

Things You'll Need

• Reference pictures
• Fabric bodysuit with a back zipper
• Duct tape
• PVC pipes
• Spare shirt and pants
• Cotton batting
• 1 gallon liquid latex
• Craft foam
• Foam carving tools
• Craft glue
• Sponge, roller or paintbrush applicator
• Latex paints
• Airbrushing machine
• Styrofoam head
• Elastic

Instructions

1. Get a few reference pictures of the costume you would like to make out of latex. Most likely, the costume you choose will contain a full bodysuit and mask, so you will need to get close-ups of the detailing as well. You may want to make large sketches of each part of the costume to look at while you are working.

2. Have a friend help you create a duct-tape dummy of your body, using a spare long-sleeved shirt and a pair of long pants. Put the clothes on and stand with your arms and legs slightly bent. Have your friends cover the clothes in duct tape, following the natural curves of the body and layering the tape tightly against you. Once you have a few layers of duct tape, cut yourself out of the duct tape and your clothes, cutting up the center back. Take the clothes off and re-tape the back closed, then stuff the entire dummy with cotton batting. Put the PVC piping through the arms, legs and down the center of the body, creating a form that will hold the shape.

3. Pull the fabric bodysuit over the dummy, so that it fills out the suit with your shape. Cover a long table in plastic and lay the dummy on it, then apply a layer of liquid latex to the bodysuit using a sponge, roller or paintbrush for an applicator. Avoid covering the zipper. Let the latex dry completely.

4. Give texture and shape to the body of your latex costume by gluing pieces of craft foam to the first latex layer. You can make muscles, armored pieces and raised designs with the craft foam. Paint over the foam with another layer of liquid latex and let it dry, then paint it again with three more layers, adding extra details between the layers. When you have the look that you want, let the latex dry completely, then airbrush latex paint over it. When the whole suit is dry, unzip it and take it off the dummy form.

5. Create the mask for your costume in the same way that you created the bodysuit, using a styrofoam head. Cover the head with craft foam to flesh out the form, then paint several layers of latex over the foam. Paint over the dry latex with latex paint, and pull the latex away from the head, cutting it if necessary. Add elastic to any seams, to hold the latex in place on your own head, and paint the elastic.

References

• Studio Creations Costume and Prop Building Guide
• Latex Bodysuit Tutorial

Resources

• Making Latex Masks