Costuming Themysciran Senators from Wonder Woman: Corset, Skirt, & Cape

I never intended to make most of the costumes in the Wonder Woman film, but that seems to be what is happening.  Last year I made a Themysciran village Amazon costume and Diana Prince’s stunning blue gala dress, also started working on a Warrior, and have been helping friends with their Menalippe and Hippolyta costumes.  AND these lovely throne room Senators.  Because these costumes have taken almost a year to make, there are A LOT of build pictures, so I’ve divided the Senator posts into three: Accessories, Corset/Skirt/Cape, and the impromptu photo shoot we did in Houston with a friend of mine.  This post contains the corset, skirt, and cape.

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I’ve included the reference photos I was able to find from various resources including Pinterest, Google, and Amazon Sisters of Themyscira group on Facebook.

I’m also sharing my sloppy sketches that include fabric layouts for both 56-60″ wide fabric (ideal) and 43″ wide fabric (what I purchased), and how I thought the boot covers should look based on the few Senator reference images out there.

The most difficult piece from this costume was the corset, pattern courtesy of Epoch Echo Cosworx, so let’s start there.  I followed their recommendations and used 6mm foam, and didn’t modify the pattern until after the foam corset was assembled.  Truth be told, I had to make the corset twice.  My seams were sloppy, and there wasn’t any amount of plastidip that could smooth out the glue.  On my *second* attempt, I was careful not to bleed glue and to flatten the glue to the foam as much as possible.  I used a high temp hot glue gun, which is plenty strong for me (I don’t have the patience for cement bond).

After assembling, I did add more darts in the breasts, and I added a panel in the center of the chest to more closely follow the rounded outline of the corsets the Senators wore in the film.  Otherwise the warrior corset pattern is perfect for this (and my size).

I also cut 3.5″ strips of 2mm foam for the gold geometric detailing on the corsets.  I used a small strip of sheet metal to depress a geometric design along one side of the foam, and used a dull pencil to smooth out the depressions (without cutting through the foam).  I sprayed the strips with Performix Plasti Dip Black and gold spray paint (Rust-Oleum Universal, Metallic Pure Gold independently of the corset to add later.

Meanwhile I sprayed an entire can of coarse textured stone paint (Rust-Oleum 7992830 Stone Creations Spray, 12 oz, Gray Stone) because I did not want a smooth finish on the corset.  I also sprayed a heavy layer of medium textured paint (Rust-Oleum 223525 Multi-Color Textured Spray, Aged Iron, 12-Ounce) to smooth out the coarseness a bit.  Then I covered the corset in several layers of Plasti Dip, and then Automotive spray (Dupli-Color EHVP11000 Burgundy High Performance Vinyl and Fabric Spray).  I let the corset sit several hours, to overnight, between all coats of paint.

I love the slight style variety among the Senators, so I chose a particular style and Katy chose a different one.  Using the reference photos above, I copied the layout and hot glued the gold strips onto the corset (corsets if you include hers as well) about an inch at a time to allow bending, and left about a foot extra hanging over the top for the shoulder.  I then sprayed the entire corset with a light layer of Rust-Oleum Clear Shellac Spray.  Note: the thicker the Shellac, the deeper the cracks when the foam bends.

I created a pattern for the hip mushrooms (for lack of a better word) and cut two on 2mm foam.  I covered the mushrooms in Worbla and bent them slightly when the Worbla was still warm.  After painting with the Bordeaux automotive spray and a thin coat of shellac, I glued them directly on top of the corset at the hips.

If you’re following along for your own build, you’re welcome to use the pattern above, just make sure you scale the image to fit you.  The hip mushrooms measure 10″ x 5″ on Katy and I, for reference.  The look too big when laid flat, but the size is actually perfect when curved on the body.

Closing up the corset was tricky, but each of these steps were necessary:

1. Add ~3″ wide leather, pleather, or linen to the inside of the corset at the edges.  We used the spare microfiber material that we cut off our over-the-knee boots and that worked great.
2. Add Worbla (or some other hard, slightly pliable material) at the intersection of the corset top and gold strip for stability.  I drew a red polygon where my Worbla is glued in place above.
3. Cover the Worbla with adhesive felt for extra stability and to prevent scratching.
4. Fold gold strip under at the shoulder and glue in place.
5. Add A LOT of Velcro.  I added a couple strips before I wore my Senator, and then added more afterwards (explanation below).

For me, the sewing is the fun part.  I purchased 8 yards Kaufman linen in Bordeaux (Robert Kaufman Kaufman Essex Linen Blend Bordeaux Fabric By The Yard, Autumn Red) for the flap, skirt, and cape, and I used my sketch above to section off the linen for each item (above left).  I used 5 yards for the grand cape, and the other 3 yards for the skirt (with a 10″ strip cut for the flap).  I pleated the skirt (above right) to be somewhat flat in the middle (back) and full on the sides, and sewed the top onto a drawstring.

The flap (see Costuming Themysciran Senators from Wonder Woman: Accessories) is tied in the back, and the skirt is tied in the front, both are worn underneath the corset.

The cape was fun to make and grand indeed!  Because my linen was 43″ wide, I had to sew two pieces together so the cape would rightfully drag on the ground.  I turned in the side edges and tight pleated the two top corners leaving about a yard of loose swoop in the middle.

Attaching the cape to some kind of hidden harness was a bit tricky, and there’s probably a better way to do it, but I sacrificed a couple 1.5″ wide belts and improvised a harness of my own.  I used more spare boot fabric for cape clasps and sewed them onto the belts, one at the shoulder and one at the back side.  I’m not a huge fan of the clasps Katy and I bought for ours (below right) but I do like the ones Aimee purchased for her Menalippe (below left).  The clasps are from Patterns of Time on Etsy or Amazon (Cuff Link Clasp without Chain in Shiny Silver Finish. 2.5″W X 1.5″ H).  Two sets of clasps are needed for each Senator.  And I bet overalls clasps would work just as well: jean buttons (HL 10Pcs Metal Replacement Jeans Buttons Kit) and overalls clasp replacements (Amanaote 1.5″ Inside Bottom Size Silvery Suspender Buckle with Rectangle Buckle Sliding Bar Pack of 6 Sets).

Katy and I took these Senators out for a test drive and found a couple areas needing fixing.  On the left image above, my harness is showing, and on the right image above, Katy’s gold strip wouldn’t lay down.

So we’ve covered the parts of the harnesses that *might* show in the back with scrap linen, and added more Velcro to the top of the gold strips.  We’re ready to wear these beauties again!

And since I cannot put this costume on by myself, I’m including how to attach the cape to the harness for our husband’s/boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s reference and from the perspective of that special person who has to dress us:

1. Clasp left side of cape upside down into the harness, hold cape up out of the way while putting on corset.  The left side of the cape should come up, out, and fall over the top of the corset.
2. Clasp right side of cape at shoulder, let fall.
3. Tuck in a little bit of cape over the corset closure.
4. Tell your Senator she looks fierce and be proud af to be seen with her.

“I am the man who can.”

– Diana Prince

Next: Impromptu Senator Photo Shoot (and Outtakes)

Other Wonder Woman costumes on the blog:

Costuming Themysciran Senators from Wonder Woman: More Photos

Costuming Themysciran Senators from Wonder Woman: Accessories

Costuming Themysciran Senators from Wonder Woman: Corset, Skirt, & Cape

Costuming a Village Amazon from Wonder Woman

Costuming Diana Prince from Wonder Woman

Costuming Wonder Woman Fan Art (Pinspired)