Mord Sith - Mistress Denna

   I have had this costume in mind for ages since my brother-in-law mentioned that one of his acquaintances was considering the character Denna from the TV series "Legend of the Seeker" as a cosplay. I found a suitable piece of leather before last Christmas. I just did not have all the elements, which included time, to make a start.

 I had made several maquettes of the "armour" but in the end went with a version that was not a direct copy of the TV character. For one thing I was not making this piece as a commission so did not have a person to work to. And for another thing the pattern within the leather is so nice it seemed a same the cut into it and overlay the front and back plackart [waist element] with wide belts.

  The plackart, to use a medieval armourer's term, which is the element like a corset or thick belt was reasonably straightforward to do. Contouring the side pieces was a bit tricky without a live torso to work to. The two placket side pieces are laced to the back element. The front element is laced on one side and buckled on the other. This mimics accents on the character's costume. I chose to use differing styles of buckles just for the heck of it. There is a more prosaic reason for the lacing on both the gorget and placket which is the costume can be adjusted to the wearer.  On the TV character the gorget is much more lose. The leather is 3mm cow hide but it has been worked to a supple finish so it should be easy to wear.

   Maquettes made, torn up, re-worked and finalised I laid them on the hide to minimise the wastage but also to get the nicest pieces of hide into the large flat areas. I also wanted to get the soft edge of the hide for the neck of the gorget. I had several belts to cut from the hide so had to make sure there was length left after the body parts were cut. Measure twice, cut once was a mantra I was always taught however measure ten times and cut once is much more careful especially since the time for a replace hide of this price and quality would mean I probably would not attempt the piece again. I drew round the patterns then, which a new blade in my knife, I very carefully cut out the pieces. I had to remember that elements of the gorget are left and right handed.


Cutting out done it was a mind sapping session of shaving and burnishing all the edges. Shaving rounds the edge and burnishing lays the fibres of the leather and brings the edge to a smooth finish. Just in case that was not enough I pin lined every piece and dyed the edges black. I think it gives a shadow effect the edges. It will probably make the placket and gorget standard out especially against a light coloured under suit.

    I tackled the assembly of the gorget first. This way just a matter the taping all the pieces of the gorget together on the dummy then working out where the punch holes would go for the lacing. I decided on the buckles on the shoulder to make dressing easier. Lacing was a pain for me and I imagine it would a trial for a cosplayer when dressing. I think the buckles look great and make dressing much less difficult. The lacing is in crosses rather than the chevrons of the original piece. The lacing could be re-threaded if the wearer wished. Cross threading is much more secure.

   The placket was a straightforward assembly. It was a bit of a juggle to hold the pieces whist the marking out was done.  Again for easy of dressing I used d-rings for the side lacing. I think the aiguilettes are a nice touch to finish the front lacing. The straps that terminal at the front are supposed to reach right around from the back plate, cutting through it and the side plate in several places. Again I diverged from the TV costume. The leather was too nicely figured to be cut and hidden by straps.

  





Just for architecture detail I brought the back the gorget and plackart together in a point. I intend to put a straps and buckle here to connect the two pieces. I figure the plackart with need some support.

   The costume has two belts. The front view shows that this one is a little long but when it is fitted for a wearer I shall finish the belt to the required fit. I am waiting on a metal fitting from the USA for the second strap. In the meantime the piece is for sale. We can tweak and adjust it if needs be.