Whether it's for a specific situation, perhaps for carnival, for a role-playing game, or just for fun, Pocahontas is a great character. In this article you will find some suggestions for creating your own Pocahontas costume complete with accessories. It is suitable for all ages, making it at home is fast and cheap and a great way to spend an afternoon of DIY.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Method 1: One Piece Dress
Step 1. Get a fabric that resembles the colors of the earth
It can be of cotton or of another natural fiber, and light like hemp or linen; the important thing is that you have enough fabric to create a costume that fits your size.
Also take a lighter or darker brown fabric to create details that can stand out, to apply later on the waist and to make the fringes at the top and bottom. Don't worry too much about the fabric you will use for the details, the important thing is that the fabric of the dress does not irritate the skin
Step 2. Transform the fabric into a Pocahontas style dress (help yourself with the photo to see what shape it is)
You can find patterns for the dress on the internet or in any fabric store, choose one that fits your body shape well.
Don't forget to also add fringes for the bottom of the costume and for the waist. To create the fringes, simply cut strips from a large portion of the fabric, and then sew them at the bottom and top
Step 3. Apply a cotton belt
A thin rope could also be fine, the important thing is that it is a simple and genuine thing and not a factory product.
Method 2 of 4: Method 2: Two Piece Dress with Poncho
Step 1. Purchase two pieces of faux leather fabric, in the shade of brown you prefer
If you don't know how much fabric you need, get help from the shop assistant; in any case, keep in mind that for a medium-sized woman just under 2 meters of fabric are enough.
Step 2. Fold one of the two fabrics in half
You will then need to make the hole for your head from the folded edge, then fold the neck area at an angle.
Cut the poncho to the desired length, remembering to leave room for the fringes you are going to cut out. The length of the poncho depends solely on your height and your taste
Step 3. Cut out the neck area
Before starting to cut, turn the fabric upside down, so that you can follow the outline you previously folded.
Sew the open edge to create the shape of the poncho. The other edge is folded and therefore does not need it. After this is done, turn the fabric the right way again
Step 4. Rejoin the fringes
If you don't feel confident enough to do it by eye (or your sewing machine doesn't have a centimeter), turn the fabric again and mark lines with a pen and ruler where you will then go to cut. They can be as long as you like, about 2.5 centimeters wide, and be at an even distance from each other.
For an adult woman, 30 centimeters fringes might work, if the poncho covers the entire torso
Step 5. Take the other piece of fabric to make the skirt
Use a skirt you have in the closet as a reference. The amount of material depends solely on your tastes, i.e. how long you want your skirt to be.
Step 6. Cut out the fabric to make the skirt
An asymmetrical skirt is the quintessence of the Pocahontas look, so start roughly mid-thigh and cut down to below the knee, always remembering to leave room for fringes. Pocahontas certainly did not go around with his thighs in the wind.
Sew the side seams about 2/3 down, depending on the length of the skirt. There is no need to sew the sides all the way as you will still need to drill the fringes at the bottom
Step 7. Cut out the fringes
You should make sure they are similar to the poncho, so make them the same size. They don't need to be perfect - in fact, just the fact that they aren't could make for a better effect.
- If you need it, use an extra piece of fabric to make a belt and hold the skirt up. Keep in mind that the poncho should cover the top of the skirt, so if it looks a bit clunky, this can be easily fixed.
- If you have leftover pieces of fabric you could cut them into fringes and apply them on the shoes or boots you will wear. Now you have themed shoes too!
Method 3 of 4: Method 3: Two Piece Dress with Tank Top
Step 1. Get a brown t-shirt much larger than your size, you will need extra fabric to make the skirt as well
From this t-shirt you will make all your costume, so choose one that is long and wide.
Step 2. Cut the sleeves away from the armpit to the neckline, but don't touch the collar part as you will need it
This is what your tank top will look like. To cut, you may want to help by laying the shirt out on a flat surface.
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Also cut the bottom of the tank top, roughly 1/3. You can adjust it by eye. If you prefer a longer skirt you will cut more fabric off the tank top, and vice versa. Always take into account your hips and butt, often a skirt that looks long, once worn becomes short.
You could also opt to use two T-shirts to make the dress. They don't cost much and you can find them almost everywhere
Step 3. Cut the bottom of the shirt, the one with the seam
This piece of fabric will be your belt, so don't lose it because you'll be using it soon. Cut it anywhere to make a long strip of fabric.
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Measure about 2.5 centimeters from the top edge of the skirt and make small cuts where you will then insert the belt you just made. These cuts should be 2.5 to 5 centimeters apart and large enough to fit the belt through.
Insert the belt into the slots you made. You can start from the center, from the side, or from the back, depending on where you prefer to have the bow. Once inserted, tie a double knot to secure it
Step 4. Cut out the fringes using the sleeves you removed
Make strips of fabric about 2.5 centimeters wide. By the end you should have quite a few and they should no longer be like a pair of sleeves. Cut all the fringes so that you have a nice pile. They will curl a little, but don't panic: they are fine too; imperfection is perfect for Pocahontas.
Step 5. Make small double slits at the bottom edge of the skirt
You will need them to stop the fringes. A double slit consists of two small cuts that are very close together, separated only by a narrow strip of fabric. The next step will be to tie the newly made fringes over these slits.
To make the cuts, start roughly 2.5 centimeters from the bottom edge of the skirt. Each double slit should be about 2.5 inches apart. Once you have tied all the fringes make double knots to secure everything
Step 6. Make cuts in the back of the tank top
They should be about 7.5 centimeters wide and become wider where the fabric also stretches. Start cutting these slits starting roughly 5 to 7.5 centimeters from the neck.
Make a large cut in the center of all these slits so that you have a series of strips to tie together. Start from the center to ensure that the parts are well aligned with each other
Step 7. Apply fringes to the bottom of the tank top, using the same method you used for the skirt
If it seems to you that the neck is a little too bare, put some fringes there too, always in the same way, using the leftovers from the sleeves.
- If, on the other hand, the collar of your costume seems too similar to that of a t-shirt, take two fringes and tie it with a bow, one on the right and one left of the collar. This will give it a slightly more square shape that has nothing to do with the t-shirt.
- Get someone to help you tie the back of the tank top. It will be able to adapt the knots to the shape of your body well.
Method 4 of 4: Accessories
Step 1. Put bronzer (or bronzer) on your cheeks for a tanned look
Be careful not to overdo it, Pocahontas didn't have an orange face. If you have very fair skin, opt for a "sun-kissed" look with blush and bronzer.
Step 2. Put on a wooden bead necklace
If you can make it yourself, even better! Search online for pictures of Pocahontas if you want to recreate the Disney character. Her necklace was blue with a white pendant.
The necklace is a great opportunity to add color to your costume. You could also use bracelets and bangles, but as always, don't overdo it, choose one or two accessories. Less is always more
Step 3. Wear a wig with black, long, wavy hair; you can find it in any costume shop
If long hair is bothering you, you could pull it up in one braid, or two. Pocahontas doesn't have to have black hair, but in the common imagination this is her traditional look.
If you have long hair you can collect it in a swimming cap to prevent some naughty strands from coming out of the wig and ruining your look
Step 4. Make a hair band
Using the same material as the costume, cut three long strips and braid them together (as if you were braiding your hair) starting with a safety knot.
Make it long enough to fit the circumference of your head, but leave the ends loose so you can hang feathers or pearls on it that will spice up your costume. Just tie the band at the base of the head and then again at the end of the strips you left free
Advice
- The bangs don't have to be perfectly symmetrical. Create a deliberately arranged and casual look, it will work.
- Don't use heavy makeup, go for a natural style.
