Skyrim Cosplay for Summer: Why Silk Taffeta Can Be the Perfect Costume Fabric
When my son asked me to make this costume, I had one small problem: I did not know the character.
He showed me photographs of the Skyrim character he wanted to dress as, and after looking at the pictures carefully, I could work out how the costume was made. As a costume maker, I often find that this is part of the fun. You do not always need to know the whole story behind a character to understand how a costume is constructed.
The bigger question was the fabric.
This costume was going to be worn on a summer day.
Anyone who has worn a full cosplay costume in warm weather knows that this can be a real challenge. Heavy fabrics, faux leather, thick layers and synthetic materials can become very uncomfortable when the temperature rises.
So I decided to try something different.
Silk Taffeta Instead of Heavy Leather
The main part of the costume is a long wrap-style tunic. For this piece, I chose silk taffeta.
At first, this may sound like an unusual choice for a Skyrim cosplay. Silk taffeta is often associated with elegant dresses, historical costumes and evening wear. But it can be surprisingly useful for fantasy costumes as well.
The fabric has a beautiful body and a slightly crisp feel. It is strong, yet much lighter and easier to wear than heavy leather. From a little distance, especially in a dark colour, it can even give the impression of leather.
That was exactly what I wanted.
The taffeta I used is a beautiful brown and black two-tone fabric. The changing colours give the costume some depth and make the fabric look much richer than a plain brown fabric would.
For the edges and details, I used vegan leather. This gave the costume the stronger, more rugged appearance that I wanted, while keeping the main garment relatively light.
Why I Like Taffeta for Summer Cosplay
This project reminded me that the fabric that looks most suitable in a game or photograph is not always the best fabric to use in real life.
A costume may look as if it is made from heavy leather, wool or several thick layers. But when someone has to wear it for several hours in warm weather, comfort becomes important too.
Silk taffeta can be a very good alternative.
It is relatively light, has a beautiful finish, keeps its shape well and has enough structure to make a costume look substantial. It also has that lovely feeling of a good quality fabric, which is something I always appreciate when making costumes.
And, of course, silk is a natural fibre.
For a summer cosplay, I would always consider the actual person who has to wear the costume, not only the appearance of the original character.
A costume can look fantastic and still be wearable.
That is always my goal.
Choosing the Right Colour Can Be Tricky
There is one thing I would definitely recommend when buying silk taffeta online.
Order a sample first.
This is especially important with two-tone or shot taffeta.
The fabric I used for this costume is brown and black, but colours can be surprisingly difficult to judge from an online photograph. Depending on the light and the direction of the fabric, a brown two-tone taffeta can sometimes look much more golden, copper or even orange on a computer screen.
The same thing can happen with other colours.
A fabric that looks deep green online may have much more blue in it when you see it in real life. A purple can look almost burgundy. A brown can suddenly look like gold.
Two-tone fabrics are particularly difficult because the colour changes as the fabric moves.
So my advice is simple:
Buy a small sample before ordering the fabric for your entire costume.
It is a small extra expense, but it can save you from buying several metres of fabric in the wrong colour.
From Fabric to Skyrim Character
I really enjoyed seeing this costume come together.
I started with the photographs of the character and worked out the shapes and construction from there. The brown-black taffeta became the main fabric, while the vegan leather added the stronger details and contrast.
The result was a costume that had the dark, rugged appearance we wanted, without making my son wear a heavy leather outfit on a warm summer day.
And that is perhaps one of my favourite parts of costume making.
You do not always have to copy a costume literally.
Sometimes you have to understand what makes it look the way it does, and then find a practical way to recreate that effect.
That is where fabric knowledge becomes just as important as the pattern itself.
My Tip for Other Cosplayers
If you are making a fantasy, medieval or Skyrim-inspired costume for a warm-weather event, do not immediately reach for the heaviest fabric you can find.
Look at the original costume and ask yourself what visual effect you actually need.
Do you need the weight of leather, or do you mainly need something that looks like leather?
Do you need several heavy layers, or can one well-chosen fabric create the same effect?
Silk taffeta may not be the first fabric that comes to mind when you think about cosplay, but it is definitely worth considering.
It can give you structure, depth, a luxurious finish and a surprisingly rugged appearance, while remaining much more comfortable for a summer event.
And sometimes the best cosplay fabric is not the obvious one.
It is the one that gives you the right look and allows the person wearing the costume to enjoy the day.
That, to me, is good costume making.
If you are looking for a handmade fantasy, historical or video game costume, you can also have a look at my Cosplay Commissions. I enjoy turning reference photographs and ideas into unique, wearable costumes, always with attention to the materials, construction and the person who will actually wear the costume.
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