Batgirl of Burnside
Batgirl has been a favorite character of mine since I was a little kid. Barbara Gordon was a character I looked to as a role model and always hoped to be like her when I grew up, and when I saw her new Batgirl of Burnside outfit, I knew I had to make it. Let’s be real: a functional female superhero costume with a snap-on cape? Sign me up!
My cowl was a commissioned Batgirl Cowl, crafted by ReevzFX.
The fabric I used for the jacket was two-way stretch pleather fabric that I found on Etsy, sourced from the LA Fashion District. I drafted my pattern from scratch; it was fully lined with apparel liner from JoAnn Fabrics. For the iconic bat symbol, I created an inset reverse appliqué made from the same utility vinyl as the belt. For the belt and pouches, I used yellow upholstery vinyl from JoAnn Fabrics and black thread to create contrast. The “studs” on the belt are brads.
The black pleather I used for the side panels on the pants was a bit on the thin side, so I reinforced it with a layer of cotton quilt batting. I also added horizontal stitching down the length of these side panels as an ode to Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl costume.
My cape was a two-layered, double-sided cape with BB weights in the points to help with the hang/drape. The snaps were fully-functional.
(Featured photo by Kevin Chan.)