Chell
Chell was a project that, at the time, greatly challenged my craftsmanship skills. Not only was the sewing very detailed and incorporated a lot of tricky patterning and seam work, the boots presented the challenge of having no heels, plus utilizing materials and techniques I’d never tried before.
I made my own Aperture Laboratories top by purchasing a white tank top from Target, hemming it, painting on the black trim, and then using iron-on transfer paper to add the Aperture logo.
I used stretch bengaline for the jumpsuit, which I self-drafted. All seams for the jumpsuit were flat-felled, and the jumpsuit was fully lined with a white jersey knit. The brown knee patches where made by dyeing rectangles of bengaline in watered-down RIT dye.
I constructed my Long Fall Boots using a pair of plain knee-high boots as a base. The raised section was made from 1/4″-thick polyethylene foam, while the mounting blocks on the back were made from wood. Any gaps were filled with a preliminary layer of bondo, then the boots were covered in fiberglass. Another layer of bondo was applied, then the boots were sanded, primed, and painted. The “springs” on the back were made from aluminum bars that were strong enough to support my weight. They can be removed for transportation.
In 2018, I updated this costume using a Jeannie from Arda Wigs instead of my real hair, as well as a new makeup approach.
(Featured photo by Kevin Chan. Video footage by Acksonl.)