Batman, cowl and cape

Batman's classic comics look, a grey suit with black cowl, cape and bat symbol and a yellow utility belt, for makers comfortable with stretch fabric and foam.

The classic comics Batman wears a grey bodysuit with a black bat symbol on the chest, a black cowl with two pointed ears, a long black cape, black gloves with fins along the forearm, black boots and a yellow utility belt. Some eras add black trunks over the suit or put the bat symbol inside a yellow oval, so pick one version and keep your references to it. The suit is usually four-way stretch fabric, sewn from a bodysuit pattern or bought plain and customised. The bat symbol can be cut from black fabric and stitched or bonded on. The cape is a large half or full circle of black fabric attached at the shoulders or to the cowl; a matte, fairly heavy fabric hangs best. The cowl is the hardest piece. A common route is a stretch-fabric hood with ears built from craft foam, kept light so they stand up without dragging the hood down. Buying a plain cowl and refining it is a reasonable shortcut. Make sure you can see to the sides and down at your feet, and leave room to breathe around the mouth. The utility belt is a yellow belt with a row of small pouches, easy to make from craft foam or faux leather. Use a heat gun in a well-ventilated space, keep it moving, and wear heat-resistant gloves when shaping foam. Contact cement and spray paint need outdoor work or strong airflow and a respirator rated for organic vapours. Younger makers should have an adult present for heat tools, blades and adhesives. Check each convention's rules on masks before you go.