Edward Elric, red coat

Edward Elric's red coat, black clothes and blond braid from Fullmetal Alchemist, a recognisable look that can stay simple or grow to include automail.

Edward wears a long red hooded coat with a black symbol on the back, over a black jacket edged in white, black trousers and dark boots. He wears white gloves, and his blond hair is tied back in a long braid. His automail is his right arm and left leg; in his everyday look the arm is mostly hidden by his sleeve and glove, so you can leave it out or build it as an extra. The coat is the centrepiece. A medium-weight red fabric with some body holds the shape, and a long coat pattern with an added hood gives you a good base. The back symbol can be painted with fabric paint through a stencil, or cut from black fabric and stitched on. The black jacket and trousers can be bought and altered, with white bias binding along the jacket edges for the trim. For the hair, a blond wig with a long braid, or a clip-in braid added to a shorter wig, is the easiest route. If you build automail, separate foam plates shaped to your arm and painted silver over a dark base coat give a mechanical look; plan how the arm straps on before you finish any piece. If you heat-shape foam or thermoplastic, keep the heat gun moving and wear heat-resistant gloves. Use spray paint and primer outdoors or with strong airflow and a respirator rated for organic vapours. Younger makers should have an adult with them for heat tools, blades and sprays.