Rhianna Rhiannapire Blog of a Groovy Vampire: Creating Your Own Vampire Image/Costume/Cape

Vampire/Halloween Memories

I remember wanting to be a female vampire since the age of 5.
Most childhood Halloweens were spent in quest of this goal, however far off the mark I was, I would dream that I'd be closer to my ideal vampire image come next year's Halloween.
I'd buy things on sale out of season in preparation for the next Halloween.

When I was a little girl, the choices available were not as extensive as the costume options today. Costumes came in boxes by a company called College Inn (I believe) and the costume would consist of a flimsy garment meant to be worn over clothes and a plastic mask.
There were masks sold separately; although I liked the eye masks which were pointed like the cat's eye glasses, I tired of masks and started to apply white face paint and makeup instead.

Pale Pallor

I enjoy using a white face cream like the ones listed in Rhianna's Ghoulish Gothic Vampire Visage for the heightened dramatic effect.
If I apply something like Color Cup White or a white cream makeup, I can be very active and the makeup will stay on until I remove it later on (vampire makeup removal would be a tutorial in itself!)
When I use a white face cream, my makeup techniques are similar to the Japanese Kabuki style.
Simplify the techniques seen on the Kabuki and Japanese Dance web page and you'll get a feel for my vampire makeup application routine.
Getting your real hair out of your face with a hair band or an inexpensive wig cap is very important.
People may wonder why I like to whiten my face with white face cream, but I love looking like a quasi-cartoon vampire. I feel like a living vampire anime

There have been times when I wanted the more subtle Gothic look and there are suggestions in addition to more details of the above here

Vampire Lips & Features

Red, burgundy, purple, or black lipsticks create a focus on the mouth. A black eye pencil can outline the eyes and the eyebrows. I like to use dark eyeshadows: purple, black & silver/gray work well. Suggestions for these items are throughout this blog.

Vampire Wigs

Affordable wigs were difficult to come by & although I lusted after a long hair wig... for many Halloweens I made due with a cheap wig from Woolworths that hardly covered my blonde hair.
If you have trouble hiding your real hair, a solution is to buy a really cheap wig cap to wear under the wig. It is possible to even make a makeshift wig cap from a worn out pair of black pantyhose.
Rhianna has a page devoted to vampire wigs:
Gothic Vampire Wigs for the Vampiress Selected by Rhianna
Great Gothic & Vampire wigs and looks recommended by Rhianna. Choose luscious locks, beautiful hair for your vampy fantasy. Get the alluring vampire look you crave online. Wigs are also for sale throughout this groovy vampire blog (check through the archives)

Vampire Capes

In the past I've used part of an old worn out blanket for a vampire cape.
Once a neighbor had a yard sale where I was able to obtain diaphanous black chiffon remnants which I would drape around myself as some type of mystical vampire.
Your own imagination is a better source for your vampire vision than anyone's preconceived notions.

Suggestions on how to make a vampire cape

There are some interesting sites with tips & instructions for making vampire capes and costumes in general. Someone has a very helpful & illustrated step-by-step instruction page advocating the use of fleece to make a cape for a child. The ideas from this website could be adapted for an adult:
DLTK's Crafts for Kids - Halloween
No Sew Cloaks
The alt.gothic.faq has a very helpful instruction page which both males & females will appreciate:
4.6 how can I make a cape/cloak?
Here's some more:

Do a Google search and you'll find lots of Halloween Costume ideas floating around the Internet!
If you'd like to make your own capes, here are some fabric ideas:

Alpine Fleece Solids Black

"Create a world of fluffy softness with our charcoal ""alpine"" textured natural neutral fleece. With tonal qualities both soothing and rugged this diverse swatch is limited only by your imagination."

Alpine Fleece Solids Black

Home Sweet Home Tulle6''x25yd Spool-Black

"Home Sweet Home Tulle by the Spool - 6"" Wide 25 Yard Spool. Home Sweet Home Tulle adds the elegant shimmering look to seasonal and special occasion decor. Black"

Home Sweet Home Tulle6''x25yd Spool-Black

Casa Satin Burgundy

"Use satin whenever you want to create a garment that's elegant sleek and stylish. Made in the USA of 100% polyester. Machine wash cool delicate cycle. No chlorine bleach or fabric softener. Tumble dry low cool iron. 58"" wide."

Baroque Satin Black

"Sleek supple satin is the ideal choice when you want to create classic apparel. Made in the USA of 100% acetate it's delicate shadings are subject to atmospheric conditions. Dry clean only. 44"" wide."

Baroque Satin Black

Poly Chiffon Black

"Nothing evokes the feeling of a romantic spring evening more than black chiffon. 100% polyester. Machine washable cool. Delicate cycle. No chlorine bleach or fabric softener. Tumble dry low. Use cool iron. 45"" wide sold in whole yards."

Poly Chiffon Black