A few months ago, we were all quite surprised when Robert Pattinson decided to don the Batman outfit. Seeing him in the movies as The Twilight Saga’s Edward Cullen inspired countless fashion-related articles and social media posts. But did you know that his love for Bruce Wayne’s detective work actually stems from their shared love of all things vintage? Or that he’s been wearing the same suit for nearly 20 years? In celebration of Batman’s 78th anniversary, we present to you the definitive guide to building a Robert Pattinson Batman suit.
The Materials
Let’s get the most important part out of the way first: the materials. Just like with any other costume, the suit’s look is mostly dependent on the materials used. With most superhero suits, it’s about making it look like the person is wearing real clothes. With Batman, it’s about replicating those ‘70s vibes as much as possible, without using modern fabrics, of course! Since the suit doesn’t have any pockets, the best place to store your equipment is…well…in the clothes, of course! But what kind of clothes should you use? Let’s take a look.
The Tailor
One of the first things to do if you want to build a Robert Pattinson Batman suit is to find a tailor who can create vintage-style clothing, especially since you’ll be using heavier fabrics. If you don’t have anyone nearby who can help, there are several online tailors who offer made-to-measure service, so you can order anything from a t-shirt to a suit. With bespoke tailoring, the clothing will be tailored to your measurements and you can choose from a wide range of fabrics that won’t look out of place in a movie set in the ‘70s.
The Fabric
Depending on the style of the suit, you’ll need to choose the right fabric. If it’s more of that ‘70s decadence vibe, go for something more luxurious like velvet or satin fabrics. More modern fabrics like silk can also look great, but they won’t give you that vintage 70s vibe like a polyester fabric would. When picking the fabric, make sure that it has good stretchability and won’t shrink or pill after washing. One great example of a luxurious fabric that doesn’t pill or shrink much is silk, but you can also find acrylic or viscose fabrics, which are more eco-friendly.
The Style
Nowadays, you don’t usually see a superhero suit with no slits or holes in the front, which makes it much harder to pull off a cool vintage vibe. So if you really want to nail that ‘70s feel, go for something more traditional like a t-shirt style with long sleeves. For a more refined look, go for something more refined like a blazer or a slim-fit shirt à la Edward Cullen.
The Equipment
Apart from the materials, the next important thing to consider is the equipment, which is fairly self-explanatory. You’ll need a good camera, a microphone, a laptop or tablet, and either a desktop or a mobile phone to record videos. Don’t forget: this is supposed to be an authentic costume, so all the equipment should look like it belongs in the ‘70s!
As for the gadgets, don’t expect to find any in a vintage Batman suit. If anything, you’ll need a radio microphone, a walkie-talkie, or another handheld device. Also, don’t forget to bring a flashlight, a torch, a whistle, a grappling hook, or a gun. If you think that a taser would look amazing in the picture, then by all means…bring it!
As you can see, not many gadgets are needed to replicate that ‘70s vibe, but it’s important to remember that this is a costume and not a daily outfit. You’ll also need to make sure that all the equipment is functional and doesn’t break the bank. If you want to spend thousands of pounds on a camera and studio equipment, then go for it! But if you want to save money and look vintage, then record videos on your phone or use a cheaper webcam.
Assembly
Now that you have all your materials, you can begin the process of putting them all together. First of all, take your time with the fitting. There’s no need to rush since this is a time-consuming process and you need to make sure that everything fits perfectly. You can also ask the tailor for help by sending him photos of the clothing pieces you have and he’ll be able to give you an idea of how everything should look when it’s all put together. If you’re using a pattern, make sure to follow the instructions carefully and don’t skip any steps. You’ll also need to take your time with the hand-stitching, which is usually done by a professional seamstress and takes a lot of patience.
The Final Product
After all this fitting and hand-stitching, you’ll end up with a completely custom-made piece that looks just like the legendary Batman costume! Just like any other suit, the key to looking cool is in the details and that’s exactly what you have to focus on. Make sure to add as much texture, shine, and color as possible, but without going overboard and looking like you just stepped out of a costume-clad photo from the ‘70s.
Some people might say that dressing up as Batman is childish, but we think it’s actually a great way to blow off some steam before jumping into the real world. Plus, if you want to be the ultimate cosplay grandpa, then this is the outfit for you!