Fairy Running Costume

Every time I start making a new running costume, I am reminded that I never posted anything about the last one....er, last two.  I am currently making three costumes for the upcoming Princess Race in Disney (two for myself, one for a friend), but haven't posted my costumes for the past two races.  So here goes with at least one.

In January 2013, I ran the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland.  Since it was fairy themed, I, of course, had to be a fairy.  I was not familiar with the Disney fairies, but a friend told me that the purple fairy was kinda a bitch.  Sold!  I would be running the race as Vidia, the purple fairy and one of Tinkerbell's friends.

Reference image

I always try to use tech fabrics for my running costumes so they are practical as well as fun.  And for Vidia's shirt and leggings I did.  But her feather skirt needed some sparkle.  She is a fairy after all.  I also decided to give myself a break and just buy some wings instead of trying to make them.

Fairy supplies gathered. Let the costuming commence.

For the feather skirt.  I took two layers of purple fabric, one sparkle and one sheer, cut them in strips and gathered the strips separately.  Then I layered the two fabrics on top of a stable base and stitched over the middle gathering stitches and added some feather-ish topstitching.  I then trimmed it into roughly a feather shape with pinking shears.  

Here is one completed feather, attached to a simple elastic band for the fairy skirt

I had some purple leggings that I cut the legs off and attached to the bottom of a pair of running shorts I already had.  The leggings were too sheer to wear on their own under the skirt.

I cut slits in the bottom of the leggings and added little feather accents, made with the same technique as the feather skirt.   I then used purple and silver fabric pens to draw the veins running down the leggings.

view of the skirt and leggings

oops, the running shorts peek out.  ah well.

The shirt was made of tech fabric, but when I finished it, it seemed awfully plain, especially when next to the sparkle feather skirt.  So I added some glitter yarn by couching it to the fabric in a vein pattern like Vidia's shirt had.   The collar was made of the same fabric as the skirt, gathered into a ruffle.

Dress form is definitely not my size

fancy fairy collar

couching, oops missed a spot!

 The wings I attached at the center back and at each shoulder for greater running stability.   I didn't even notice that they were there!

And here I am before the race.  No, that is not my real hair.  Well, the bangs are, but the rest isn't.  I wore a fake ponytail with a purple glitter headband.  Yes, for all 13.1 miles.  I am somewhat used to wearing fake hair for long periods because of my bellydancing, so it didn't bother me at all.  The white sleeves are throwaway armwarmers made of socks for keeping warm before the race starts.

the purple shoes were just lucky matching

A couple mid race shots, just for fun....

Giant Mickey Head!!

Heading into the park....

And here I am after the race with my medal.

I finished, so I win

Next up, when I get to it, is my very favorite running costume so far.  I ran the Wine and Dine race in Disneyworld in November 2013 and wore a Figment the Imagination Dragon costume, with a full tail.  And with Dreamfinder as my companion.  It was epic.  And hopefully will be posted soon.