When I got the idea for “A Frosta Christmas Special” I quickly knew I had to add another character. Mermista played a role in the original He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special. Plus I grew up with the doll and she didn’t require as many costume pieces as the other characters. I start with a drawing. I’m a firm believer in if I can draw it I can do it.
Details of the Mermista costume parts.
My first illustration of the idea for Mermista’s costume.
Princess Mermista of the Mer Kingdom or Salineas…but she sounds suspiciously French.
You don’t need a lot of money or expensive materials to make a quality costume. The wig I ordered from eBay for $11. The bracers were made from watercolor paper that I glued together and covered with foam. I attach the foam with Elmer’s spray adhesive and coated with Weldbond glue. Then painted with acrylic and pearlized paint. The final coats I sponge on since I don’t own an airbrush.
I use a heat gun, thick craft foam, and a dress form to create the base.
Sketching with pencil.
Adding thin foam bits and plastic bobs with spray adhesive and super glue.
Cut away the excess foam.
Bracers ready to be primed! Looks like Mardi Gras.
Primed and ready for pearlizing! Mermista is taking shape.
In both the cartoon and on the doll, Mermista had a necklace. It’s no water-squirting fish, but I thought vintage plastic pearls and a teardrop crystal would do the job admirably. I used to make jewelry so it’s a delight to put a handful of the thousands of beads I own to use.
I cut apart a crushed velvet secondhand sweatshirt and traced an old swimsuit to make the bodysuit. There seems to be a shortage of fabric in our area so you have to make do. The skirt I made from chiffon, which is a nightmare to work with ha ha!
The belt was also layers of foam and glue and attaches with leather laces. One of the hardest parts to decipher is how the armor attaches to the fabric. I used metal snaps for this particular costume and the bracers slip on, so they are each one solid piece.