Alright. Plus: The body suit fits pretty good. The belt is adjustable to fit around me. The gloves fit okay. It came with the wrist band that they use to communicate with each other and say "Bird, Go!". The cape's not too bad. Minus: THE HELMET! OH MY GOD, IT'S ATROCIOUS! It doesn't even have the blue visor! It's more like a World War II-era airplane pilot's helmet! The boots are really weird. I don't think they let the paint dry long enough in particular on that crappy headpiece, because after I took it off, I was trying to figure out how to put it away, and when I took it out, I saw some red stuff on the side of the headpiece. AGH. Christ, I'm afraid to look and see if any paint from other parts of the costume got on each other. Sheesh! Agh, this costume sucks! How am I going to wear this???? I could live with the boots, but I need a different helmet ASAP!

You could always go helmet-less. That's what I do in my costumes. Helmets are just too much of a pain, logistically.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun You could always go helmet-less. That's what I do in my costumes. Helmets are just too much of a pain, logistically.

Go without the helmet? What's the point then? Sorry, I wasn't yelling at you, TJ. I'm just upset, because this costume didn't really meet my expectations.

I can understand, Allen. Just trying to help.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I can understand, Allen. Just trying to help.

I know. I'm not mad at you or anything. You know I love you just like many of the other people I've met on this forum so far.

Sorry to hear that you're not so satisfied with your costume, Allen! I know how it feels when you have high expectations and then you're let down by what you receive! I also know that the helmet is an essential part for the costume as a whole, but, if it can make you feel better, if you have to go helmet-less, keep in mind that an Eagle without helmet is as sexy as an Eagle with his helmet on ... if not more!!! Some of us here have that same opinion! I don't think it's a good idea to spend more money to obtain something for which you have already paid once ... at least, always if you could do without it or maybe if you could do something to it to make it work! If you have to buy an additional helmet in the future I wish you the best of luck!

I'm so sorry to hear about the costume... I agree with everyone else...a helmet-less Eagle is awesome, too. I tend to draw him that way... I'm wondering if the company would take it back and fix it...and the boots. If they're worth anything they should strive to keep the customer satisfied!

In the meantime, do you have any friends who could lend you a motorcycle helmet (preferably white)? Then you could go to an art supply store and find some black and red paint. Yeah, it wouldn't be 100%, but you could make up a little 'in character' story to tell people.

Sometimes with costuming, you have to fudge a lot. Helmets are the biggest hassle of all - and I'd go with the suggestion of helmetless if you need to wear it soon and look at UW's suggestion for the long term. AFter seeing the pics - I'm horrified by both cape and boots. Capes aren't hard and they've really botched the neckline of that up - it doesn't even look like it's attached to the body. The boots are obviously gaiters - you wear leather shoes or boots yourself and then slip the gaiters over them. They should have a piece of elastic on the "foot" part to slip under your foot to hold them in place. (eg: put on gaiters, then shoes and adjust gaiters). I agree - the "helmet" bit is a really poor excuse. To me, it looks like they've just scaled up one of those children's costumes for an adult (you know - the cheap ones that only bear a passing resemblence). If it was me, I'd be putting a complaint into them - it was definitely not worth what you paid for it! The main body of it does fit well - so they at least know how to use the measurements they wanted.

I'm ready to call and complain, but I'm not sure what to say. What SHOULD I say?

I would just explain the problem. Try to be as unemotional as possible, and stay logical and reasonable. They're more likely to be willing to work with you that way. They'll want to know what you want, so be prepared to make a reasonable request (e.g. a new helmet, small refund to pay for tailoring costs, etc.). If you think you're going to forget, write everything down, so you know what you want to say.

Well I found out what was wrong. He pointed out that the costume description said that a helmet was not included when I called him and that I had to buy it separately. Shit... Plus I found a helmet there, but it's another $230 dollars! I don't have that money right now, and AnimeNEXT is only a few weeks away, and it took if I remember correctly 4 weeks for the costume itself to get here.

What did they say about the other matters? (the boots especially) I'm sorry I didn't get back to you - it completely fell off my radar with some other RL stuff going on.

Originally posted by Madilayn What did they say about the other matters? (the boots especially) I'm sorry I didn't get back to you - it completely fell off my radar with some other RL stuff going on.

I only told them about the helmet, not the boots or anything else.

Well, at least you have an answer. And the helmet was the worst part of it. I still vote for going helmet-less.

I agree, and look at the brightsides: 1. You get to go to the convention! 2. You're going to have lots have meeting people and learning new things about old favorites and seeing what's to come! 3. At least you have a costume, there will be many people there who are jealous of you for having a costume, no matter what your opinion of it is. (I know this from experience as when I went to an HP con a few years ago, I couldn't afford a costume. One of my companions was in a similar position, only she was smart enough to bring graduation robe which worked just fine. I could have/should have done that!)

I won't risk ordering and paying that hard-earned money for the new helmet knowing that it might not arrive in time! I add my vote for going helmet-less, or else you might just be happy in taking the existent helmet with you and carry it in your arm, wrapping it in a way that its flaws won't be so much visible, in order for you to feel complete. At least, that's if you don't want to pay any other extra money in order for it to be sent by any special delivery! Just go and have fun! Amethyst is right ... you're lucky for going in a costume which is hard to fetch or which not everyone can have!

I can't go helmetless. I have plenty of good reasons for it.

Originally posted by AllentownDarkWater I can't go helmetless. I have plenty of good reasons for it.

I'm sure your problem is not your looks! If you think so you're in for a spanking!! Jokes apart ... sorry if, maybe, we have put some type of pressure on you. Only you can know how valid your reasons are and, hence, you must only do what your heart says. We just want to see you happy! I hope you'll solve your problem and then be able to send us pictures after the AnimeNEXT.