How do you carry your personal stuff?

[gm3fan4u.livejournal.com]

Just curious as to how some people carry their ID, money, room key, phone, etc when wearing a tight fitting outfit with no props. Male here...women have the best hiding place, be thankful for that! :)

Last year I was able to carry all of my stuff in my batman utility belt. As it turns out, my outfit for this year won't include a functional belt or anything like that. Any tips/tricks that anyone would like to share? Feeling a little creative to solve this minor problem I have. Thanks!!

Comments

[danabren.livejournal.com]

I sewed one of these:

http://www.evilmadscientist.com/2009/d20-handbag-of-holding-how-to-build-it/

It may not match a specific costume, but it's +1 geek, and works for the whole con!

[maddantanner.livejournal.com]

This is why most of my costumes now-a-days are ones that involve me wearing regular pants. I was Cloud from Final Fantasy a few years ago and had no idea what to do. I ended up buying a small black drawstring bag to put on my back. It was big enough to hold essentials (wallet, room key, etc.) but wasn't so big that it stuck out. Since it was solid black, it semi blended in with the costume.

[shanola22.livejournal.com]

I try to sew pockets into my costumes, but it's not always possible. In the past, I have tucked my room key, etc into my boot. I've also used a cheap garter I got from Halloween express that was made to hold playing cards. It held a room key and drivers license and credit card quite nicely.

Now, I understand that you don't want to wear a garter with fluffy lace. However, you could take a piece of 1" elastic and sew a little pocket to it and wear it under your costume on your arm or hidden in a boot. Since I'm not sure what your costume is, it's hard to say, but that's an option.

I've also seen people with lanyards that have a pocket to hold their badge and a pocket to hold other things. Like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA04V0009MR3&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle8&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle8-_-Travel+Accessories-_-Royce+Leather-_-9SIA04V0009MR3 (sorry, I don't know how to link very well).

Good luck!

[awillis2.livejournal.com]

I got a badge holder to hold my work badge from Office Depot. It is not as big as the one linked to but it has a little slide pocket on the back that is right to hold a few dollars for visiting the breakroom for a drink or snack.

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Me too! I love it to pieces, but I did need to mod the neck strap because it was far too long. Still, best purchase ever.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Boot-tops are great, if you have them, or you might try something like a traveler's neck pouch. What is your costume?

[arma-padawan.livejournal.com]

i have tried the boot thing, and i ended up losing a cell phone one year that came out of my boot. so i'm not convinced that it is the most secure way.

[penwiper337.livejournal.com]

When I carry things in my boot, I tuck them inside a baby's sock and then pin it to the socks I'm wearing.

[literarychck.livejournal.com]

That's pure genius! Great idea!

[crazeyal.livejournal.com]

You mentioned nothing about the costume. If I had an idea of your constraints, I could help.

[sidherequiem.livejournal.com]

Secret pockets are great but if your outfit is really tight, try to do something with your shoes. Also if you have a hat with the costume you can stitch at the top a small zipper bag. If all options fail, grab a friend and have a handler to take the photos you want, carry your things. Sadly sometimes you have to resort to that tactic.

[maddantanner.livejournal.com]

Tell one of your non-costumed friends that he is now cosplaying as the almighty warrior named 'BAG BOY!'. Just tell him it's from some Anime (there's so many of them so he won't know that you are lying to him) and everyone will love his costume. Then give him the largest bag you can find and make him hold items for everyone. Win!

[xenaclone.livejournal.com]

If you've got gloves/gauntlets/bracelets, then small items can be tucked in there. I've seen masculine and feminine wrist purses.

Would a bum bag/fanny pack in a suitable toning color on top of the costume be right out?

Or a discreet money belt under the costme might be the way.

[planettom.livejournal.com]

women have the best hiding place, be thankful for that! :)

Dare I ask where exactly you think women in tight costumes are putting their ID, money, room key, phone, etc?

[paula-kelley.livejournal.com]

Yup, and every single woman has the same exact body (read: large boobs, maximum cleavage) that can easily fit these things.

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

And even those who do may still have the problem of costume being too tight/skimpy to hide anything anyway.

[helplessdancer.livejournal.com]

Seriously. I have yet find a way to hide ANYTHING in my Psylocke costume. Boobs aren't automatically a magical giant pocket. :|

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

in their own portable TARDIS, of course!
My wife's TARDIS also gets her free drinks, so multipurpose!

[childofmetis.livejournal.com]

It's bigger on the inside?!

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

i once watched a friend pull a 2 liter from her cleavage. Aren't they ALL?!

[geekechik.livejournal.com]

I tried sticking my cell phone in my corset back in '08. My body heat drained the battery pretty quickly. Later that same con I forgot where I'd put it (blame the vodka) and it fell out the top of my corset when I leaned over. Because I'm so bloody tall and was wearing 5" platforms to boot, the thing shattered. So yeah, cleavage isn't always a good makeshift pocket. And seriously, who wants to deal with damp, sweaty money? Just sayin'...

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

This is perfectly true and completely priceless!!

[buckbeakbabie.livejournal.com]

NOT cashiers, for sure. I work in a shop and people DO keep money in their bras. And I hate having to handle it. It's disgusting, even here in Ireland where it isn't a billion degrees hot and the people are not wearing warm costumes.

So yeah, ew.

[braidedmane.livejournal.com]

So much this. If you're going to keep money in your bra, at least put it in a ziploc or something, ew.

[hollycomb.livejournal.com]

I assumed he meant a purse ... was OP seriously talking about boobs, lol

[nitelyfe.livejournal.com]

When all else fails, try a spibelt.

http://www.spibelt.com/

Works fantastic. They can be adjusted to fit snug under most costumes and such. They're working on a band version to go around ankles and wrists. I think the regular one could be looped around an ankle a few times and still be buckled into place. Keeps moisture from body proximity away from the contents too.

I've got one and use it for running around when a purse/bag is just too awkward.

[vincegrotesque.livejournal.com]

I usually make/get some kind of themed bag for my costumes. Whether that be in backpack, messenger bag, bumbag form, etc.

[encarmencita.livejournal.com]

I always work it into the costume. For Carmen Sandiego, I have a travel briefcase filled with my essentials. For Cersei Lannister I have a Medieval-looking wine pouch in burgundy velvet with gold beading. For Boltie I have a backpack. I know women who dress in large skirts who pin it under their farthingales. I know men who build a pouch into their capes. Just make sure it closes/zips/locks fully and you're always aware of what it is. There are pick-pockets afoot!

[iheartmyblog.livejournal.com]

Uh. I just carry a normal bag (not one of my nicer purses, just an over-the-shoulder thing I got from Target). And I don't worry about matching it with my costume. Because there are too many other things in life to worry about and that is just a silly thing to cause stress. =)

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Me too. I always carry a purse, and only sometimes does it match. It's just so useful! If someone wants a picture of my costume, I just set the bag down behind my feet or get someone to hold it for a sec. Then again, my costumes are generally not the really showy sort that can't walk down a hall without being asked for a zillion photos. If you are in a fancy costume and posing a lot, the "please ignore the incongruous purse" tactic might not be ideal.

[gm3fan4u.livejournal.com]

You all have given me a lot of cool ideas to check into. Thanks for taking the time to reply. My outfit is Superboy. It is all one piece except for the boots. I'm toying with the idea of going old school meets new by adding a cape to the outfit to be different. Lord knows it will be too darn hot to wear the leather jacket that most wear with it.

And the comment about woman have more places to hide things is true, where I live anyway. I've seen women hide stuff in their hair, and the obvious. I once saw a woman at the DMV pull out her checkbook and pen along with her phone AND keys, Plus holding a baby on her hip. Talk about muti-tasking! But it's a fact that women multi-task much better than men so I shouldn't have been so surprised.

[braidedmane.livejournal.com]

Could you maybe stop making generalizations about women while asking a completely unrelated question, please?

[gm3fan4u.livejournal.com]

My intention was to make this humorous. Sorry if I upset your tea.

[richardlt.livejournal.com]

Do a search for "wrist wallet" on Amazon. Some of those would be perfect for holding your ID, a credit card, and some cash (and an insurance card if you're really paranoid). I have a really nice leather one that's not too noticeable under spandex. Some can be worn on your wrist or ankle. Your name tag can easily be hung on a lanyard and draped inside spandex without too much effort or protrusions if they're hung down your back. That leaves your cell phone, which I'm not sure how to deal with.

You might also consider travel socks with zippered pockets built in like this:
http://www.zipitgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4511&Category_Code=TRAVEL-SECURITY&Product_Count=5
Granted, the pre-registration badge is about a half inch longer than a passport, but is thinner. Hopefully, that evens out and the sock can stretch enough to accommodate.

[jackwabbit.livejournal.com]

I just carry a bag for the most part. It can be set down for pics, etc.

I've also done hidden pockets, and another thing I have found handy? Football underpants. Like this: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens-ua-heatgear-six-pocket-girdle/pid1207829-020 (This was a super fast google, but you get the point.)

The hip pad pockets are perfect for things. Just roll down your waistband a little, and there it is. Large, too. Granted, you can only put flat things in there or you get funny lumps in your costume, but the pockets are a lot more secure than most you can sew/won't show at all.

[efire360.livejournal.com]

All kinds of travel pouches at REI that strap just about anywhere. Some are more expensive than others, but they're made for keeping valuables safe in foreign countries.