Croft Couture #35: Briana
The Tomb Raider community is full of talented artists, entertainers, and phenomenal cosplay talent. “Croft Couture” aims to showcase these dedicated fans, and give Lara costumers a spot to share their experiences while paying tribute to gaming’s leading lady.
Much like Lara Croft, Briana is a survivor and a fighter. Impressive background research goes into each of her costumes, such as spending two years researching screen accurate materials, distressing techniques, and learning basic archery to help lend realism to her Tomb Raider ensemble. Outside of cosplay, we’re inspired by her Lara-like determination to never to give up no matter the circumstance, even after anear fatal car accident this summer. Checkout her photos above and her interview below!
Fast Stats
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Name: Briana
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Country: USA
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Occupation: Storyboard artist, Film costumer
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Fan Since: 1997
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Favorite Tomb Raider Game: Tomb Raider: Anniversary
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Favorite Tomb Raider Character (Non-Lara): Zip
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Favorite Tomb Raider Villain: Jacqueline Natla
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First Lara Croft Cosplay: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie (alas, no pictures)
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Favorite Lara Croft Cosplay: Tomb Raider (2013)
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Number of Lara Croft Cosplays: 2
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Future Lara Croft Cosplay: Rise of the Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Underworld (white coat), Tomb Raider: Legend (winter)
Facebook | Website I DeviantArt
Q & A
What first drew you to the Tomb Raider franchise, and what initially inspired you to cosplay as Lara Croft?
I grew up with Tomb Raider, first playing the games at a friend’s house, then becoming obsessed with the movie versions (In middle school I ran around in black tees and shorts with my hair in a French braid. I was meticulous about getting those two bangs in place). I had a great love of adventure stories and games, so here was this seemingly perfect combination of a female Indiana Jones and James Bond, yet still a character in her own right. I couldn’t help but like her and for lack of a better phrase, BE her.
What was your very first Lara Croft costume?
It wasn’t until 2011 that I attempted a fully-realized costume when the new reboot was announced. But before then, I had a lot of regular wear outfits inspired by classic Tomb Raider and the Tomb Raider films.
What’s been your favorite Lara Croft costume?
Well, since I only have one, that’s rather easy! Truth be told though, I wasn’t confident that I could pull off classic Lara Croft with her sexy, grown-up woman face (I feel like I tend to look more like a kid). So when the Tomb Raider reboot came out, I just about jumped out of my skin. Now here was a version I could pull off! There was no question. I had to do it. So I poured my all my years of yearning to do a Tomb Raider costume into it. I researched for 2 years on the screen-accurate materials, colours, and props. I taught myself distressing and basic archery to take it to the best level of realism I could. With that and the subsequent photoshoot I did with the costume, I am incredibly proud of it.
Do you plan to make any additional Lara Croft costumes in the future?
But of course! I kinda cemented that in with my last costume, I think. So I’m going to have to do at least one costume from each of the new Tomb Raider games.
Which Lara costume or prop was the most difficult to construct? Any lessons learned you’d like to share?
The most difficult part of the 2013 Tomb Raider costume for me to construct were the arrows. Although I had help in learning the initial construction, I hand-whittled most of the arrows myself, sanded them, wrapped artificial sinew around the feathers (which a friend sliced and we then glued on), and lastly painted with diluted brown acrylic paint.
And then those boots! Oh my word…finding those boots was the bane of my existence for 2 years. I couldn’t find the screen-accurate Timberland Charles Street boots in my size, so I settled for the Timberland Dusseldorfs, which is a similar build, just taller like Lara’s classic boots. I loved them so much that I decided to be a rebel and use them for my 2013 Tomb Raider costume as a nod to her classic boot height. Not to mention they’re incredibly comfy.
A major lesson that I learned is that real dirt doesn’t work well on a costume. It doesn’t have staying power and lot of times doesn’t show up on camera. Solution? Use paint and instant coffee. Not kidding! Smooshing damp instant coffee grounds and diluted light brown, dark brown, and red acrylic paint onto clothes with disposable gloves makes for really believable dirty, bloody effects! Best part? Super cheap. Makes for pretty good stress relief too!
Lara Croft’s lifestyle is full of intrigue and adventure. Do you have any memorable photoshoots or convention appearances that pay tribute to Lara’s lifestyle? Have you traveled anywhere exotic that made you feel like a fellow adventurer?
I grew up with a very devil-may-care attitude that I cultivated from Tomb Raider, watching too many adventure/sci-fi movies, and being in paramilitary programs (CAP, JROTC). So I had a habit of running off to do things like four-wheeling, gun ranges, multiple forms of martial arts, fencing, almost getting my pilot’s license, search and rescue exercises, survival training, and obstacle courses.
Exotic locale? Doesn’t get much better than New Zealand! I used to live there and it was truly like waking up in paradise every day. I wanted to explore every inch of the land and wonder what sort of mysteries lay about.
What about Lara’s physical strength or mental prowess most inspires you? Has this, or your desire to cosplay Lara, influenced your daily life?
This has been one of the major influences in my life lately. In August 2014, I was almost killed in a car accident. As I lay in the hospital with my hip shattered, wondering if I was ever going to walk again, so much support started flowing in. One of the first people to offer support was Sara of LaraCroftCosplay.com. She wanted to let me know that the Tomb Raider community was behind me. Then more messages from friends and strangers started coming in with quotes from the latest game. Even Crystal Dynamics sent a care package with a beautiful card signed by the team with notes of encouragement, that I was a survivor and more than my scars. Suddenly, Tomb Raider went from something that I loved daydreaming about as a kid to a deeply personal connection. Seeing Lara’s strength not only through the old games, but the new, where she never gives up even when in extreme pain, resonated with me. It helped me push through physical therapy. When I’d start collapsing at therapy from the strain, friends would shout, “Keep going! You’re a survivor! You’re Lara Croft!” and now….I can walk. So has Lara Croft been inspiring to me? Oh yeah!
