Red Riding Hood Movie Costume

Costume designer for the 2011 film Cindy Evans created an amazing costume for Amanda Seyfreid's character Valerie. The medieval girl wears a beautiful long red cloak and a simple light blue dress.

This long cloak helped to set some of the visually stunning scenes in the movie, as the cape is featured against the white snow of British Columbia where it was filmed. (We won't get into the symbolism of the cape on this page, that is better left for other discussions).

Fans of the film, of Amanda Seyfreid and of Twilight can easily recreate the look for Halloween or any other party, by pulling together a red cape or cloak or spending a bit more time to create their own customized version.

To see the costume information, scroll past the information about the movie.

From the director of Twilight, this fantasy, horror, mystery and romance was designed to appeal to Twilight fans.

In this 2011 Red Riding Hood Tale, we get several unexpected twists on the classic fairy tale Le Petit Chaperon Rouge by Charles Perrault who became Rotkäppchen for the Brother's Grimm. You may recognize this tale best by it's more familiar name, Little Red Riding Hood.

In the classic tale the young girl meets the wolf on her way to her grandmother's house. In this version, set in a medieval village the young girl (and the village) is terrorized by a werewolf, who kills her older sister.

The villagers must figure out who the werewolf is, who has an affinity to Valerie, before s/he kills again.

There is an unexpected twist to this tale, not quite as dramatic as with Red on "Once Upon a Time," but I didn't see it coming.

The 2011 movie was pretty much panned by the critics, who weren't in the target age group that the film was being made, namely young teenaged girls who were also Twilight fans.

The New York Times describe it as a "goofily amusing screen fairy tale includes bloodshed, but it’s generally tamer than its often-gruesome source."

Common Sense Media (one of the reviewers that I use to decide whether to let my kids see a film) gave the movie two out of 5 stars noted that "a romance-and-horror mix that's not for young kids."

The movie is Rated PG-13 for violence and creature terror, and some sensuality. In addition it is not recommended by Common Sense Media for anyone under 14.

Even with all of those negative reviews I actually enjoyed the movie, mostly for the visual effects and the costume designs. It was way less gory and gruesome than Sweeny Todd, but I watched it by myself, without the kids.

Making your own Red Hooded Costume, to look like Amanda Seyfried character Valerie can be pretty simple.

To recreate the costume you need a long hooded cloak or cape, a blue medieval styled basic, every-day dress, a leather belt and boots, a wolf tooth necklace. If you aren't normally blonde then you need a long blonde wig.

You'll also want to carry a basket. Some of the costume baskets come with a wolf's head, but to be true to the film [SPOILER ALERT] you'll want to put in a hand.

The simplest costume version is just wearing a long red cape or cloak and carrying a basket. If you keep the cloak closed, you can have a plain dress underneath.

Materials needed to create this simple red hooded costume include:

• Cape
• Basket
• Dress
• Belt
• Wolf (Shark) tooth necklace
• *Spoiler* hand or Wolf Head

There are several ways to go with the red cloak, you can make one, you can buy one or if you are lucky you can find one in a thrift shop.

Buying one on Amazon on on eBay is the fastest way to make your costume (unless you happen to have one already stashed away somewhere in a closet or an attic.)

Another option is to get one from a thrift shop or if you are lucky enough to borrow one from a costume shop.

Making one is another good option if you have the time and the skills, because often you can make a better quality cape that will last for several years by sewing your own.

The fabric for this stunning movie cape looks to be a textured silk or linen that is lined.

The cloak pattern from Simplicity 5794 or McCall's M5957. McCall's M4698 to the right may be the closest with the volume or fullness of the cloak. There are also a few good video tutorial on YouTube that I've included here.

In the movie, there are a couple different versions of the cloak, some longer than others.

The cloak worn in the panning shots when she is walking up the snowy mountain side is much longer.

To complete the simplest version of this costume, just add a dark willow basket to the red cloak.

Put some french bread in the basked and cover it up with a white linen napkin.

Of course if you want to be true to this story, add in [SPOILER ALERT] a fake severed hand.

Underneath her Red Cape, Valerie wears a light blue peasant dress with a wide belt and leather boots.

A light blue old-style nightgown would work well for this costume style.

Over the blue gown she wears a wide leather hip belt.

She also wears flat leather boots for walking through the snow.