I couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture some photos of the Bilbo Baggin’s costume from the Hobbit Movie.
The movie’s costume tour was created to commemorate the film’s premiere in New Zealand and featured a stunning display of costumes. For me, one of the highlight was Bilbo Baggins’ iconic costume, which was expertly crafted and which I share here.
The wealth of detail in the costume of Bilbo Baggins will delight cosplayers. Check out Sting, the Mithril vest and Bilbo’s splendid coat. The hand tooled belt and decorated handle you see at the top of the blade are works of art.
Bilbo Baggins’ Costume Photo Notes
When I photographed it, the costume for Bilbo was situated at the building formerly known as Kirkauldie and Staines, Wellington. This building is now cloased and I aim to take better photographs in it’s new location.
As the Bilbo Baggins costume was in the middle of the brightly lit ladies wear department when I first found it, the costume proved a challenge to photograph, but I managed some good shots of the genuine costume worn by Martin Freeman. You can even see the dirt on the hem of his robe from the outdoor shoots in the movie!
The Fabric and Embellishment of Bilbo Baggin’s Costume
- Bilbo’s outer coat is a blue velvet/velour lined in textured grey (linen?) with what appears to be a fringe of sheepskin around the collar. Also note the very impressive (genuine) dust, dirt and grime along the hem of the jacket! Full-length image at the bottom of this post.
- The cuffs mirror the fringing around the collar.
- The belt is leather and the surface decoration looks hand tooled.
- The Mithril vest looks perfect. It sparkles and gleams. Check the chainmaille fabric and superb embellishment!
- Under the Mithril is a simple collarless linen shirt in a pale oatmeal colour.
- The plain green waistcoat looks like linen and it fastens with the genuine Weta Workshp Brass Buttons with an acorn motif.
- The Hobbit trousers are a light tan corduroy, cropped even on (Martin Freeman. (Martin is not a tall actor.)
- Note the leather ‘brace’ or loop (below) that keeps Sting from swinging dangerously.
The Hobbit Movie Resources
Marjorie Dawson
Marjorie is a motorbike riding blogger and award winning cat photographer who believes that everyone can create impressive cat photographs and fun movies with the camera they carry.
She is a Professional Member of the Cat Writers Association, Kuykendall Image Award winner and published photographer at the Guardian newspaper.
Wonderful pictures, Harvey, thank you for sharing ! Purrs
can’t wait to see all this in person!!! 2016!!!
We love these wonderful pictures, Harvey! What a neat thing that must have been to see the costumes up close!
It’s so cool to be able to see these costumes up close and purrsonal. 🙂
Wow, how pawsome! *studies pics intently* Such thought and detail. The costumes are eggsactly how I imagined Bilbo to be dressed. Purrfeck. This post had Nan travelling down memory lane, Harvey. When you mentioned Kirkauldies, you reminded Nan that she worked for the DIC department store during school holidays in 1978. It was located in Lambton Quay near Kirkauldies. She had a look online and see that Kirkauldies now owns the DIC building. She also Google earthed it – how things have changed!
That is amazingly cool!!!
Way cool! We love the Hobbit and LOTR movies and books! Very neat that you got to see Bilbo’s costume!
harvey…manee thanx ta yur mum for sharin thiz fotoz….way kewl that itz up close like thiz…de detailz total rockin !!! stuff like thiz ya canna see on de mewvie even if ya haz mega soooper high definationz !!! inn deed we could kleer lee see de belt !! heerz two a flagfish N false cat shark kinda week oh end XXX