So here’s a fun fact: the DESIGN of this costume took longer than the actual making of it. Admittedly, I wasn’t in as much of a rush, and it was in between other projects, but it still took about 5 months before I was happy enough with my concept art to begin actual production.
I thought a LOT about what I wanted to include in this design–what I wanted it to say about Loki’s character, what I wanted it to MEAN. As my ideas grew, so did the concept; I was drawing on his previous MCU looks, as well as inspiration from unused concept art and even the comics.
And so, in this long rambly post, here’s where I ended up. 🙂
Loki’s armoured costumes began as a reflection of Asgard and his status within it: highly symmetrical, bright gold—and their slow move over the films to asymmetry and heavy weathering is as much a reflection of his character as the writing. Here, in a look designed for Infinity War, there are even more complicated layers and further asymmetry—an assertion by Loki of his changing and many-layered nature, and his refusal to conform to any version of “Loki” but his own. There is also, perhaps paradoxically, an long-needed of the people and events that have shaped him into who he is, and hints of these are scattered throughout the design.
The right arm is for Asgard. Gold and gleaming, yet heavily worn with age, it both protects and conceals, and supports Loki’s weapon hand. The forearm bracer mirrors one of his first looks, when he was still a prince of Asgard. His comic-symbol, however, is hidden in the upper arm piece.
The left arm is for Jotunheim—the arm that revealed Loki’s true identity when touched by a Frost Giant. It is totally unarmoured, and wrapped in green and black, it is both bandaged and vulnerable. The symbols of the forearm, symbols of Loki, recall the markings of his Jotun form. The wrapped cloth allows for the flexibility of his magic hand.
The breastplate and “necklace” piece mark a continued acceptance of Loki as Loki. The necklace is the one piece in Loki’s costuming that has remained consistent, until Ragnarok, almost as a relic of his past. Here, it is reshaped into Loki’s own symbol, and laced with the green of his signature colours.
The left shoulder is for Odin—despised by Loki, and yet a creator of Loki himself. It is harsher and more geometric than the rest of the armour—a practical, unyielding piece that mimics Odin’s own costume—but is tempered by the ornate scrollwork on the edge, which is taken directly from Frigga’s battle armour.
The right chest piece is for Thor. In a loose recollection of Thor’s winged helm, yet still layered with Loki’s green, it pulls from the Asgardian arm, and melds into a thin gold line that continues across the chest and encircles the costume almost completely.
The cape is for Frigga. Made from soft but heavy wool, it embraces Loki on all sides, and the drape over the chest mirrors the drape of Frigga’s dress that she fought and died in. It partially conceals the left shoulder, and falls over Loki’s heart.
The snakeskin texture is a direct replacement of the textured leather in Loki’s previous costumes. While those pieces were in the pattern of the triquetra, an Asgardian symbol, the snakeskin is pure Loki.
Again, none of these thoughts were immediate. They grew from something very different over the months of thought and repaints on my tablet, and I can’t stress enough the importance of patience, especially with original designs. It was worth the wait to finally have this and know that I was happy with it.
For those who have followed this journey–thank you. I’m really not a designer, and this was such a new challenge for me. I’m still a bit boggled that I pulled it off, and the support and encouragement from you all has been amazing. THANK YOU! ❤
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