Varia's stunt double costume

 Probably one of my favorite costume of the whole series. I recently got the chance to acquire a complete Varia’s costume worn by Varia’s stunt double and body double actresses. 

Do you know that Tsianina Joelson did an audition for Brunhilda character and she didn’t get the role, but the Xena’s series directive liked her so much and decided to write an specific character for her that appeared in about 4 episodes, instead of Brunhilda that was only seen in one. 

Varia’s character finally appeared in the episode “Coming home”, “Dangerous prey”, “Path of vegeance” and “To Helicon and back” from season 6.

The costume includes a leather beaded top tagged as body double, amazing leather belt, two leather skirts (one stunt double and the other stunt double harness one), two leather undershorts, 2 pairs of deer skin gauntlets, bone spike armband, leg beaded band, deer skin shoulder piece, deer skin boot toppers, head band and a incredible Amazon queen shell necklace.

  

 

Amazon queen necklace close-up.

 

Varia's costume version without shoulder piece.

 

Two different suede skirts.

I already have some Varia’s costume set used pieces like the top, skirt or stunt double boots, so I can definitely complete my Varia’s costume and I almost have a second incomplete one. 

Undershorts and back part.

  

I guess that not more than 4 Varia’s costumes were made, the other 2 are the one worn by Tsianina Joelson herself and the one worn by Lucy Lawless, both are in known private collections.

Belt details and boots with boot toppers.

Varia's stunt double hanger named Sheree and Varia's Flashback double hanger.

The lot also includes an original tag with all the costume components.

Photos for reference:

Gabrielle’s Amazon Queen costume

Recently I got my hands on this awesome costume, probably one of my favorite’s costumes of the whole series of Gabrielle. For me, the Amazon episodes were so iconic!!

After Gabrielle had received the “Right of cast” from Terreis, she inherited her status, so she became an Amazon Princess. During the series, Gabrielle returned frequently to the Amazon tribe and turned into an Amazon Queen. 

After Ngila Dickson left the series, the costume designer from the latest seasons, Jane Holland, decided to design a new wardrobe for Gabrielle Queen of Amazons with influences from the Northern amazons tribe of Yakut and the Greek Amazon tribes.

 

Gabrielle’s Amazon Queen costume worn by Renée O’Connor in the episodes of Lifeblood and Kindred Spirits from season 5, and after, in “Path of Vengeance” and “To Helicon and back” from season 6.

Gabrielle’s Amazon Queen costume includes several pieces. The suede leather top seen in “To Helicon and Back” and many other episodes , the top is over a real woman's bra and inside is written “Renee 2”. The leather undershorts, this particular version of Gabrielle pants without the braid and leather fringes was seen firstly in the episode “Lifeblood” during the moon dance and later on, was used under the deerskin skirt. The belt is made of leather with a braided edge, feathers, bull hair, plenty of beads, walnut slides, fish bone beads, chicken feet shaped painted resin pieces and a fossil shell shaped round piece in the middle. The skirt is made of real deer skin, brown leather and suede fringes sewn at the waist.

  

The gauntlets reminds me of the Northern Amazon style, they are made of real rabbit fur leather and leather braids, each gauntlet has a pair of velcro sewn into it. The armbands are made of leather, bone beads, walnut slides, fish bone beads, feathers and bull hair. The shoulder guard is made of interlocking leather strips and cotton cord mesh and it is attached to the left armband. The beaded necklace has plenty of natural seeds and wood beads and the Amazon Queen necklace is simply amazing. The head piece with deer antlers and boots worn in “Kindred Spirits” are missing, I would love to complete the outfit one day…

The costume has the “It’s a Wrap!” COA, it is written “Gabrielle’s Rustic Costume-Final  Episodes”. Definitely, people who wrote the description of the Certificates have never seen the series before.

Photos for references:

 

 

 

Amazon Queen Necklace

  “To a strong Amazon Nation”⚔️

Once again, a much desired prop appeared, a set-used Amazon Queen necklace. This necklace was used in the Amazon tribes to differentiate the leader, or queen, from the rest of the tribe. The first appearance of these necklaces was in the episode “Path of Vengeance” from season 6, when all the Amazon queens were reunited to judge Livia for her crimes, and later on “To Helicon and back”. 

After Terreis death, Gabrielle received her “Right of Cast” which means that she will inherit her status and belongings, and become an Amazon Princess. After, Gabrielle as Amazon Queen received her own amazon queen necklace too. 

  

The necklace is composed of several pieces; the most striking piece is the central large round shell with an ethnic detail inside and some black feathers around, there are other two smaller shells in both sides. Also, the necklace combines some oval Batik bone beads, originally from Africa, with some smaller round carved metal beads.

So finally, I am able to almost complete my Varia costume.