Nightmare Factory
DELUXE LATEX BATMAN COSTUMES

These costumes were designed to fit a wide variety of people while maintaining the integrity of the look. The body suit is a two piece polyester undergarment that goes under everything and covers you in places the other pieces don't. Most of the rest of the pieces are latex. The gloves and the cowling are full, pull-over pieces. The boots are spats (fit over your own shoes). The chest piece is a full piece that fastens in the back with velcro. It resembles a backward vest! The crotch piece and leg piece are front only (the 'legs' are more like chaps). They fasten in the back with ties and velcro. All the fasteners and any open parts in the back are hidden by the cape. The cape is a statiny nylon with rods sewn into the bottom front edge so that you can hold the full cape extedended out from your arms.

This may all sound very confusing, but it looks great once you get it on!

A NOTE ABOUT THE COWLING:
It is not uncommon for the cowling (mask) to become slightly creased or bent during shipping. To correct this problem, stuff the cowling with paper. Make sure the ears are stuffed so that they stand upright. You may wish to cut some pieces of cardboard to straighten the ears. Use a hair dryer set on LOW to very gently warm the mask. While the mask is warm, straighten any creases. Leave the paper in the mask until it is completely cool. Always store the mask on a wig headform or stuffed with paper.

WILL THE COSTUME FIT ME?

While these costumes have been designed to fit peolple of a variety of sizes, they will not fit everyone perfectly. Here are some of the more common problems.

TALL OR LARGE PEOPLE:
The piece most likely not to fit you is the body suit. (see the description above). Use the size chart to determine the size most likely to fit you. In case the body suit is still not a good fit, we recommend that you purchase a suitable black replacement garment from a sport or dance supply.
If you are tall, you may notice a gap between the 'pant' legs and the boot tops. This gap should be covered by the body suit.
If you have a very broad chest the chest piece may be snug. This will be a serious problem for only a few people. The fasteners in the back can be loosened (the cape covers them), and this piece looks best when slightly snug, anyway.
If you have a large head, the cowling may be difficult to get on. Use a pair of scissors to carefully lengthen the slit in the back. Then use a hole punch or scissors to make a circle at the top of the slit to discourage further ripping. You may also wear a bandana or piece of nylon stocking on your head to help the mask slip on and off easily without pulling your hair.

SMALL OR THIN PEOPLE:
You will experience less problems than larger people. The most common complaint is that the chest piece gapes around the arms where it ends. Fasten the chest piece as tightly as possible for a snug fit. Foam padding may be used to 'flesh out' the shoulders. Our best advise, though, is to use your cape to advantage. Drape it strategically over your shoulders so that the only the outline of your arm is seen.

• Avoid getting the costume wet; Heat and humidity are the enemies of latex; always store in a cool, dry place
• Stuff the mask with paper or store on a wig headform to help maintain the shape
• If a latex piece gets dirty, first try brushing the dirt off. If that doesn't work, gently clean the costume with a damp cloth and air dry. The costume can also be gently cleaned with ArmorAll cleaner and/or protectant
• Talc the inside of the gloves and spats when storing to prevent sticking. Place sheets of paper inside and between the other latex pieces or store on a form.
• Although latex will naturally tend to deteriorate with time, you can get years of use out of a costume that is properly cared for.

OKAY, YOU'VE GOT IT ALL ON and everything looks great! Here's our final piece of advice: