Ada Lovelace Cosplay

Origin Story

About ten years ago, I made an Ada Lovelace court portrait costume over a weekend. I did it to show my students in the Women in Technology organization I was advising how it all started, who our foremother of all technologists and programmers was. It was a hit. I was asked to wear it on Ada Lovelace day (second Tuesday of October).

The Inspiration,
Court Portrait of Lady Ada

Original Dress for Teaching

Modifications for the
Hack3r Runw@y

Dress before any modifications for Hack3r Runw@y

Adding lights run through tulle channels to diffuse the light. They were pinned in place first so I could play with where and how the lights glowed through the dress.

Test of the lights pinned to the crinolin.

Test of the lights pinned to the neckline.

Sewing tulle edging to the neckline to diffuse light.

Sewing belt velvet to elastic.

Some of the tulle lighting channels pinned and ready to be sewn together.

Running the lights through the tulle channels for the sleeves.

Hand stitching the lights in neckline tulle channel.

Ada goes to DefCon

My first DefCon was 2024. I was gleefully overwhelmed. For over a decade I had been telling my students that attending DefCon was one of my professional goals. When I finally got there I felt like a kid in a candy store. So much to see and so much to do. In 2025, I became more involved by volunteering in a village. My imposter syndrome still prevented be from fully taking on the challenge of a DefCon competition. I mean a DefCon competition, I don't have the chops for that. Then I discovered the Hack3r Runw@y. So, I can put my cosplay work with my tech toys? Sign me up! Here's the plan and execution of my entry.

Project AAL-1843

Lady Ada: Gears Become Code

PART I – MATERIALS LIST

Garment Components

Lighting System

Power System

Fabrics

Tulle Usage

The lighting diffusion sleeves were constructed using commercially available 6-inch-wide ivory tulle rolls. The material was wrapped directly around the fairy-light strands and secured with short sections of white fabric tape.

Total tulle consumption was approximately 198 linear feet.

Belt Assembly

Fan Assembly

Fasteners and Adhesives

Construction Notes

Short sections of white fabric tape, approximately ½ inch long, were used to secure the tulle-wrapped lighting assemblies. This method replaced the need for sewn lighting channels and allowed easier adjustment during construction.

Decorative Components

Jewelry and Hair Accessories

Sewing Supplies Consumed

Tools Used

PART 2 – CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

Phase 1 – Planning and Design

1. Establish Project Vision

Define the costume concept as a visual representation of Ada Lovelace bridging mechanical computation and modern software.

2. Evaluate Existing Costume

Assess the existing dress, cape, and tiara to determine which components would be modified and reused.

3. Develop Final Design

Evaluate multiple lighting and accessory concepts before selecting a simplified fairy-light architecture emphasizing reliability, wearability, and storytelling.

Phase 2 – Lighting Design and Construction

4. Design Lighting Architecture

Divide the costume into two lighting zones:

Sleeves and double-wrapped neckline
Skirt illumination

Determine battery placement within the crinoline.

5. Prototype and Diffusion Selection

Test lighting placement and select commercially available 6-inch-wide ivory tulle rolls as the final light-diffusion method.

6. Construct Lighting Assemblies

Wrap approximately 198 linear feet of tulle around 64 feet of fairy lights and secure the assemblies using short sections of white fabric tape.

7. Install Skirt Lighting

Position and secure the skirt lighting system beneath the outer layers of the skirt and verify illumination coverage.

8. Install Neckline and Sleeve Lighting

Install the lighting strand through the sleeves and double-wrapped neckline, then permanently sew the assembly into the dress.

9. Conduct Illumination Testing

Immediately after installation, test all lighting systems for brightness, diffusion, uniformity, and power distribution.

Phase 3 – Power System Integration

10. Construct Battery Pocket

Create a cotton twill battery pocket and install it within the crinoline.

11. Install Power Components

Install the power bank and USB splitter and connect both lighting zones.

Phase 4 – Fabrication of Costume Components

12. Construct Belt

Fabricate a red velvet belt using 2-inch elastic and incorporate decorative gear elements and cog-shaped buckle holes.

13. Construct Fan

Apply programming-language fabric to the fan frame using fabric glue and position the fabric so that the word "Ada" appears prominently when opened.

14. Create Accessories

Enhance the tiara with pearls, create gear earrings, and fabricate custom gear and pearl hair pins.

15. Modify Notebook

Create concealed compartments within a decorative notebook to store the lighting remotes.

Phase 5 – Integration and Testing

16. Assemble Costume

Combine the dress, cape, lighting systems, belt, fan, accessories, and power system into a complete wearable artifact.

17. Conduct Mobility Testing

Verify comfort, durability, and lighting stability while walking, turning, and sitting.

Phase 6 – Presentation Preparation

18. Style Hair and Install Accessories

Create a Victorian-inspired bun and secure it using custom gear and pearl hair pins. Add the tiara, earrings, and fan.

19. Perform Final Dress Rehearsal

Conduct a complete wear test with all lighting activated and document the finished costume.

20. Final Approval

Confirm the costume meets all project goals for historical inspiration, computing symbolism, Victorian aesthetics, illumination, reliability, and Hacker Runway presentation readiness.

Finished Hack3r Runw@y Update

Making a fan as all Victorian ladies had them. The fabric has a pattern of programming languages in various fonts and colors. the Ada programming language shows twice in the pattern. I made sure to put that in the center of the fan when it is open.