Okay, here come the IRG who few knew about......
1. Have you decide which version or hybrid of IRG you want to do?
There are basically 3 different
Canon Version of IRG
- ROTJ (
All Velvet)
- Crimson Empire I or II (
Different Cloak Design & Armored)
- AOTC/ROTS (
Velvet Cloak and
...... I'll find out as it's still some robe)
Some like me choose to combine one aspect of a version of the RG Outfit with one from another or substituting one material with another due to personal taste or limited resources (
Eg: Mine is CE Cloak BUT going for ROTJ Underrobes)
Add to that the "Fan Creation" ones that usually have the Guard wearing a Red Stormtrooper Armor and Cloak that can range from just a piece of cloth with a hole cut for the head to go thru' or a proper IRG Cloak.
2. Helmet?
Helmet is usually the starting point for a proper costume.
Don Post helmet are rare and can run into USD150+++ on eBay nowadays, since Don Post stop having the licensed to produce SW Helmet & Mask many, many years ago.
But why many fans is still after it is that in comparision to Rubies, Don Post of better quality and can last a lifetime if you modify it well and maintain it. Keep it out of the reach of idiots; my helmet survived my lack of maintainance the past 4 years and yet it can't survive an idiot's poor handling for a month!
'95 ones, tho' Maroon are the best as it seems like a thicker material was used while '96 is most common. But, it's only 90% of the original size so those with bigger head can't wear it or need to expand the helmet or sand the inside.
Rubies is said to produce RG Helmet
BUT fan feedback hasn't been good as they used inferior materials in order to maintain the "low"

pricetag. But seriously I had never came across Rubies IRG helmet on eBay.....
Altmann from Australia produce Fiberglass(??) helmet but their pricetag is
Then, there are those Fan Casted ones.
Whatever it is,
YOU MUST REPAINT and
MODIFY your helmet to make the color match your cloak (
most IRG goes for Krylon Fire Engine Red or similar and I too swear by Krylon).
Best bet rite now? Keep a lookout for an affordable one on eBay or Y!Auction and start saving money if going for Altmann or Fan Casted ones.
3. Budget
From 1. you then have to see your budget.
IMHO, it's a
MUST to use Velvet for the Cloak regardless of which type of velvet you use. Velvet is an essential part of the IRG, just like the helmet.
What underneath it is up to you and your need for comfort unless you're planning to flash it like CE version.
Seriously, I feel it's easier if we talk in person to answer any questions you have. My IRG Costumes knowledge is a bit rusty (
especially CE as my comics either somewhere in my room or borrowed by somebody) but think we can get somewhere.

I also will be redoing completely my IRG one of these days as I want to go for an ROTJ one and ROTS one while using the same helmet.
