Home of the Sovereign Protectors

So, here's my first serious question as I start working on my costume:

What element did you tackle first?

My instinct is to buy a bucket and then build the rest of the costume around that. After doing a bit of reading, I'm certain that fabricating one is well outside my skill set. As it is the most distinctive, striking piece of the costume, it makes sense in my head to get that right the first time. I am capable enough with needle and thread that making the robes doesn't scare me (much).

What do you guys think? Where did you get your helmet?

The pieces themselves don't matter on the order too much. The only thing I would highly recommend is to have the fabric for your outer cloak BEFORE painting your helmet as this will prevent other possible problems down the road with colour matching

What Stripes said...easier to match paint for the helmet to fabric than fabric to paint.

I'm going to echo what has been said already. I bought a finished helmet, and then had a devil of a time matching the color of the helmet to fabrics. I got lucky and got an awesome match, but boy was it a hunt!