/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

Hi guys, let's talk plugsuits! Specifically showing off the best ones and chatting about how you'd make a good one.

One of the things that bothers me are what appear to be joints around the knees and legs; most costumes paint it on as a line but I don't think it'd just a visual accent. They really appear to be jointed in some way to protect the knees but that goes in contrast to the way we see the suits shrinking (implying they're made of flexible material and not inflexible or 'armored' for want of a better word)

Is there a way to get the best of both worlds? Hit me!

So, here is the deal seagulls.
I just got out of a very, very ugly illness and want to reward myself with a cosplay I've been dreaming to do a lot these last few years. It is Asuka, in her plugsuit version. Unfortunally I can't saw such a complex costume, nor I have the money to go trial and error with it. I know this is frowned upon here but I was thinking about commissioning it from someone. I've asked a couple of commissioners for a quotation, but they are far out of my price league (1000-7000 dollars).
I'm not really sure what I can get done with my small budget (250 dollars). What do you say?