Wigging OUT

REALIZATIONS.

Micah and I have been pondering how the hell to make my Paine wig WORK.

We've talked to commissioners…

and all sorts of people…

AND WE JUST REALIZED.

We just need a badly-colored Kakashi wig. And I can style it. No problem.

How did we not realize this before?!

No Paine, no gain.

Welp… they always say "go big or go home"… soooo… for my VERY first cosplay… I'm going BIG, guys.

It's me, Niki- this year's Paine for our Otakon group. I'm extremely nervous… buuuuut equally excited. I cannot WAIT to start. It can only be great.

The thing about Paine and her costume is that… well… there are a lot of little things. Little… skin-tight things… ohhhhh, goodness. Yes, yes, and lots and lots of pleather will also be involved here. I broke her entire costume down so I could process it all mentally, and it seems like a lot. But I'm so ready to start it.

Necklace:
Leather studded collar
Barbed wire + pendant necklace

Cloak:
Pleather cloak (material by yd)
Metal/mirror studs
Broach

Shorts:
Black leather shorts (could be cut-off pleather pants)
Two buckles for slit-sides

Thigh-highs:
Black pleather thigh-highs (could be cut pleather leggings)
Three buckles for slit-sides
Red connector straps with metal ornament studs

Boots:
Leather/possibly vinyl boots (either simple flat boots or slight heel [comfort!])
Studded ankle straps

Belts:
Buckle belt under ribs
Circle belt under belly button
Skull belt on waist
Wheel belt on hips (need wheels and red cord, possibly red pleather)

Randoms:
Black leather/pleather elbow-length gloves
Red pleather suspenders
Pinkish-red contacts
Brown-gray wig
Silver stud earrings

Well, friends... wish me luck!

Rave Drama Llama

So here we are with more miscellaneous pieces of cosplay action. First off let us start with some rave drama mama. 

I bought some beads... Well actually my friend Matt bought some beads, and I made bracelets and beaded lizards. It was slightly amusing for about one night. Ironically, this isn't a picture of any of those beaded things, but I took a picture of it, just for PLUR love :}.

Next, I bought these wonderful cyberlox for me and my friend Alex. Mine are the rainbow colored ones in the top of this wonderful box. They're custom made. I was going to put them on some sort of headband, so that then I could wear the lox with my hair down, or up, or however I like. I want to mount the cyberlox so that I can wear perfectly placed pig tails. 

There are these wonderful leg warmers, bought at Otakon 2010, that are beautiful and rainbow. They match the wonderful cyberlox. Along with these I bought rainbow colored fabric to make a sort of tutu so that I can mix and match pieces of the rainbow for this wonderful outfit. Other things that I have bought include an orange fish net top, and headband made out of a hose material.

More things that I need to buy, include some pink fishnets, as well as some possible knee highs in some solid color. I also would like to get a black bandeau and some amok black typhoon hot pants that are totally getting on the edge of my nerves because of out of stock problems.

Boots :D

So, about Yuna's wonderful boots, post one of probably-- two I hope. I got these boots for 29.99 with free shipping on amazon. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to get considering that pictures are normally incredibly deceiving. BUUUUT with $30 and free shipping, i figured that some testing was in order.



I got the boots like this in the above box. I don't know if you can tell but it's like the size of a normal shoe box... and I was like "Uh oh! They must be too short."



Upon opening the box however, I was pleasantly surprised that the boots were just folded over. They're a little scruffier then they appeared on the amazon website, but that's good cause in this particular costume they do seem quite "scruffy."



I tried them on. They could use a little extra padding, considering I'll be walking in them all day, but in the end they fit well. The real thing however, was that little strap which my friend Alex said he'd help me try to attempt to take off. If it comes off easily we're going to remove it, but if it proves too difficult... Yuna just decided to change her style a little bit.



My detective skills told me that it's glued on. There's a little speck of glue left over on the one side of the strap. Updates will come soon! Ones that include the updates on this little trouble making strap and of course adding white laces.

Happy cosplay! :D

Cosplay

In general, costumes are the first thing in life that let other people know who we are. They indicate who the person is without saying anything.

Update: I have two tests this week, and one right after spring break (that i should technically be taking this week but i'm not), so cosplaying is the first and last thing that's on my mind. I will be buying hot pants soon for yuna's costume. They shouldn't need too much altering (http://www.raveready.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=amohpblk&CartID=1). I was planning on using these for the rave shorts as well

I found a lot of pairs of boots... including (http://www.amazon.com/Volatile-Womens-Boot-Combat-Black/dp/B000FS6KP6/ref=sr_1_32?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1330065531&sr=1-32) these ones. I'm leaning towards them, just because i get free shipping on amazon.com. What's the point in paying an extra ten dollars on some other website for boots the same price? Haven't completely decided yet.

The real reason however, that i wanted to write this blog entry is that quote up there. That picture up there too. All the little pieces that go into a costume. Every bit of detail, and hard work put into one glance that people make to decide if you're a good cosplayer or a bad cosplayer.

One look.

That's amazing isn't it? If you do naruto, or bleach or anything hecka well known, you don't get much credit. I know, it's ironic because i'm doing final fantasy which is a pretty well known anime, but i'm doing a costume that is going to take a lot of detail work. I have a few people (others are unsure but-- whatever) that are going to cosplay with me from ffx-2. The more people you have, the more glances you get.

The more that people recognize that you got these people together, you helped coordinate all of your costumes. You helped with every sample, with every link, and with every tear.

I guess that's what i'm saying. I don't know who actually reads this... but if you're planning on going to the con, and you care as much about cosplaying as i do. Which is totally a feeling that I cannot explain. Then help us to get more glances. Help us to turn more heads. Help us to be on more websites, and to be called beautiful more.

I cosplay because it's one weekend out of the year, when it's okay to call someone beautiful without feeling uncomfortable. What does that say about society? I try to do it. Constantly complement people, just so that they can get a little smile. But does everyone else? Why do we have to wait till this weekend?

I absorb it though. I absorb every complement, and it fuels my costume for next year. All the little pieces. The dissected costume. The commissions. I love cosplay, and that's why i'll continue doing it. That's why i'm going to learn to sew, and help whoever is cosplaying from my anime. And we will get a lot of glances. ;3.

Now, I have a french test tomorrow, so Bon Voyage.

And until next time.

Three costumes-- Don't tell my mother. :}

So I keep biting off more than I can chew. Whoo! Let's not tell mom. Thankfully, i've commisioned a bunch of help. But i'm trying to have-- not one-- not two-- but Three-- yes you heard it right-- THREE costumes for otakon 2012.

The costumes as running go:

Raver Costume
Soceress Yuna
And Gunner Yuna

If i have to drop one (due to money or time), it'll most likely be little Soceress Yuna, and then i could posibly be (depending on money) doing that one either at Anime USA or Katsucon.

Trying to find more cosplayers, so if anyone's interested in cosplaying from either FFX or FFX-2 (Preferably). Hit me up. Also, if you need a group for otakon, I also have room :D So hit me up there too. :}

Uhhh.. Progress made?

Bought a couple pieces, attempted to assemble a cosplay team in general, have been looking at general fabrics, trying to find someone to make pieces of my costume that I can't necesserily make.

I'm ordering the neclace, belt pieces, and beads for my hair from a local artist, for the raver costume i will be buying custom made cyberlox from the wonderful UK that match my furry rainbow leg warmers. I am so megaly excited!

I guess that's it...
Tata for now!

(By the way, if you feel the want to blog about your progress of your costumes, also hit me up at acronymsoup66@hotmail.com and i'll try to figure out a way to get you in)

End to One-- beginning to-- two?

Update: I've actually decided to go a different direction.

One thing i was thinking about while I was cosplaying, is friday isn't really easy to dress up on. You have traveling among many many other things.

I want an EASY costume, for both friday and sunday that I can be able to play in, and have fun in, shop in, be cute but still do the thing i love-- cosplay.

Chii from Chobits. Cute, mostly easy. Was just thinking of altering the wig length to shorter so it's easier to deal with. (I learned that the hard way). Probably about down to my back, just the clips in the front, a shirt, ears? Possibility.

Next-- is the harder one. Luna (in Human form) from Sailor Moon.



I would post a picture of someone cosplaying it... but there's not many good cosplayers of it. I guess if i do the costume next year, depends on if i can get a job this year, because i'm pretty sure mom's sick of helping me.... <<;

Ahh well. I'm eighteen, soon nineteen. Gotta do it while i still gotta body, right?