So You Wanna Cosplay: Issue 1 - Photo Dump CONv 2013

It's been a year since I've updated, and boy have I been busy. Busy with life and busy with costumes. I've decided to take a new leap with this blog and try to update more regularly. Starting with a new series: "So you wanna cosplay?" hopefully with more pictures and shorter write-ups.

CONvergence 2013 kept me plenty busy with costume prep!

Daenerys and her dragon!
Funky pattern pieces and playing with appliques.

Lucy Westenra
Dyeing trim, boning, flowy materials.

Farscape Peacekeeper
I need an industrial sewing machine...

Amalthea from the Last Unicorn
Commercial patterns suck, this dress eventually turned out. Plus, I am going to avoid polyester satin as much as possible from now on.

Cutesy Dalek and her Doctors
Too cute! TOO cute! Plus, many many covered bobbles.

There, my dump of cosplays I created for CONvergence 2013. My successes and fails and more goals I must achieve for the future.

On the table ideas for next year: Massive Legend of the Seeker cosplay, Data from Star Trek, Scully, Mulder and Alien from X Files, and another Daenerys cosplay.

CONvergence 2012

Here we go! Finally, an update!

CONvergence 2012 was a great year! I feel as though my inner (and outer) geek wants more, more, MORE!

As far as hallway cosplay, I went simple, and very glad I did, as I am expecting a baby come December.  Rose Tyler? I think so! *picture pending...* The jacket actually hid my baby bump quite a bit.

Otherwise, we learned that Belly Dancing Disney Princesses become very popular! The one little girl who was still awake at 10:00pm once the Masquerade let out couldn't pull herself away from Ariel.

We actually won an award for our hard work (and rockin' outfits!) and I couldn't be happier! Workmanship Honorable Mention! As a professional costumer, getting recognized for workmanship feels wonderful, and we were really in it just to have a good time! (I know everyone says that, but after not winning for a couple of years, you really have to make it about the fun and not about the glory :))

The hand-beaded details on each dance outfit are different and made for that specific character (everyone did their own beading- so proud!):
 Aurora- Spindle Designs
Cinderella- Pumpkin Leaves
Jasmine (Me)- Designs from the Magic Carpet
Ariel- Fishy Designs
Rapunzel- Rapunzel's Wall Art Designs
Belle- Rose Design

Costume Credits:
Inspired by Disney (of course)
Designed by Lea R
Costuming Lead- Ally G (me)
Costumes made by all of us- Ally, Lea, Sarah (Moondoggy), Mariel, Lauren and Kat

Want to watch our performance? Go Here! The Arabian Nights of CONvergence 2012 Masquerade!

Next year, I am planning baby costumes and no masquerade plans are in my future. But I went out with the best group ever and we rocked the con!

I shall leave you with Jasmine and her (my) baby bump:

*Top Right Photo from the City Pages CONvergence Article (where you can see my wig!)
**Top Left and Bottom photos are by Moments Shared Photography - The fantastic photographers at CONvergence 2012 (and previous years).

Cleavage? Yes or No?

(St. Pucchi Sposa- Style Z269)

I would advise any woman who is leaning towards heavy cleavage in her wedding gown of going towards a more modest approach.  I believe your wedding day is meant to be fun and beautiful, with family and friends to join in the celebration.  You can feel sexy while still keeping a modest chest, and save the revealing outfits for the wedding night.

Say you've found a wedding dress you love, but the cleavage is more than you would like.  You can always have the dress altered to fit your ideal, or you can find something similar that is a bit higher necked.  Building out a V-Neck so it hides cleavage is a task most tailors and seamstresses can take on with no problem, it's likely you'll need the dress altered anyway, for fit and height.

I say "No" to too much cleavage, how about you?

(Sottero and Midgley- Style Chantilly = A more modest neckline, in similar style)

Disney Dazzle

(Style 210- Ariel)

Okay, so I knew that Disney themed wedding gowns existed, but until just the other day, I had never taken a look that them (and rightly so, as they are fairly pricey, and making my own was much cheaper). I am amazed at these beautiful dresses. One for every princess.

These dresses have wonderful detail to them, like the waves rolling down the side of the Ariel dress above.  Each one is truly unique to each princess, without being a copy of the animated gown the character wears in the film.  They dresses are all contemporary design, no puffy sleeves will be found on these gems.

The one complaint that I would have about these dresses is that they do not vary in their necklines.  Most of them are strapless, which is quite popular, and a couple have a shoulder detail or two, but they are lacking in a V-Neck option, or long, graceful sleeves.

Of course, these dresses could always be altered to one's liking.

Take a look, and indulge in a childhood's dream of a Disney Wedding.

The Hunger Games

Not only was the movie fantastic in almost every aspect, but the costumes were positively drool worthy.  I could talk for a long time about how I love all of the outfits in this film, however, for this post I will pick my favorites and give my thoughts.

Judianna Makovsky designed the costumes, and incidentally also did the costumes for the first Harry Potter film (which I preferred rather than the later films- costume wise). Wow.. what could have been if they had kept her on...

Katniss

I love the details on this simple dress.  This is a very nice outfit in District 12, dull in comparison to Effie's flamboyant color.  The gathering on the shoulders of this dress make it, to me, irresistible.

The fire scene was great! I had already guessed that the flames would be CG, but the jumpsuits that both Katniss and Peeta are wearing are stunning in themselves.  The corset waist on Katniss was just the right call, her waist and hips showed off a very flattering frame.

This costume, though not very elaborate and one I could not find a good picture of, was probably my favorite in the movie.  It was a billowy, yellow top with black (?) pants.  Katniss wore this the night before going into the arena.  The shirt gives off a sad sort of warmth, but very pretty. It is an outfit I would love to have for myself.

Effie

What can I say? Everything Effie wore was elaborate, colorful and flawless.  Her makeup was very intricate and I loved every bit of it.  Not only was she noticeable in every scene, Effie's style has inspired couture lines. (Check out Capitol Couture).  Also, if you love Effie's and the Capitol's shoe style, check out This Site which can help you find some of your very own.

I can't wait to see this movie again.  Makovsky did fabulous work in bringing Collins' vision to the big screen in every thread that was woven.

New Projects for 2012!

I feel as though I have been in a minor costume slump. I have not been inspired to make too many new things for myself, which is odd because I usually have 4 new costumes each year for CONvergence. However, this year I am only do two new and one of them is casual wear mainly bought from thrifting.

Now, my big project this spring/summer will actually be making a costume for my husband.  We have recently gotten caught up on Doctor Who (the reboot, anyway) and will be cosplaying as the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler.  Not much to do with Rose, but the Doctor's coat is an interesting challenge for me.  I have never tailored before and am excited to try my hand at it.  I found a great reference blog, full of images and descriptions of the long coat David Tennant wears in the series.

I am hoping to post my progress here, some of it may be in video form, as I work away on this coat. 

The Muppets' Triumphant Return!

The Muppets (2011) was excellent and I highly recommend seeing this movie if you have not already.  I never watched the Muppet Show, it was a bit before my time.  I did, however, see and own most of the Muppet movies (The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppet Christmas Carol..)

I thought the costumes were excellent.  Amy Adams is lovely no matter what she is in, but her wardrobe was positively adorable. All of her outfits were in the 1950s/early 60s style dresses, cute tops, belted waists and happy dances to make the skirts twirl. I particularly like the aqua colored dress. So sweet!:

The costumes were done by Rahel Afiley, lovely work! This designer seems to be up and coming, not many films under her belt, but excellent work! She not only designed the costumes for the human characters, but for the Muppets themselves! I am, of course, jealous of the chance to work with such creative costumes.  The matching outfits between the brothers were adorable and well thought out! There is an interview with the designer here!

In her interview, she says that Miss Piggy was most exciting to design for. I can see why! The couture pig has stunning outfits in the film as she works for a fashion magazine in Paris.

Miss Piggy is still a depiction of beauty and is actually works, in the film, in plus size fashion, which I loved! She may be just a Muppet, she has definitely earned her celebrity status. And what's better than a stunningly dressed pig with golden curled hair who knows karate? I can't think if much, can you?