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?

Once Upon A Time...

   I watched ABC's new series Once Upon A Time this past weekend.  I had been waiting for weeks for this show. I love fairy tales, princesses, and, of course, fantasy costumes.

   As far as the show went, I quite enjoyed it.  I thought parts of it could have been done better, but the way the episode split between the past and present, the fairytale world and the real world, was really clever.  However, I found a couple things disappointing in the look of the show.

  As many of you know, I am a very big fan of wedding gowns.  Ginnifer Goodwin's wedding gowns as Snow White, to me, felt boring and too conventional for a fairy-tale wedding dress.  Yes, the skirt is covered in fluff and feathers, but it's not at all different from what we see on the runway in today's fashion market.  Into a magical land where outfits can be as extravagant as possible, and this is what the designer comes up with.  Snow White's dress that she wakes up in, in her coffin, is far more beautiful than her boring, yet overly done skirt, of a wedding dress.

   Now, my biggest annoyance of this episode was not the dress, but the hair.  Goodwin's wigs were just awful, there was nothing redeeming about them.  For her wedding day, it looks as though she got her hair done for her wedding... went to bed and then got up the next morning to get married.  The wig looks like a wig.. which is not what you want a wig to do.  It looks ratted and far too thick and frizzy.  Also, the hair color is not dark enough for my liking.  If she's wearing a wig anyway, why not make it as "black as ebony" like it is supposed to be. So far, not fitting the classic Snow White description... which is kind of important since it's her hair that makes her skin look so snow white.

  Not just her wig, but I am not a fan of her actual haircut in the real world.  I like a pixie cut when it fits the face, but Goodwin could do much better with a bit longer hair.  According to my father-in-law, who may not be a hair expert, but still made a valid point, said she looked like a cancer patient.  And I don't know if it's just the way her hair is shaped, but he's not wrong.

   My final take on the show is that it is entertaining and I am definitely going to continue watching, but I hope they take a look at the costumes and say, "Hey.. that could be better!"

"Hairspray" at the Chanhassen!

   I know I usually reserve Mondays for wedding gown related content, but I went and saw "Hairspray" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters this weekend.  I helped build the costumes for this show and let me tell you, completely unbiased, this show was amazing! I think everyone would enjoy it, even if you aren't usually a theater fan.

   I already did post a short blog about some of the costumes that I worked on for the show, but there is something about seeing them alive on stage that shows them in a whole new light. 

   All the the colors and costumes together, in each scene, mesh and blend amazingly.  This is something designer, Rich Hamson, has a knack for.  Occasionally, while working on one of his shows, I look at some of the outrageous patterns he chooses in his fabric and think, "How is this ever going to translate on stage?"  My eye is getting better, I am noticing, as I ask this less often.  However, each piece looks perfectly poised and meant to belong in each scene, on it's chosen character, nothing ever looks over the top unless that is it's purpose.  He often layers shears over his outrageous patterns, to dilute them somewhat, and it actually makes the garment more exuberant than before.  The color palette in each scene and throughout the entire show is clearly defined, but not overwhelming and often cleverly done by mixing colors you would think might never go together.  Rich is a natural when is comes to color and style and shows this well in CDT's current production.

   Above is the preview for the show, take a look! If you are a theater, music, dance or costume fan, this show will definitely keep your attention!
  

Tulle!!!

 

  Matrimony Monday::

   I love tulle! I had an abundance of it in the skirt of my own dress.  One thing I love about just a single (or possibly double) layer of tulle, is it adds a lovely halo around the skirt of your gown. It also makes for lovely straps or sleeves to add a new touch of style for a strapless gown.

   Tulle adds volume and flair appropriate to the day.  The only problem with this fabric is that it is fragile and tears easily.  I ripped my skirt at least three times the night of my wedding.  However, being learned in fabric manipulation, I laid out the hole on a table and evened it out by trimming the excess away.  Remember, your wedding is one day and you will probably never where your gown again. Yes, make it special, splurge on extravagance and design, but if you are reluctant for tulle because of its fragility, don't be! Tulle is great and if you make a hole or two during the night, it only means you danced just that hard, had a great time celebrating on your special day and looked fabulous doing it!

To Renaissance or Not to Renaissance

   Thursday Threads: To Renaissance or Not to Renaissance

   The Minnesota Renaissance Festival has finished another season of comedy, dancing, music and lots of dusty air.  The MN Festival is well known and often called one of the best in the country, mainly because of it's stationary location and actual buildings instead of tents.  I, too, have had a lot of fun out there and have long dreamed of being part of the magical realm, though, recently, I have been coming out of the magic of it, having gone so often, seen all the shows I want and eaten all of my favorite foods numerous times.  Sometimes, I don't know how they all do this every weekend, especially the women in the large, upholstery gowns.  Heat stroke, anyone?

   This year, there was an article in the Star Tribune about the historical accuracy at the Renaissance Festival.  Costume wise, the festival does present more of a Tudor period in the Royal Court Costuming, but the overall festival is really all over the place.  From Medieval, to Renaissance, to Tudor and Elizabethan, the garments present among the festival employees and volunteers can vary greatly (not to mention the pedestrians who go in costume, such as myself).

   Now, I know my costume is not historically accurate.  I often go as a "gypsy" and participate in the middle eastern dancing, when really, in the Middle Eastern Renaissance, the women would have been covered from head to toe for modesty, just like many women in the area still are today.  We parade as "gypsies" so we can get away with our eclectic ensembles and avoid most criticism.

   In light of the variety of eras and the variety of creatures (Fairies, satyrs, etc..), this festival in my mind is hence forth re-dubbed the Fantasy Festival.  It's far more appropriate, considering, and many, if not most, fantasy stories contain fragments of real history.  If you go there expecting a good time, full of fantasy and magic, you'll have a good time. Though, one thing real history and the Renaissance festival have in common, no indoor plumbing.  I wish the festival were more contemporary in that aspect.

   The inaccuracy has never really bothered me, I highly enjoy the variety of people and creatures I see out there every year.  I would like to comment on my very favorites this past year.  She may have overshadowed the famous Twig the Fairy, but the new Satyr is both creative and adorable.  Her hooves are magnificent.  Metal heel backs, hooves jutting out in front (must be crazy difficult to walk in), and a mass of freckles on her face, a new great character to add the fun of the festival.

A 1950's Wedding

   Matrimony Monday: 1950's Wedding  

   It sounds as if the wedding went off without a hitch. At least, she loved her dress which makes her dress-maker ecstatic! She sent me my first testimonial, which, not to be braggy, I would like to share.

"Hi, Ally

   
  I can't tell you how many compliments I received on my beautiful dress! Everyone wanted to know where I got it, and I was happy to tell them it was hand-made for me(....)

  Thank you again for your willingness to work on this dress. It came out perfectly--I couldn't be happier!


~Erin"


   I love wedding gowns and I like, in a small way, being part of someone's special day.  I love how a little color adds a whole lot of splash to this lovely frock and I love working on so many different styles and this one was very fun!

Fashion!

Thursday Threads: Fashion

  I am not much of a fashion designer, however, I do love fashion anyways.  I like to think I am fairly decent at picking out my clothing when I actually try (There are some days where I just don't really care).

   I set to looking about for blogs on fashion that might interest me.  Through Networked Blogs I found one that at actually inspired me to go shopping today.  This outfit is what did it. I really want this sweater in red.  Apparently though, red is not in fashion right now.  I had a hard time finding anything of a loud, bright color. 

  Things I noticed that are definitely in fashion right now:  frilly shirts, pale colors (like purples, pinks, some yellows), A LOT of greys, blacks and dark muted colors.  I may just not have ever noticed before, but almost the entire Ladies section was dark and a little drab as far as color.  It's getting cold out and soon it will snow and the weather will be drab enough for everyone.  Color is definitely needed during the colder months to bring in a little bit of brightness.

   During my shopping spree (I had a gift card from my birthday), I ended on only two items.  A pair of new wedge heeled winter-ish boots (which I could wear FOREVER! So cute! So comfy!) and an amazing blanket sweater of greys, oranges and yellows and generally out of my budget.  Also, this sweater was only left in the size XL, apparently popular, and I can see why.  It is luxuriously soft, it reminds me of a soft blanket I passed up in Ireland.

   I will be comfortable all fall and winter in this.

   In final news: Come and see the MN Princesses & Co. in the Anoka Halloween Parade! Main Street in Anoka, 1:00 pm Saturday, Oct 29th!

Matrinmony Monday: Illusion Necklines

  A popular look for the Spring 2012 wedding line is the Illusion Neckline.  Sheer, elegant and modest, this look could revolutionize the wedding gown industry for the next year, eliminating the strapless gown or at least providing a wider array of options for a more elegant look.

  Brides.com has an article on the wave of Illusion Neckline dresses throughout the Spring 2012 collections, the photo above being just one example (Designed by Reema Acra) of the collection of dresses they chose to advertise.

  As a designer and dress maker, I love what this addition does to a very simple design. I had something similar with my wedding gown last year with my sheer v-neck tulle straps. 

  The best word I can think of to describe the Illusion Neckline is Elegant, which is what I believe every wedding gown should be.  A wedding gown, in my opinion, should not be too showy, revealing or sexy, save that for the wedding night.  Shine in your wedding gown and embrace wearing something you can't every day, and take a chance on a unique, elegant design, you might find a feeling of luxuriousness that you didn't expect.

Thursday Threads: 5 Hands, 1 Hem

Is it weird that today I got sort of an adrenaline rush when there were 5, yes 5, of us all hand sewing around the hem of an evening gown to get it finished in time for the dress rehearsal? I felt a little giddy afterward.

The MN Opera's Cosi Fan Tutte opens this weekend. It will hopefully be a fun, smooth run. The costume shop has been down to the wire, finishing hems and fixing ballgowns for opening night, when the two leading ladies will literally shine and sparkle on stage. The costume designer for this has also designed some gowns for Disney World, of which I am completely jealous. The fabric that my team used to create the blue ballgown for Fleurdiligi is the same fabric that Cinderella dons at the park to greet many a Disney fan.

Fun Fact about this show: one of the 4 main characters is named Guglielmo.

Monday Matrimony: Start a new trend

I have often said that I believe wedding gowns to be just another costume. It's a dress you wear once, often extravagant and fits with your special day.

I love wedding gowns.

I love looking through my social networking sites and visiting the photo albums that lead me to wonderful pictures of beautiful women in white.

One of my goals at the moment is to design a small line of gowns that are inspired by Disney Princesses. I have been on a huge Disney kick lately and this would be another great way to make more pretty dresses!

Thursday Threads: Jasmine

I have a tendency to forget to update, so I am going to start updating every Thursday with Thursday Threads of current and future projects I am and intend to work on.

Currently, I am starting extremely early for CONvergence next year with a Belly Dancing princess: Jasmine (above). I've collaborated with my friend, Lea, who did the beautiful drawings and pretty much all the designs for the skit. I will be seamstress extraordinaire, helping make all the costumes (7 total) and also collaborate with the choreography.

We are taking various princesses and adapting them for Egyptian belly dance style costumes. I barely had enough fabric to cut my harem pants, but (as Tim Gunn advises) I made it work!

Hairspray!

Hairspray opened this evening at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater! It's pretty great and the costumes are fantastic and fun. I had the wonderful opportunity of returning to the shop for another summer and working on some adorable dresses!

If you go and see it, I put together most of Amber's and Shelley's Costumes. Amber was such a fun character to work on, she had so many costume changes that were all so pretty! I would love to take that entire wardrobe home for myself (if I only I could fit in those 24" waist size dresses..).

1950's Wedding Dress

I am making a wedding dress for a gal from the Chanhassen based on the above dress. I am so glad she picked this one because it was my favorite out of the 1950's patterns I found!

The neckline is so classy, and I will carve out the sleeves to make it sleeveless.

The wedding is in early September, so I only have a month to complete it. Go, Go, Super Stitcher!

New Look!

Gave the ol' blog a new look! What do you all think? A new title and everything.

I have not been keeping up with my vow to draw more... though I did do a few and they turned out rather better than I thought!

No more news on the costume front, though I plan on writing up on the new Harry Potter film (while trying to keep long winded rants to a minimum).

Also, more people should totally "follow" my blog :D