So this weekend I'm going to do a self photoshoot, like I did with my Daryl costume sometime back. I live a couple blocks from a university with super gothic architecture which I think would be a great setting for my Kuja costume, and also the students aren't all back yet so it'll be fairly quiet. As many amazeballs photographers and makeup superheroes as I know, there is something very satisfying about taking an idea through its entire conception; sewing the costume, doing the styling, taking the pictures. Hell, my Daryl pictures ended up in my grad school application portfolio, without any sort of shame because it really felt like my work.

I may be going through a phase right now where I am going to be pretentious and arty and really don't give a fuck. Engineering has more in common with art than it does with science a lot of the time. It was only a matter of time before I fell into it. I'm just keeping a realistic head on my shoulders and keeping on focusing on the career aspects of that.

I suppose AU me probably got into theater, and may have done awful performance art stuff. XD

I plan on starting several other costumes soon, and plan out others. Not all of them are for me, which is fun because only making stuff for myself can get a little limiting. I'm also admitting the costumes I really want to make for myself/my ladyfriend, because yeah.

Costumes I intend on making this year:

- Maria (FFII) for lassarina by March.
- V2 Lady Braska (FFX) for novel_machinist by January.
- Snake (999) for myself by January (all I need to do is make the jacket I have everything else).
- Yui (Angel Beats!) for myself and helping with Yuri for novel_machinist by January maybe?

Costumes I intend on starting research/acquiring materials for with the intent to make later:

- Amano Cid Highwind (FFVII) This is a thing that's been in my head for a while because I like patterns and beads and also making up shit as I go along... I'm doing research on WWI flight jackets in Russia and America to start out with. Cause I'm like that. Hopefully I can get a V1 done by a summer con.
- Pearl/Blackpearl (Legend of Mana) So ladyfriend has expressed interest in being my Blackpearl for this, and I know it will take me a couple years to do these costumes. Because seriously the concept art is complicated. But these are kind of my dream costumes that I just can't get out of my head because gorgeousness. And aside from Blackpearl's hammer they are entirely composed of stuff I like to work with--fabric and pretty bits. XD

Thankfully most of these are pretty straight forward, like the vest I made for ladyfriend's Zell costume--because um grad school. Aside from the fancy ones that I intend on taking some time with of course.

So, I am waiting on some more photos before I make a full con report, but I just need to point you all to this genderbend FFX group who apparently were inspired by the genderbent Auron-Jecht-Braska we had last year.

I'm a little gay for Yuna, I have to say. Unf. Guy cosplayers, please crossplay more. It can turn out REALLY awesome. Also HALO WAKKA.

Variant cosplays are still my favorite ones to see. They're SO CREATIVE.

Here's some of the cosplays I've liked on dA. I don't have enough spoons today to talk much or even video, so here's a lot of prety pictures. For me, good cosplay is not just about construction, it's about attitude.

( pretty pictures! )

Also, some pics of my Sorceress Selphie cosplay and my sister's Megumi costume. Pics were taken with a point and shoot camera with a flash, while I was probably drunk, so I do not look very graceful. I will take some better pictures of this costume on my own when I find a nice day out here... it's been raining a lot, so. May take a while.

( my costumes )

So I'm almost done with FFIV DS! Just have the final boss fight left (I think, knowing FF I have like three boss fights).

( flailing, with spoilers )

( I also did a photoshoot with my FFVI Daryl costume )

Since I'm going through lists of things to make.

( first, have a finished apron )

Got two more aprons to make in the immediate future, one for someone who asked, and one for a SURPRISE RECIPIENT.

And here's my costume lineup as of an AWESOME EMAIL yesterday:

2011

Ohayocon (January)

- Surprise Sparkle Costume

- Daryl (FFVI), re-wearing it for a photoshoot so there is awesomeness.

- Ward (FFVIII), if I feel like it. Dependent on if I find cheap overalls or not.

Acen (May)

- Elizabeth (Persona 3). I love her outfit, and it will be fun to sew.

- Juliet (RomeoxJuliet)... maybe. This look in particular, I like.

- Probably going to re-wear Daryl again, because I LOVE THAT COSTUME.

Otakon (July/August)

- Moon!Yue (Avatar: The Last Airbender). We're getting together a whole A:TLA group, and I was originally going to do Azula, but Sev is more appropriate for this group. Plus this look is airy enough for a summer con.

- Toph (Avatar: The Last Airbender) for drakonlily. Aged up version of her, first FULL costume I'm sewing for someone else. Very excited.

- Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender) for yi_sen. Um YES. TEAHOUSE VERSION TOO. With help from Sev.

- Ahriman, or THE FLYING EYEBALL (Final Fantasy Series). For the epic MONSTER GROUP.

2012

Ohayocon (January)

- Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Otakon (July/August)

- The epic Cecil Dark-Knight-Fading-Into-Paladin costume.


I need to get cracking!

If it isn't obvious, I've been getting into cosplay more and more. It finally gave me an excuse to learn how to sew, and the more complex my costumes get the more things I have to learn. It's exciting! I'm pretty sure it's a hobby I'll keep up for quite a while.

However, there are some pretty fucking stupid critics out there. Some of which are cosplayers themselves, but I'm betting the majority of them aren't.

Recently BoingBoing has been having a series of articles written by someone I'm betting isn't really in fandom and has sort of a "golly gee willikers" view of a lot of it. And while the tourism I suppose is forgivable, a lot of the comments to the articles have been setting me off. Everyone's got an opinion on the "right" way to cosplay. Don't be too fat. Don't be nonwhite and cosplay a white character. Don't be ugly. Don't ever buy anything, make it yourself.

Frankly, those comments miss the point.

While I'm impressed by people that can transform themselves into a doppleganger of a character, or turn some animated person into a real live breathing human with their skills, I am also amazed at people who don't look like the character but do a fantastic job anyway. Sometimes this requires covering yourself in blue paint and glue and creating a wig because the hair is impossible, and sometimes it just means you pick the right clothes and have a passing resemblance.

But that's really only a certain way to cosplay. For most people, they don't look like most anime or videogame characters (especially women) because they have a narrow range of looks. And people are not in this narrow range. It saddens me that there is such a narrow range, but it's what we have to work with. And telling someone that they can't dress as their favorite character simply because they don't look like them or aren't "hot" enough is ridiculous.

Absolute favorite Advent Children Cloud cosplay? This guy. (ignore the shenanigans around him XD) Sure, he doesn't have the spiked hair, but the clothing has a lot of detail to it, his sword is AMAZING, and he obviously likes the character. He's got the attitude to pull off Cloud and was a really nice guy. He's recognizable as the character with what he put together. It's a great homage. But a lot of critics would tear him apart because OMG HE'S NOT A SHORT WHITE GUY.

Cosplay is partly mimickry, but it's also work. And cleverness. Not everyone has the time or means to create every piece of their costume from scratch. And they shouldn't have to! Sometimes people pull out sports pads, paint them, and turn them into armor. Sometimes they have to alter existing clothing. Sometimes they FIND that clothing. Sometimes it's made entirely out of cardboard. Sometimes they commission a friend or a stranger to make their costumes for them.

None of these ways are wrong, or lazy. They're still creating something; even if it's simply a performance or a pose. Cosplay is creation and performance and fun. Some come out less pretty than others, but you know, it takes guts to wear them at all. Especially with all the judgment that gets thrown at cosplayers.

So let's stop with the judgment, commentaries. It's getting ignorant and offensive. I'll dress as a tank character if I want to, and my lovely friends will continue to look awesome.

Mostly to show off this.



Holy fuck are my ladyfriend and Sev hot. I also love my sword. I will be cosplaying more femme-d dudes that I do not look at all like for shenanigans such as this (like Ward from FFVIII... big anchor = yeah!).

I can't WAIT for the rest of the pics; I will likely look GOONY AS HELL in some of them and do not care.

I swear I'll writ a full report SOMETIME, I am still just... crazy tired.

I wore my Daryl costume to work today. Pics don't include the pimped out coat, because I took them in the morning when it was like 90 degrees outside and I would have died with it on. And I didn't like my indoor lighting, it was lame (aside from the light around the mirror). Also took some close-ups of my makeup, because I'm proud I did it myself.

( costume worn! )

I hate July 4th (no it has nothing to do with the holiday, that's coincidental). Here's what I did instead.

( daryl progress )

I also completely finished my stealth!Hojo vest for Failboat Wedding, and my Lulubelle got some more done on her dress. Not going to take pics yet.

Thinking I want to do Yukari from Persona 3 as one of my Ohayocon costumes, which would involve zero sewing if I do it right. XD Reminds me I need to get playing that game when my costumes are more done.

This was srsly my weekend, kids. It was glorious.

( progress on the Auron coat )