Potential Wizard World Philly 2016 Cosplay Line Up

Hey Everyone!!

Wizard World Philly is only a few months away (June, kind of far but not really)! So in preparation I have started a rough idea of my cosplay line up for 4 days at the convention!

Thursday: OUAT Evil Queen

 

I made this costume last year but I never really got to wear it due to being sick. So this year I intend on getting a full day of wear out of this cosplay that took FOREVER to make!

Friday: Honey Lemon and Tadashi

I have obviously already done this cosplay multiple times, but as of right now it is my easiest go-to cosplay. It is also a huge crowd pleaser!

Saturday/Sunday: Khaleesi and Rey

I know, I know. These two cosplays are/will be so over done. But that doesn't mean they are always done well! Not to toot my own horn but when I commit to a cosplay, I do it with insane detail and lots of effort. So by doing these two cosplays they would be with great detail, effort, and enthusiasm. Which would in turn hopefully not make them overdone.


This is the outfit I plan on doing for Khaleesi; I haven't seen it cosplayed yet, which gives me the opportunity to do it right. This cosplay, hypothetically shouldn't be TOO hard; hence why I plan on making two for this convention because Rey will be the harder of the two.


Rey was hands down the most badass character in the Force Awakens and easily the most badass female in the entire franchise. I love what she represents and her personality with her more gender neutral outfits. "Why are you holding my hand?!" Come on, she's a boss.

With this line up, I think I could really show my various talents as a cosplayer and push myself to use new techniques, especially with the Rey cosplay. Keep an eye out for more updates over the next few months and I will try to make as many tutorials as possible!

XO M

BUSY BUSY BUSY

Hello Humans!

This has been the busiest semester ever! If anyone every tries to tell you that being an English major is easy, feel free to give them a swift slap to the face. 

Fun Tid-bits of the last few months:

-NYCC in October was amazing as per usual! Unfortunately, two weeks before the convention, I had emergency surgery to remove my appendix and was unable to finish my Padme cosplay. So I went as Honey Lemon, which was super fun. It was heart breaking, but now I have more time to make it amazing for Wizard World Philly this summer!

-Being a senior in college is insane, I don't recommend it.

-I turned 24! I feel old and have 3 new grey hairs.

-I have my own apartment with my man! Woooo! Freedom and responsibilities!

I have lots of planning and sewing to do for Wizard World Philly, but I really want to push myself to create something new and difficult. Stay tuned for more updates starting in January!

Keep Calm and Don't Blink!

XO M

Body Suit Week 2

OH HAY THERE!

 

This weeks has been crafting/sewing craziness! One of my coworkers asked me to make her wedding veil for her! How neat is that? So, this week I learned how to make a veil, and tonight will be diving into working with rhinestones! EEK!

I have also been getting back into painting, and have been making little nerdy paintings. I did a Baymax one and a Lego Movie one, of Benny ("spaceship!"). They have been a fun creative outlet, but it is time to get down to business!

 

 

Last night I FINALLY started on my Padme cosplay! Took long enough! I did end up buying some practice spandex, I would rather mess up on practice fabric then the expensive final material. I was able to get all of my pattern pieces cut, ironed, pinned, and cut out! The next step will be to start sewing and fitting! There are certain sewing needles and stitch widths to use when working with spandex, which I have never done, so practice is imperative!

There will be more updates with further details on how the spandex adventure is progressing soon!

 

XO M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bodysuit - Week1

I will be doing weekly updates to chronicle the steps I take to create the bodysuit that is the base of my Padme cosplay for NYCC.

This week I have cut all my pattern pieces, bought the fabric and correct needles, and I have started planning out my steps.

The first thing I need to do is modify the Yaya Han pattern a bit, my measurements fall in between two different sizes. I have a dramatically small waist compared to my bust and hips, so I will be reforming the patterns by combining the two sizes and redrawing the cut line. This will help to create a smooth transition between the two different sizes. At this point I (and you should too) will check my torso length, this can vary in patterns but this particular pattern doesn't specify so I will be making sure that I have the right length before there is any cutting of fabric.

After my patterns are all sorted, I will get started! I am thinking I may go back to the fabric store to find a cheaper spandex to practice on before using my expensive fabric. But at the same time, I don't have much time left to work on this cosplay before school and my internship starts. So my best bet may actually be just using my final fabric and going super slow and taking my time. (not an easy task for myself).

Reminder: MANAGE YOUR TIME!! lol.

 

Stay tuned guys.

XO M



Cape Draping

This weekend I spent some time looking into how I will be constructing various parts of my NYCC cosplay. Before I get too invested in a cosplay, I try to make sure that I have a game plan (or at least a rough idea) of how I will be going about making all aspects of the cosplay.

So, this weekend I looked into Padme's white boots and her white cape. After looking at dozens of YouTube tutorials for ways to construct a cape, I realized that they were all way too complex for what I need. Padme's cape is both complicated and simple; it is a cowl neck cape with a hood. All of the videos had 20 steps to make them.
Screw that. Instead, I took some extra fabric I had laying around, went to my dress form, and started draping out the cape's shape. And it came out wonderfully! I draped the fabric over the neck of the form, with some onto the chest, then wraped it around the shoulders so there is extra fabric to create the hood. With this fabric I roughly pinned it shut to get an idea of how the hood would lay. From there I went to the cowl neck, where I pinned small parts of the fabric to the base fabric. This creates folds to give the cowl a full and layered look.

From this point, I will do a light tacking stitch to hold those folds in, and then I will sew the hood shut to figure out how that will lay best.

I haven't figured out what fabric I will be using to make the final cape but for now this is working wonderfully to learn how to make it before hand. I've seen other cosplayers actually use a blanket because Padme's cape is so textured, so I am considering looking into that as well!

Stay tuned for more and more frequent updates as NYCC gets closer!

XO M


Progress? Maybe?

In an attempt to post more frequently, I am posting the most random post on cosplay progress. If it can even be called 'progress'. This morning I ordered Yaya Han's Bodysuit pattern, made by McCall's.   Link: http://yayahan.bigcartel.com/product/yaya-han-s-ultimate-bodysuit-pattern

 I am going to attempt to use this pattern as the base for my Padme cosplay. Even though her outfit is technically two pieces; it may be difficult to keep the tightness with two pieces. So, I figure if I use a body suit, it will maintain shape better through wearing it all day. I don't plan on doing the sexy, ripped up version of the outfit either, so there is no true need to make it two pieces. 

Even the small steps are steps in the right direction in regards to cosplay. I plan on making August the month of trying to really push the cosplay as far as I can before college classes pick back up. 

Also, I'm considering buying a ukulele because why the hell not?!

XO M

Selecting Your Next Cosplay

One of the most difficult aspects of cosplaying, in my opinion, isn't actually making anything. But rather, DECIDING on what you want to create. Being a nerd, geek, trekie, or whatever you identify as; isn't an easy task! Especially when it comes to convention time. When planning for a convention there are many things to take into consideration, so sit back and relax as I describe my planning process and lessons I've learned.

Meg's planning process/Questions that she obsesses over:

-What time of year is the convention?

-How am I getting to the convention?

-Am I able to bring props?

-How much time do I have?

-What is this going to cost?

-Is there a theme to the convention? (ie. anime, horror, etc.)

-How relatable/understandable is this cosplay?

-Am I challenging myself with doing something new?

So this October in NYCC there are many of these questions to take into consideration. Last year I wore heals, worst choice ever. Hence why this year I plan on wearing shoes much more accomidating for walking. Also, when traveling to NYC's Javitis Center, we take the subway in from Queens, so large props are usually out of the question for obivious reasons.

Weather is something to consider as well for an October convention; outside it will be cool and inside the convention it is always a coin toss between freezing and hot. So cosplays with layers can be helpful for these types of situations.

Every time I create a new cosplay I try to make sure that I am challenging myself in some way. Whether it be working with a new type of fabric, making a new prop, or making a type of clothing I've never made before! I find that this is a good way to make sure that you don't get lazy and just keep recreating the same thing but with different characters.

 

Part of my love for cosplay is when someone is thrilled to see you walking towards them in a cosplay of a character that they love. It is an indescribable feeling. When I go to conventions I try to pick cosplays that will get that reaction and fit the type of convention that I am attending. For example, Philly Wizard World is so close to where I live that it easy to get there for multiple days. So I usually do one cosplay that is more for my own enjoyment than others. But for NYCC, it is such a production just to get there, that I want people to be beyond excited to see my cosplay and feel as though it was worth it for me to go.

 

NYCC is in October of this Fall, shortly after that the new Star Wars film will be released. This is a sign of the stars being perfectly aligned to do a Star Wars cosplay! Even though I LOVE the original trilogy, I must say I love Padme as a character. I find her very strong, independent, and always has the best outfits. Going with these cosplay 'questions', I have decided that I am going to do Padame's outfit from Attack of the Clones when she is in the pit with Obi and Annakin.

In this scene she is a total badass; she takes control of her own destiny, and kicks scary monster butt!!
I plan on constructing this as a singular body suit, with the cape detachable and accessories of course. All aspects of this cosplay should be VERY comfortable for a long day at the convention. It also can be worn different ways depending on how warm or cold it ends up being in October.

I hope these tips are helpful for the next time you are planning a cosplay and stay on the look out for updates on my cosplay progress!!

XO M