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Tell us about your first cosplay experience. When, where, what, etc. My first costuming experience was at a Xena: Warrior Princess convention in 1998. I was not an anime fan back then, having grown out of shows like Robotech and Voltron. There weren't many costumers at the Xena cons, but I got inspired to create costumes nonetheless. I made a variant Xena outfit for myself, and a Joxer outfit for my brother. The great reactions we got at the next con we attended encouraged me to continue, although it would be a few more years before I rediscovered anime.
My friend and I had been going to a small local science fiction convention where we took notice of the costumers and heard about something called Fanime. So we went to that and the number and variety of costumes we saw led us to want to create our own anime costumes. We found out about some tiny little affair in LA called Anime Expo and that's where we aimed to debut as cosplayers. I wore Urd's (from Ah! My Goddess) standard blue outfit to AX2002 and was very excited when people ran up to me, calling out "URD!" and wanting to take my picture. It was a much more energetic reaction than what I was used to seeing with costumers at sci-fi cons. From there on out, we kept at it, picking up cosplayer friends and more costuming skills along the way.
You've cosplayed solo and in groups. Which do you prefer and why?
That depends on the situation. When I get it into my mind to cosplay a character, it's usually for myself since it's not often that my interests intersect those of my friends. If my friends happen to be cosplaying from the same series, I'll join them for photoshoots and such. On occasion, I've been asked to cosplay a character to complete a group, and if I like the character and show, I'll go along with them. Even when I'm soloing, I enjoy paticipating in gatherings of characters from the same series at cons. |
After choosing a character, what's your typical plan of action? Patterns or not? Hardest component first or easiest?
I analyze the main lines of the character's outfit, and then choose patterns that match those lines as closely as possible. Usually, there's some modification needed, as you'll rarely find an exact pattern match for whatever a character is wearing. I work on the largest areas like shirts, jackets and pants first. Then I move on to smaller details like collars, cuffs, footwear and trim. I save jewelry, props and wig choices for last. With difficult components I either try to come up with an alternative way of creating them, or get help from others.
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Do you like to get completely into character with imitating the voice and mannerisms?
I try to get the mannerisms of a character down for posing for photos and for the rare occasions that I participate in skits for masquerades. Otherwise, I'll just be myself. Since I tend to choose the quieter, less sociable characters, shall we say, this works out just fine.
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Favorite tools of the trade?
I swear by the rotary cutter and cutting mat when I cut fabric. I find cutting with scissors a little too inaccurate. I believe in pressing all seams as they are sewn, as pressing is the key to achieving clean lines. I have a steam iron and ironing board near my sewing area to streamline the process.
For pattern modification, I have a big roll of blank newsprint to trace the original pattern onto so I can tweak it to my heart's content without having to worry about destroying the originals during the course of designing and redesigning.
My other favorite tools are not tools per se, but books. The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing and Vogue Sewing Book have helped me out of more sewing dilemmas than I can remember.
Your costumes range from comical to elegant, and accordingly, you've used all sorts of fabric. What's your favorite stuff & your tips for using it? Any material that everyone should avoid?
Since every costume is a unique creation, I haven't really reused the same types of fabric in different costumes. However, a few fabrics stand out in my mind as easier to handle or friendlier to wear and launder than most.
For a lighter weight fabric, I like peachskin polyester. It has a nice drape, feels very lovely even for a 100% polyester, resists wrinkles, and comes in a myriad of colors. |
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For heavier weights, I use stretch twill. There's not much actual stretch to the twill, but the spandex helps give it more body and some resistance to wrinkling over plain cotton twill.
I'll echo what many others have said and recommend against using cheap, thin satin to construct entire outfits. Heavier weight satin is fine and dandy where it is appropriate.
No matter what the fabric, unless it's fur or PVC, I almost always wash or steam the fabric to remove sizing, facilitate preshrinking, and improve colorfastness. |
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One type of costume we don't see on your profile yet is mecha. Will there be a gundam in your future?
I would love to make a wearable Koubu (the mecha from Sakura Taisen) one day, but the tools and materials needed would overwhelm my small apartment.
What reaction do you most enjoy from people who see your costumes?
I like any positive reaction from people when they see my costumes, although I am especially thrilled if they recognize a more obscure costume I'm wearing. Bonus points if they are cosplaying from the same series also!
How do you picture your life 5 years from now? 10 years?
In 5 years, I hope to be done with cooking school and be apprenticed with a master baker somewhere. In 10 years, I hope to have my own bakery or be a pastry chef at a nice restaurant. I reckon I will still be costuming in the future; if not anime, then for general sci-fi endeavours.
When life pitches lemons at you, who do you rely on to help you make lemonade?
I have close friends, whether they are cosplayers or not, to talk to for advice or just to provide a friendly ear to hear my concerns. I've found that my non-cosplaying friends have a different and often-times refreshing perspective on things I encounter in the course of making a costume or at cons than cosplaying friends, simply because they provide a point of view that's not influenced by things people have said or heard in the cosplaying world. They help keep me grounded and from taking cosplaying too seriously.
Share a talent/skill that not many people know you have.
I can fix whatever ails your computer network, bicycle, acoustic/electric guitar, or Hobart mixer, heh heh heh. Alas, I don't have any special skills or talents, aside from baking.
Any rumors to dispel?
Rumor has it that I have 6 toes on my left foot. That is a lie, for I have 6 toes on my right foot! Just kidding. I haven't heard any rumors about me so far. *knock on wood*
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Moo, you are a funny and talented cosplayer. It is easy to look at your photos and see that you are having fun, and that is what it's all about afterall. Next time we're out that way, I want you to bake me a cake as fast as you can. Best of luck in your costuming and chefing careers.
Garry aka Prof.
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