[WIP Cosplay] Medli's Costume Fitting

This is a picture of my first try-on of the tunic plus most accessories. Missing are wig, nose and contact-lenses, but you wouldn't see the last ones in picture anyway. I just uploaded it for those of you curious about the result, since I was too stupid to take pictures at GamesCom. I need to do an extra photo shooting to present some full cosplay pictures, I'm sorry :-(

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[Pita Ten] Misha - Artbook Dandelion Yukata

© Koge-Donbo

Series: Pita Ten (Manga)
Character: Misha
Kimono RL:Yukata
Obi RL: Hanhaba
Musubi : Bunko/Chou-chou hanhaba
Accuracy: 97%

Kimono layout: 


Design: 

• yukata
• yellow base colour
• highlighted circles, light yellow to white
• dandelion flowers
• fabric suggestion: cotton

Visible Accessories:

• lacquered geta/pokkuri, red /w light coloured hanao
• yo-yo balloon
• huge rabbit hair clip
• hair bow, red
• small flower hair clip, light pink

Additional Needed Accessories:

• basic kitsuke items (yukata set)

Kimono thoughts:

Yukata pattern are, as well as some komon's, rather random and repetitive. I would't bother too much about an exact recreation of this look. Just make a pattern, repeat it all over the yukata and make sure that neighbouring panels face opposite directions (up-down-up-down).


Obi thoughts:


Very simple yukata hanhaba obi: one side red, one side yellow (example, different colour). By folding it in partially when wrapping around, one can create this layered look. It's a really basic technique as well as the obi knot. I'd suggest either bunko, chou-chou or one of the various cute variations as knot(^.^)
These simple two sided yukata are quite cheap and if you don't want to bother binding them, they're often found in a pre-tied version.

"Flaws":

Just a wearing matter: wearing obi knots in other places than your back might be found awkward. Wearing it in the front is an absolute no-go especially with yukata. For those who didn't know: In the past oiran/tayuu (high ranked courtesans)as well as courtesans of lower ranks used to wear their obi tied in the front. Unless you're doing an oiran or tayuu cosplay, I'd say better leave the obi in the back. Moreover I think it's drawn at the side for artistic reasons only in the picture anyway.

Kitsuke-skill needed:

Yukata are the most easiest kimono to wear and don't need much extra items. Try putting in on two or three times before going public, but it's definitely a beginner's kitsuke project (^.^)

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[Pita Ten] Shima - Striped Artbook Kimono

© Koge-Donbo

Series: Pita Ten (Manga)
Character: Shima (Shia)
Kimono RL: Komon
Obi RL: Nagoya, Hanhaba
Musubi : Otaiko, Hanhaba knots
Accuracy: 95%

Kimono layout: 

by SilberRegen, 2011

Design: 

• unlined (hitoe) komon kimono
• cream/white base colour
• stripes in light blue/blue/dark blue/ochre
• collar (eri) in different stripe design

Visible Accessories:

• obiage, blue
• obijime, white
• tabi, purple
• zouri, light blue
• blouse with striped collar, red and white
• rose pin, red to dark red
• scarf, translucent grey or black
• pearl necklace, two or one long
• leaf hair decoration
• cat with yellow bow (^.^)
  

Additional Needed Accessories:

•  a little bit padding
• some koshihimo
• maybe eri-shin

Obi thoughts:



I'd favour a nagoya-obi. Though it looks like it's meant to be all-black I wouldn't do it all black. The image of all-black obi and kimono is all about funerals, so not so good... Adding some small highlights will do the job (maybe a cute cat? ^^)

"Flaws":

This kimono outfit doesn't have "constructional" flaws. It is just worn very loose, which makes it difficult to do without looking too messy. Additionally it's a mix of western and eastern clothing. I'd somehow try to get the collar a little stiffer as usual or insert an eri-shin, but an eri-shin might already be too much.

Kitsuke-skill needed:

Because it's "messy" you should train on your skill quite a bit. It does indeed look differently if somebody did it like this on purpose or just couldn't do better kitsuke. Securing this look on your body is also a point where some routine in kitsuke will help a lot.


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[Pita Ten] Shima - Cover Kimono of Vol. 7

© Koge-Donbo

Series: Pita Ten (Manga)
Character: Shima (Shia)
Kimono RL: Komon
Obi RL: Nagoya, Hanhaba
Musubi : Otaiko, cute Hanhaba-knots
Accuracy: 97%

Kimono layout: 

by SilberRegen, 2011

Design: 

• unlined (hitoe) komon kimono
• solid background colour, deep-red/burgundy
• stripes, light blue/grey/purple
• arrows (yabane) with asanoha pattern, yellow/orange

Visible Accessories:

• nagajuban/hanjuban, light pink
• han-eri, light pink
• obiage, dark green
• obijime, light pink 
• rose-shaped obidome, red
• tabi with dots, light-/lime-green and deep-red
• zouri or geta, black base and red hanao with added flowers
• tama-kanzashi, red ball
• bira-bira kanzashi with roses and red string
• colourful "scrunchy" kanzashi thing
• small bag, light yellow
• short gloves, white

Additional Needed Accessories:

•   basic kitsuke items

Obi thoughts:

A nagoya-obi tied into an otaiko knot might be best considering the formality of this kimono. Hanhaba might also work, but with obiage and obi-jime the first choice might be better. 
Otaiko-shaped pre-tied obi will increase wearing comfort.


"Flaws":

Koge-Donbo drew a very nice kimono ensemble. There are hardly any real flaws to begin with. You'd probably won't wear it exactly like this, because it drawn rather loosely fitting. Following some classical kitsuke rules, the juban shouldn't show at the bottom and the arm-pits and a real obiage is worn a little different and less loose.
Personally would go with some little corrections and follow the classical way of wearing, because the overall appearance will be much neater.

Kitsuke-skill needed:

Assuming you go with a classical pattern and do not simplify it for wearing, you should definitely practise on this one. Since this character is meant to wear an actual kimono here, sloppy kitsuke might easily ruin it.


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[WIP Cosplay] Medli's Shoes

I guess this were the hardest to make of all the accessories. It was the last thing I finished and the only thing I needed help with, which my grandmother kindly provided.

My idea was to sew a cover to slip on to one of my sandals, since I didn't wanted to modify a pair. Moreover I decided to go with bandages, interpreting the lines in the picture as wrapping not black lines.
The link cosplaying friend of mine dyed two rolls bandages and some old white dishcloths in yellow, then I roughly fitted and pinned the cloth around one of my shoes and cut away the extend. Used this piece as template for the second shoe, mirrored of course (I didn't wanted to do this process twice XP).

My grandmother sew them together and added elastic bands.

finished cover base over sandal

You can see, there are some gabs showing at the bottom and I considered fixing this while worn with some stitches, but it's not visible at all from other views.

In a final step the bandage were sewn on. Starting at the tip of the show, the first to layers were pinned down, cut and then sewn on, because I had to leave the bottom open. Otherwise the wouldn't have been wearable anymore.

The third layer were attached to the base as far as necessary, while the loose end were left as it was,. This part was later wrapped around my leg.

finished cover

testing my product :-)

Some notes: I used sandals with heels, because it would give my feet a smaller appearance. But it doesn't make it very comfortable to stand on the whole day. Even though it i just a small heel, my feet were really aching after the whole day waiting in line XP

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[WIP Cosplay] Link's Belt Buckle

I didn't cosplay link myself, this accessory was made for my friend who did.

We decided to do it with an acrylic form. So we bought this big round medallion thing, took the upper half and cut off the hanger with a sharp knife.

Colours don't stick to these sooth slippery surface of acrylic glass so good, because of that I roughened the inside with some sand and water. With black acrylic paint I draw the pattern on the inside.

both halves, the upper already sanded and painted with black colour, back view

front view

The yellow background colour were dabbed on  in thin layers on top. I decided to go with two thin layers of gold colour first, to give it some extra shine :-)

first gold-coloured layer, back view

all layers added, front view

Lastly I lacquered the inside to protect the colour.
To attach this buckle to a normal belt, we added to elastic hair ties with hot glue on the back (no pictures yet). This way you can just slip it over the original belt buckle.

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[WIP Cosplay] Medli's Red Cloth

My friend's mother did the sewing on this piece. The construction is just two squared pieces of red cotton cloth with a cut in opening for my head.
I thought about sewing on the emblem and curly decorations as well, but it would have been insanely fiddly with all the curves and sharp edges. In the end I decided to paint it on.
Not much to explain here, the straight outer line was done freehand. For the other patterns I made two stencils, pinned them down on the cloth and carefully painted on the symbols.

I needed about 3 layers of paint everywhere to create a good cover. Here's the outline:

First stencil, the crest, pinned down and filled in:
I removed the stencil after the initial layer, because I could pin this one down properly and it smudged a little at the borders. Second and third layer where added freehand again.

Constructing the small stencil:

Cut out with utility knife.

Placed some double-sided tape at the back and cut it out again, I guess this could also be done in one step, but this idea was developed a little late to do so.

Pinned down (the tape worked very well) I added the colour again. I had no problem with blotches this time.
Reused the stencil to add the two outer ornaments in the back too.
Lastly I corrected the blotched edges with some matching red colour. With this another piece for the Medli Costume was done (^.^)

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[WIP Cosplay] Medli's Nose

This one gave me some headaches first. I needed some light weighted, sturdy and easy to attach thing. In the end I found that making a cast of my nose and build the shape on top would be easiest. Synthetic cast was way out of my budget, so I went with the classical cast (disadvantage: it tends to crumble on the edges).
Luckily I had some "plastic art light" modelling compound laying around, which turned out to be the perfect material for this job.


I used up just a little corner of this block, I bet I could do at least 20 more medli-noses with the remaining stuff XD

Ok, let's start with my first step: The cast.
I placed the bandages rather roughly around and on top my nose, about 5-6 layers on the critical parts (edges of the nose etc.), 3 on the rest. After a short time it would harden and I could remove it carefully from my face. I let it dry completely for two days.

Put back on my face, I roughly marked the outlines of the bird-nose-to-be.

With this help I began modelling on the compound stuff.
Firstly creating a smooth line from one lower edge to the other, then adding the right outlines to it.
The excess cast were cut off after I got the shape I desired.


It was a little bit sanded down to smooth the surface and to prepare for painting.


Like the pin, the nose got painted in several layers too, then laquered with a matte varnish, including the inside.


Finished (^.^)

It's meant to be worn using skin-glue. It works really got, though breathing is surely not that easy with it XD

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[WIP Cosplay] Medli's Pin

The wooden shape was bought for 0,99 € at an Art Store (idee, Holz-Kerzentülle) and has a diameter of 4cm. I sanded it down a little to smooth the edge and to prepare for painting.

If you can use airbrush, it gives the cleanest painting results, but I don't have a system. So I used some non-fuzzy cloth and covered a sponge with it. Just a sponge would work too, but mine was already a little old. Brushes give nasty stroke lines most of the time.
There were 4 layers of white paint dabbed on it, within each application I waited some minutes to let the colour dry a bit. The white was dried completely (time depends on the colour used) then some yellow layers were added until it was opaque. (The wooden form is pinned on a colour bottle with some tape for easier handling)
I could have let it be like this for base colour, since the reference only shows yellow, but I thought since it is jewellery, it should at least sparkle a little bit. Not too much though, it should still stay in it's comic style look. To achieve this I added a thin layer of gold first and some more thin layers of yellow mixed with gold, since my gold was not yellow enough and too dark.
Again dried completely. Now, I made a stencil for the symbol on it, this was the trickiest part. First I tried to to it out of foil, but i figured it was quite hard to attach properly and securely. Then I tried out on a not so visible part it the brown packaging tape would damage the paint it applied directly on top. It didn't and I covered the pin with it an carefully designed on the duct-tape and cut it out directly on top of it. Even with little pressure it'll leave some tiny marks at the edges, not very noticeable, but I'll have to think of a better method when I have more time.

Anyway, this way I added the medli's symbol in a vibrant red. Just some small corrections with a small brush after removing the duct tape and tadaaa:
Finished of with matte varnish. To attach the pin to the clothes it still needs, well a pin (^.^)
Since this one is cupped on the other side, I just used the brutal method and casted in a pin with two-component polyurethane.
If you ever want to do such a pin think of something better (and cheaper) I just had the PUR left over from another project anyway. Hot-glue for example would work out for sure, too.

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[Cosplay] Link and Medli

I always wanted to do a cosplay, but I never came around to do one.
No money, no skill and no ability to decide on one.
Eventually I had the impulsive idea to do one for the GamesCom in Cologne and a victim who would cosplay with me was found instantly. It went like: "Hey, did you already get us the tickets for GamesCom?" - "Uh, yes I did, what's the matter? - "Do you want to do a spontaneous zelda-cosplay with me?" - "Uhh... ok?". That was at 1am in the morning, two weeks before GamesCom.

So now, we are in the middle of the work. We decided my friend would cosplay Link and I would do Medli, both from the Game "The Legend of Zelda - The Wind Waker".

For reference:
Medli
Link

We aren't finished yet and we'll definitely need the next weekend, too. 

I'll post some WIP pictures and descriptions as soon as I can.
Wish you a nice week.