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Oh, God. I'm A Crazy Person
I'm clinically insane. That's the only explanation. And you know, this really isn't my fault, I can't be held responsible - this is because of lack of sleep (I do crazy things when I'm sleep deprived, like making rp journals) or the fact that the water was shut off this morning in my apartment (Me last night: I want to wash my hair. Mmmm, better not, there's never hot water at night. Me this morning: *turns on the facet* *no water at all* Oh, you are kidding me.) Oh! Finals. This is because of finals. And I'm still half-sick. Really, I can't be expected to make rational decisions right now.
*takes deep breath*
So you want to know what I'm not doing?
This morning, I did not take screencaptures of Suki's awesome and fiendishly complex outfit.
I am not poking around on fabric sites looking at what's available.
I am not looking at pattern sites and thinking, 'hmm, am I crazy, or would that Tibetan Chupa make a good base for her outfit'?
Oh, god, I'm clinically insane aren't I?
Flist, I throw myself on your mercy.
Help.
If you could either a.) find and return my sanity
b.) give me the information on cosplay, specifically time/skill/money estimates, ideas on how to make the vest, headdress, arm bracers and detailing.
c.) smack me across the mouth and stick my head into a bucket of ice water.
A-Line Skirt]
no subject
The Chupa would be a good start -- the neckline in particular is pretty close, it's not a banded kimon style of neckline (don't forget to check the screencaps of Azula and the Dangerous Ladies stripping off their disguises in Ba Sing Se for good shots of the robes without the armor. The biggest changes are you need to set on somewhat loose sleeves, make the skirts more A-line than straight, and have them somewhat open in front so it can be worn over another darker wrapped skirt. I'd make the bracers as a separate item that laces/velcros/whatever on top of the loose sleeve -- notice how in the screencaps there's a little ruffled edge of what looks like the sleeve fabric sticking out under the wrist-edge of the bracers. The shape of the armor is very reminiscent of Japanese armor, so I'd say you definitely want something that's somewhat flexible rather than a solid-metal-breastplate sort of feel -- most of the Kyoshi and Suki cosplayers I've seen just went for green vinyl with stitching lines to match the lines on the costume.
No idea on (a), mine's long gone! (b) is all so so variable, I don't know what your sewing skill levels are like and I've been sewing so long, taught it for a while even, that my ideas of what is and isn't easy are kind of warped? If you're starting with the chupa as a base, though, you'll need to be able to sew darts, set in sleeves, and otherwise make some large alterations, so we're definitely not talking rank-beginner level here; if you go for vinyl or pleather for the armor that can also be a little tricky to handle if you're not used to the stuff. Costs are so variable depending on what fabrics you're using and where you shop that I'd be reluctant to venture a guess. Arm bracers, at least, I could give you a pattern for easily, I've got some leather ones that could be used as a base; for other ideas, try taking a look at
no subject
I'm definetly thinking the bracers are seperate, and then I'll get some of that pretty, thick pre-embrodered stuff and sew it down the sleeves. I'd love the pattern for the bracers, by the way.
For the the armour vest I was thinking of really simplying it, and going for a more simple vest in a thicker fabric.
My skill level:
not an utter rank beginner. I've made a skirt before (a rather nice one, with insets) however, I helpfully have my grandmother was helping me. However, I am fairly notive, so I don't know many terms, and I'm rather unschooled.
Advantages: I have brillant sewers around me, including my mother (who is not grandmother level of brillance but still better than me). I'm fairly good with my hands, and I am fuel by the power of CRAZY!
Thanks for the links, and the links. *bows*
(The advantage of the kubuki make-up would be that the dark circles wouldn't even register.)
no subject
http://www.wodefordhall.com/kosode.htm (http://www.wodefordhall.com/kosode.htm)
http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese/Jap123s.html (http://www.reconstructinghistory.com/japanese/Jap123s.html)
Traditionally, the pieces were cut to a standard size, and then the fit was adjusted by taking wider or narrower seam allowances. That's an extra layer of confusion you probably don't need as a beginner, though; the Folkwear yukata pattern has the proper garment shape and guidelines for different sleeve styles, but marked in more gaijin-friendly sizes. (A quick search on sewingpatterns.com shows cheap Butterick and Simplicity kimono costume patterns -- they might not have all the authentic finishing details included in the Folkwear pattern, but the basic lines look similar and they're pretty cheap!).
However, the girls' dark green overrobes aren't quite cut like a basic kimono; the neckline is a little higher, and lacking the band; the sleeves are longer and narrower, and the overlap on the front pieces is much higher up on the chest; the silhouette of the neckline and front overlap is less like a kimono and more like a men's cheongsam (http://www.mandarintouch.com/index.php?cPath=2_158) style, similar to the more Chinese-influenced fashions with asymmetrical front closures that seem popular in the Earth Kingdom in particular. (It's definitely not tight set-in sleeves and close-fitted bodice like a modern qipao, like the Folkwear "Hong Kong Cheongsam pattern"; it's a lot closer to their "Chinese Jacket" (http://www.folkwear.com/114.html) pattern, the version with the stand-up mandarin collar and assymetric close. If you wanted to try to work straight from patterns with minimal alterations, using that jacket for the top and a slightly a-line skirt with a bit of pleating at the front could work, then just use the basic skirt pattern to cut an overskirt that is a few inches shorter and split in the front, cut from the same lighter fabric as the jacket. Or you could use hakama for the underskirt -- that's another one of those things you can just do from a diagram:
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/graphics/patterns/hakama1.PDF?53,17 (http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/graphics/patterns/hakama1.PDF?53,17)
http://www.sarcasm-hime.net/hakamapattern.html (http://www.sarcasm-hime.net/hakamapattern.html)
...although again, Folkwear's pattern is nice and detailed if you feel more comfortable not working from a chart.
For her armor, the animators skimmed on the details so you can't really tell if it's supposed to open up at the back or the sides; Japanese armor of similar shapes could fasten either way, so really you can just pick whatever you like. This page has some really detailed stuff for SCA folks building their own: you don't want to go that fussy level of working with individual metal plates, but it'll give you a good idea of how the overall pieces should be shaped and fit together:
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.html (http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.html)
The arm bracers, I can draft you a pattern from these leather bracers I've got -- you could pretty much do them out of one large piece of whatever pleathery stuff you use for the armor, some appliqued trim and edge bindings, if you're not scared of working with stretch fabrics I'd suggest filling in the section where mine lace up with just a flat panel of spandex in a matching green, so you can just pull them on over your hands and they'll fit snugly over the sleeves. Gloves you can find patterns for, but working with those tiny pieces and stretch fabrics might be a bit much for a beginner -- simpler to get readymade gloves in a matching color, or dye to match, and just embellish with a bit of trim.
no subject
*brain tries to inhale it all at once* *fails*
Gloves are actually the one part of the costume I already have. ^_^