AM2 and AX

This weekend was 2 conventions, AX and AM2.  I was able to attend both, which was fun.

Unfortunately I didn't take too many pictures.  I had an Artist Alley table at AM2 and it was so crowded at AX that it made is difficult to take many.  Here's a few that I did take.

Kanon Wakeshima was one of the guests for AM2.  We weren't able to take pictures with her inside the convention, but as luck would have it, she was outside as we were leaving!  So I was able to get a picture with her, which was exciting!  I also attended her concert (no photography allowed though) and it was really good!  She's just as good live as on CD, and is really amazing at the Cello.
Outfit:
Top: DreamV
Skirt, Socks, Bag: Angelic Pretty
Boots: Secret Shop (Angelic Pretty replica)
Hairclip, Necklace: Handmade

I don't have any pictures from Saturday, because I ended up having to walk to the bank, and it was further than expected, and I got really hot, sweaty and looked a mess.  So I went from cosplaying Orihime to random schoolgirl. 

On Sunday, things were really slow, so we headed up to AX early. 

I was wearing one of my Yukatas because I wanted to be comfortable. 
As you may notice, I have a lightsaber.  It's pink!
For the longest time, I've wanted a pink lightsaber.  It's an unorthodox color, so it's not common to find.  There was a seller in the dealers hall, and I asked if they could make it pink... and they could!  I was so excited!  I finally have my pink lightsaber!  Even better, it's strong enough that I can actually duel with it.  I did stage combat in college, so it will be fun to get into it again possibly!

Today we just went to wander around and hang out.  I wanted to wear Rapunzel, but since it's so crowded, I didn't want to deal with the long wig.  So I got and styled the short brown wig from the end of the movie.  It seemed like a lot of people were confused, I guess they didn't watch the movie!

Myself with a Flynn who was selling in the Artist Alley.  Her costume was great!  Her art was really cute too, I got a Rapunzel cell strap!

Both cons were lots of fun, both to see and hang out with lots of friends and just to have the con experience!  I can't wait until the next one!

Magical Girls and Disneyland

On Friday, there was an event called "Magical Girls- Art Inspired by Shoujou Manga".  I wanted to dress up but none of my outfits were very magical girl, and I didn't have money to make a whole new costume (though I did seriously consider doing PGSM Sailor Moon).  In the end, I decided to finish Rapunzel for the event, since technically she is a magical girl. 

I didn't completely finish (I didn't get the lace on the skirt, and there is still no embroidery) but I was pretty happy with it and I loved wearing it.  A lot of people recognized it and liked it, and I ended up winning an Honorable Mention in the cosplay contest.  It was judged by Tavuchi, the owner of Spank!.  She was so sweet!

As of now, this is the only picture I've found that I actually like.  It's from LA Weekly.

Here's a mirror shot to show the whole costume, but it's not the best picture lol!  It was in H&M... before the event, we went shopping!  I got a lot of strange looks walking around the mall dressed as Rapunzel!

I can't wait to wear it again, one of my friends offered to do a photoshoot with me, which I'm super excited about! 

Today I went to Disneyland as usual.

With Bre'r Bear, a character from Song of the South.  This movie is not available anymore because it's racist, so it's not a super well known character.  You can see some of my outfit here, it wasn't too exciting though.
Skirt- H&M
Boots- Secret Shop (Angelic Pretty replica)
Leggings- Forever 21
Tops- I don't know, I've had them for 6 years haha
Bag- Sanrio

With Rapunzel and Flynn.  When we came in, Rapunzel said "Oh Flynn, this is my friend, she comes to visit me every week!  Sometimes you're not here, but she's like my new best friend!"  It was so cute.  She asked who Ashley is, and I told her she was my best friend and roommate.  She said that Mother Gothel was kind of like a roommate, but she hoped Ashley wasn't like her!  I love when characters interact rather than just brushing us off since we're not little kids.

Stuff

Lately I have been working hard on my Rapunzel costume.  Things are not going as planned... the bodice I made ended up not looking at all how I wanted it to, so I'm going to remake it.  I've been working hard on the wig.  I first styled it wit loads of extra hair, so that it would be accurately thick, but it weighed so much that I couldn't wear it for long.  So I've made it much thinner, but I like it better this way.  I feel like it's a bit more accurate to how it would look in reality.

Here's the front.  It's a tad askew so the part is actually further to the left when centered properly. The sides are also pinned down a bit more when worn, to cover my real hair.

In action.  I've actually added some ribbons to the braid as well as some more flowers.  But you can see the length and thickness pretty well here. 

I'd love to do it with an actual really long wig at some point, but I fear it would just get too tangled (ironic considering the name of the film haha!).  Doing this wig was difficult enough; it's actually made from 2 wigs that I combined together to get more hair and thickness.  Both were 5 feet long, so it was quite difficult with that much length!

Besides working on cosplay, I've also been working on a new style.  Since leaving lolita I feel very lost style wise.

I love Hime Gyaru, but the trouble is that I can never get the hair and makeup right, and I don't fit most of the clothes.  I might try making some dresses in the future, but I can't fit the brand clothes.  I also love Agejo style but I fear that if I wore it I would look like a hooker.  Other people can pull it off super well but I don't have the confidence.

I've been looking at a more preppy look.  I love school-girl style and uniforms.  I've loved to wear plaid pleated skirts for years, but I want to start pairing them with blazers and sweaters for more of a casual schoolgirl look.  It's difficult though, because you walk a fine line between fashionable and costumey with this look. 

It's also pretty sad because I realized that my entire closet is pink or black.  I need to add more colors, but I'm not sure how.  I feel like a total fashion loser haha! 

Disney Day

Yesterday I went to Disneyland with friends!  I wore what I call "cutesy casual".

With Rapunzel. I asked Flynn about the tiara and when he showed it to me, it was missing a few stones, which I pointed out.  She got mad at him and told him that she let him hold it so nothing would happen. 
Outfit breakdown
Sweater- Tralala
Top- Sanrio
Skirt- Target
Boots- Secret Shop

With the Fairy Godmother.  My friend suggested I take a picture with her because "I'm a princess".  Maybe she can help me find a prince XD

Loot.  The doll is a cosplay reference... this weekend I was working on embroidery patterns for the skirt, and I couldn't find any shots of the back of the skirt hem.  But after looking at the doll, it looks to be accurate, so I'll be using it for the embroidery patterning on the hem.  The pin is one I've been wanting for a while, but it was out of stock for quite a while.

But the best part was finding the Master Key disk!
When I found out it was released, my friend and I went on an epic journey to 15 Targets trying to find one.  She found one but I didn't.  At California Adventure I was asking at every store, and they didn't have any (apparently there is only one in each box of disks).  But at the last store they had it.  I was so excited!

As with my black disk, I modified it to look more like the disks in the movie.  At elecTRONica people kept asking if my black one was a special replica when all I did was remove the outer ring haha!  I did the same with this one. 

Other than that, I've just been working and going to class.  It's a bit strange to be back in school after a year!