2015's Best Nine!

Wow, what a year it's been! ( ; ▽ ; )ﾉ

2015 was a great year for cosplay, and also my first full year of cosplay. Other than my Natsu cosplay in October of 2014 (that seems forever ago...), all my other (13 others) cosplays have been done/started in 2015! So with the whole #2015bestnine trending, I thought I'd share my 9 favorite cosplay photos from this year!

Keep in mind that these are my favorite photos, not cosplay I've done. I don't think I'd be able to rank my cosplays like that, haha. And unlike the website 2015bestnine, these were chosen by me and not ranked by the amount of likes each picture got.

Let's get started!

-♪-

9 - The L Selfie

(L from Death Note, June)

I have mixed feelings on this picture... Serious poses aren't my strong suit! But I look a little bit like a guy. Just a little bit.

8 - Hipster Ariel

(Ariel from The Little Mermaid, September)

This was featured in a blog post, click here to check it out!

This picture reminds me of when my backyard was all green and not just brown. ;O;

Actually, this was one of the first photoshoots my sister and I had done in our backyard since it got renovated over the summer! So this gives me good memories. :)

7 - Miyuki!~

(Miyuki from Lucky Star, August)

For some reason my Miyuki cosplay got really popular in this last month? I haven't worn her in a while either, so it was so weird! But not in a bad way, I'm really flattered! Thank you again to those that gave me random shoutouts! I'm glad you like my Lucky Star cosplays~ owo

I like my smile in this picture too! ^O^

6 - Onesie Day!

(Bad Badtz Maru from the Sanrio Franchise, September)

Check out the vlog that goes with this photo! Link here

I don't think I've ever posted this version of this photo on IG, but I still love it! Our onesie day was so much fun~ Ahh I miss playing Mario Kart now. ;O:

5 - Now I Am A Witchling~

(Witchling Mirabelle from Magical DoReMi, September)

Another picture I don't think I ever posted to IG... I'm still really proud of this costume! I love wearing it, even if I do have to worry a little bit about it breaking. I still remember the spot in the bathroom at AAC where I glued the wandaler back together three times! XD

4 - Nagisa + Chips Ahoy

(Nagisa from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club, December)

The vlog with this photoshoot is up! Link is here

So for some reason it was like 60 degrees in December? Even though it was freezing in October? Anyways, if you missed the caption of this photo on IG; this was actually a canon! That's why the Chips Ahoy and my phone are in the background. But this was a really fun shoot too!

3 - Ojamajo Christmas

(Mirabelle from Magical DoReMi, December) 

Once again, the BTS of this photoshoot is here!

I really like this photo, although mainly because all four of our group is in it. We rarely get photos with all four of us beside selfies. This makes me miss hanging out with y'all. :')

2 - "You And I Make Nintendo Wii" / The NaLu Photo

(Natsu from Fairy Tail, October) 

Check out our vlog for this shoot and AAC! Link here

I miss Another Anime Convention so much! Also, if you look at our Zenaki NaLu shoots they're complete trash. So I'm glad I got some nice photos. This one's my favorite out of them all. :)

This one just gives me good memories~

1 - Sayaka 2.0

(Sayaka from Madoka Magica, December)

So I tried out my new Sayaka wig I got for Christmas (on Christmas, too!). If you know me you've probably heard that she's my favorite character ever. This was the first photo where I really felt like I had done her justice. I was actually quite un-confident in the old wig I had for her, so I'm so happy that I finally feel confident in this one. It's a great feeling. :)

-♪-

I hope you enjoyed this vlog!~ I hope next year can even better than this year was, and I look forward to going to cons and stuff~

Cya in 2016!

-Gaby ♥

Costume Review: Beyond The Boundary Uniform from Redstar Cosplay

It's been too long since I've written a review! But Merry Christmas to those of you that celebrate ;O;

-♥-

I got both of these items a while ago, and the pictures of both aren't very good! But I hope you enjoy reading this review regardless. ;w;

For those of you that are unfamiliar, Mirai Kuriyama is from Beyond The Boundary. You've probably seen it around, but you can find the series on most third-party anime websites. (I think I watched it on YouTube a while ago, but I don't know if it's still there)

You can check out my review of the series here!

-♥-

I'll start with the uniform, which I got first. It came from Redstar Cosplay's Etsy shop for $40, and I'm pretty sure shipping was about $15. It's not the cheapest, but it's around the same price as other uniforms I found online.

Here's the picture on the website. (I picked "Uniform Only" in size "Female S")

They have both an Ebay and Etsy shop, but I ordered mine from Etsy.

I didn't have any issues with customer service, and the package arrived about 3 weeks after ordering, which is a reasonable wait time for something from China.

It came in the evening, hence the bad lighting >.>

-♥-

The package came with a skirt, jacket/shirt, and tie. There was also a generic thank you card, like most cosplays.

More bad lighting...

The tie was actually a bow attached to a safety pin! It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't that noticeable either so I guess it's okay.

Close up on the bow

I think the best part about this costume was the fact that the jacket had pockets! They don't have zippers or buttons, but they're 'u' shaped so it's not easy for stuff to fall out. They're about the size of my phone (an iPhone 5s), maybe wider.

The jacket was good quality, with shoulder pads and a nice lining. The lining was a smooth fabric (I don't know much about fabrics, but my guess is something like satin?), so I wasn't too cold or too hot. There are buttons on the front. Overall, the jacket quality was great.

*Black tights not included*

The skirt was fairly good quality, other than a few wrinkles on the sides. Nothing I can't iron out later.

-♥-

~Final ☻ Score~

Cost/Shipping Time: 8

Quality: 9

Accuracy: 8

Material & Fit: 9

Overall: 8.5

Bottom Line: This is a solid costume, and the pockets are a plus. I wish it could be a little less expensive, but there aren't any major problems with this one.

-♥-

Stay tuned for a review of the wig I'm using for this cosplay!~ Thanks for reading too!

-Gaby ☺

Costume Review: Sayaka Miki from CosplayShopper

Hello everyone!~ I recently received my Sayaka Miki costume, and as you know she's one of my all time favorite characters!~ I'll be premiering this costume at Another Anime Convention in October.

For those who don't know, Sayaka is from one of my all-time favorite anime series; Madoka Magica. You can find it on Netflix.

I should probably make that hairclip O_O

The costume is from CosplayShopper, who's centered in New York. Link is here.

I ordered it in an XS for about $110?

-♥-

So first off; let me talk about my not-so-great experience with the customer service:

I ordered my costume to be custom sized, for an extra $15 or so. After I sent in my measurements, they emailed saying they didn't seem right and I should measure myself again. I did and found out I gave them a waist measurement that was way to small, so I fixed it and sent it back. But then they emailed me again saying how they still weren't right and I should get measured by a tailor. I gave them the same measurements as before, because honestly I'm not dragging myself to a tailor when I can use a measuring tape just fine. Then they emailed again saying they don't make the costume custom-sized. (Yet they still haven't taken the option away on the website.) I went with an XS, since the sizing chart really did not match up with my measurements. With all due respect, I'm not oddly proportioned. A lot of people small enough to fit into a XS don't have a bust that big.

The costume came faster than expected (about 2 weeks) which was very nice, however I don't think they ship from NY considering my package was in China, South Korea, and Kentucky before it got to me.

In very on the fence about this company. Their customer service was a little hard to deal with and their sizing is very odd and a bad fit for me, but they were quick and very good quality.

-♥-

As I said, I received this package about two weeks after ordering. It came in a giant plastic bag (Left) and inside was... more plastic bags! (Right) Everything was individually wrapped except for the skirt. The accessories came in one bag

 I didn't use it in this review, but it also came with her sticker-gem-thing, which wasn't listed as included on the website. It was a nice bonus, however I'm not sure if it's reusable or how well it sticks. It has a circular sticker from the brand 3M on the back. Either way, I can always buy more of those stickers at Walmart if need be.

-♥-

Round 1: Shirt & Skirt!

There are two problems with the skirt and the shirt: the bust is waaaay too big and the skirt is waaaay too small. Of course these can be fixed, but I could see my shorts that I wear under every skirt. That's how short it was. 

There are zippers on most of the costume. They're hidden, so that makes them a little hard to zip, but they look nice. There's also a button so you can hide the skirt zipper with one of the side flaps, which was a nice touch.

The quality is amazing! The buttons on the short weren't super cheap and the ruffles cooperated. I was afraid of the breastplate looking cheesy, but I think it looks nice.

Not the best fit...

-♥-

Round 2: Accessories!

 Next was the stockings, arm sleeves, belt, and those things that go on the stockings!

Much like the skirt and shirt; the problem here was the fit. I actually ended up sewing the upper arm bands and the stocking additions (what do I call them?) because they were way too big. Which is odd because the lower arm sleeves and the stocking fit perfectly! The belt had to be put as tight as it could go in order to fit okay.

I love the stocking that came with this costume! They were translucent, but they felt really nice and weren't itchy or sweaty at all! I could barely tell they were there.

-♥-

Round 3: Gloves & Cape!

For some reason the gloves were super puffy? They fit okay but they feel heavy when you're wearing them. I didn't like them that much, but I'll deal. If anything they were a little on the small side.

I love the cape! It doesn't feel like it's choking me and it defiantly completes the costume. The detail is nice and exact too.

Ignore my face e_e

 -♥-

~Final ♥ Score~
Cost/Shipping Time: 9
Quality: 9
Accuracy: 8
Material & Fit: 7

Overall: 8.25

Bottom Line: I honestly wish the customer service was better, because this costume is amazing. You get more than what you pay for (which is quite a bit) in quality, but the sizing will most likely require some fixing. Not sure if I'll order from CosplayShopper again as custom sizing didn't seem to go well for me.

-♥-

I hope you enjoyed today's review! I really look forward to wearing this costume at AAC!~

- Gaby♪

How To Become A Cosplayer! *PART 2*

It's been way too long since I've updated this! I'm so sorry everyone. (~O~; )

Part 1 is here~

~Mugi Slug~

~♥~

Step 4: Research Time!

So you know what you need, but now what? You need to buy the cosplay of course! How tho? (This has gone no where. I'm sorry for my ramblings. ~o~)

It's research time now, folks! In my short time of being a cosplay (almost a year already!) I don't have that many suggestions. But here are the few I do have:

CosplayHouse.com [My review for one of their wigs is here]

MelodySusie [My review for one of their wigs is here. I recommend the brand, but I've only ordered from them via Amazon so idk about shipping]

Amazon usually has the right stuff for cosplays that can be broken down into everyday clothing items. I usually try looking on there, and I get my wigs from there often too.

Ebay you have to be careful with, but I've gotten some wigs off of there.

I make it a rule of mine to avoid AliExpress. I did get some of my Natsu items there and they were great, but I've also gotten an Ariel cosplay that was around 5 sizes too big on me and poor quality. I spent about 2 hours making alterations, and it still doesn't feel right.

In general, always look up a review or two before you buy from a certain store. There are a lot of stores out there that will give you crap quality items. Same thing with brands too. If you look in the item description on Amazon/Ebay/etc, it will often list the company and you can look them up.

Be wary of super cheap deals, kids. $10 for a Miku wig is probably a scam.

~♥~

Step 5: Getting The Money

By know you should know exactly how much money you'll need for this cosplay. This is the hard part.

Your parents are probably your best shot if you're too young for a job. Ask for allowance, do extra chores, or even ask them to help fund part of your cosplay. I personally receive allowance, which works out perfectly for me. No, it's not $80 a month, but it lets me budget my money and think How many months do I need to save up for my next cosplay? and Am I really using my money wisely?

Even so, you might need some more cash to make this happen. Save up birthday money, help out your neighbors, or babysit. Last year I helped assistant teach at my dance studio, and I got a ton of money for it. More money = More cosplay.

You'll need to know your limits though. One thing you'll quickly learn is that you can't do three good cosplays every month for the whole year unless you have a money tree in your backyard. Don't go trying to get as many done as you can and sacrifice the quality you're paying for in the process.

Pretty much every cosplayer is broke

~♥~

Step 6: The Little Things

Be sure to either check out Amazon or your local drugstore for this stuff, especially if you're going to a con.

-Wig Cap [This hold up your hair under the wig. Some wigs come with a free one, but even so you'll probably want an extra few]

-Styrofoam Wig Head [You can find this at Joanne's or Michael's] 

-Eyeliner [My favorite is NYC's liquid eyeliner]

-Mascara [Miss Manga by L'Oreal has always been my preference]

-Foundation, Blush, and Lip Tint/Gloss/Stick [I'm always playing around with what products I use for these three]

-Bobby and Safety Pins [They always disappear on me! *^*]

-A Staple Bag And Pair Of Shoes [This is mainly for a con. For most of my cosplays I end up using my black Converse, because they match fairly well and they're comfortable. My bag was just randomly picked off of Amazon.]

This makes my lips feel chapped... X_X

~♥~

Well; that's all for now! I'll hopefully pick this up again soon. I think I might be running out of ideas for steps. >w<

-Gaby

Anime Review: Beyond The Boundary

Guess who decided to pop in again with yet another anime review? I know anime reviews are all I've been doing lately, but with my cosplay progress slowed in the midst of working on Mirabelle, I need something to post about.

-♥-

Today I'm bringing you a review of Beyond The Boundary, or Kyoukai No Kanata. From my understanding it's not extremely popular, but it's known. You might recognize the main character.

Link most animes I end up watching, I started this on whim this morning... Mainly because I liked the main character's character design...

I'm a sucker for good character design... :')

-Information-

High school student Akihito decides to be a good person and convince a girl at his school not to jump of the ledge of a building and end her life. In return, she stabs him with a sword. The odd pair end up becoming close friends, and soon they're eating at a Mexican restaurant together. Turns out there's a lot of .,~*supernatural*~,. stuff involved in both parties, and shit goes down. I really can't say much else without spoiling stuff.

Genere: Humor turns into Drama, with some Supernatural elements sprinkled in.

Episodes: 12 (You can find all of the subbed episodes on YouTube as of 8/30/15)

Slay! Literally

-Ratings-

Plot/Concept: 7/10

The plot was very confusing towards the middle. Maybe it's just me, but I barely knew the main character's name by the end. I had to go back and wikipedia it. So if you're a person who's looking for an anime you can half-watch while you sew a cosplay (like my sister sometimes does), then save this one for later. The concept was interesting, but confusing, as I said before. I feel like the ending was a little rushed. Overall, it gave me a weird vibe towards the end... something like "why am I feeling nothing by this point, shouldn't I be having a feels attack?"

Character Development, Design, & Relations: 8/10

The character design for the female main character is great. It was creative, original, and refreshing. And that was also delivered in her personality. She's cute but tough, emotional but strong, and I felt I could relate to her a lot. She's not just a badass character- she's a badass character with a cute exterior and emotions that show through. The male lead had some pretty good character design too, not as original, but still refreshing enough. He's witty, kind, and fairly... normal. I think the design of those two really complemented each other and let themselves shine. Their emotions both developed with the plot to an extent, but towards the end I felt their reactions were more reserved. If that's a creative decision, I don't know. Character development could've been taken a lot farther in the second half of the series. The other characters were great too, but I feel they were underdeveloped and their design less original.

Music/Art: 9/10

Can I just say that I love the ending theme? Both the music and animation were amazing and heartfelt. The opening was okay, it grew on me but I still don't love it. The background music was very nicely done, so props for that. The animation was especially great toward the beginning, but I probably feel that way because the beginning was more cheerful. All in all, the animation wasn't anything suoer unique like the labyrinths in Madoka Magica, but it was well done and pleasant to look at.

There's a little Mirai in all of us

-Overall: 8/10-

Bottom Line: Looking back on it, the series seemed to get worse as it went on. But is it still worth watching? Defiantly. The characters are a breath of fresh air, and all in all, this anime warmed my heart.

-♥-

Well I gotta hurry off to bed if I want some decent sleep for tomorrow, so cya everyone!~

Let me know what blog posts you'd like to see next! I'll try my best to update more~ ;v;

-Gaby ♥

Anime(?!) Review: RWBY

Now; before you start with me; questioning whether RWBY is an anime or not could be debated for ages. For the sake of this review we will call it one; because it makes writing this hella easier. Okay?

For those of you who haven't watched or hear of RWBY yet; don't let those earlier statements put you off! While not like traditional anime; RWBY (pronounced Ruby) is more like vocaloid-style animation. It also happens to come in the form of two "volumes"; each around 2.25 hours long. But before you disregard the show altogether for those things; hear me out. I think this show deserves a lot more credit than it's given.

So; are you prepared to be amazed?

-♡-

You might've stumbled across RWBY on Netflix; watched the beginning; and hated it. But if you are one of those people; I am here to show you that there is so much more to this show than the sub-par, boring opening scene! Trust me on this one~

I find a lot of people have judged this show right off the bat. And I guess I can't blame all of you because I've done that with other stuff too. But behind these things is a real gem of a story; packed with lovable characters and epic fight sequences. (food fight, anyone?)

So let me explain myself to you before you close out of this review. :')

Fun Fact: I started watching this show on whim just bc I liked Ruby's character design.

-Information-

Ruby Rose (No, not the celebrity) is a 15 year old girl on her way to become a huntress; fight monsters, and defend the citizens of Vale. But a lucky turn of events lands her into the elite Beacon Academy a few years earlier than expected, and soon Ruby finds both social and criminal challenges to face. Along with her sister Yang and a group of friends she's met along the way; can Ruby overcome her social awkwardness and prove herself as not just a little kid?

Genere: This story has it all. Action, drama, humor, romance, all in perfect balance.

Episodes: Two Volumes; #1 is 2 hours and #2 is 2.5 hours

Fight me!

-Ratings-

Plot/Concept: 8/10

I feel like the plot is where this show falls short; but honestly it wasn't all that bad. The concept and plot were both stuff that's been done before; but I didn't find myself getting tired of this show. I sound contradicting; but overall the concept was mediocre and not very original. But was it well done? Yes, there's no doubt about that.

Character Development, Design, & Relations: 10/10

The characters in this show are amazing, A++, make me cry of happiness, incredible. First off; the character design is creative, bright, and visually appealing in every aspect. I started watching this for character design and I was defiantly not let down. On top of that; the character development was stellar. You get to learn a lot about the characters; and from sad backstories to watching them deal with student and hero life, it's all breathtaking. Plus; you get to see their relationships develop; sometimes with struggles in the way. Overall; the characters are quirky, relateable, and some of the best I've seen.

Music/Art: 9/10

The animation takes a little bit to get used to; but I grew fond of it fairly quickly. The art overall provides great contrast and conveys the tone very well. As far as visuals; I loved this anime. Honestly; the music isn't that memorable, but it goes nicely and really sets the mood.

Squad Goals

Overall: 9/10

Bottom Line: Although you may be quick to judge; this anime is a rare treasure. The characters and art are something spectacular. It's different; but not bad. :)

-♡-

Bai!~ :D

-Tenshi

Anime Review: Free! Eternal Summer

I've wanted to write this post for a long time, so here it is! My first anime review~

I plan to do a lot of these in the future, so I hope you enjoy reading this one!~

NOTE: Free! Eternal Summer is the 2nd season of Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. This review will contain spoilers from the first season.

[♂]

So, if you've gotten past the first season, congratulations! All of your friends who haven't watched the anime probably now think you're a wierdo now; but that's okay! Right? :D

Let's get started!

-Information-

Synopsis: After last year's tournament, the Iwatobi Swim Club is back to conquer the championships once again! Except this time without getting disqualified. But what's this?! Looks like Rin is back, and organizing a team for the relay! And on top of all of this, Haru, Makato, Rin, and new character Souske all have to decide what to do in their futures! Will they continue swimming? Will they chose totally un-related careers? And who's winning this relay anyways? Get ready for more feels and tear in Free! Eternal Summer. (And side note, the Ragisa feels are still going strong.)

Genre: Sports, Almost Yaoi, Humor

For the most part this anime is pretty lighthearted. But I did shed a few tears. :')

And of course there were times when shit got real.

Episodes: 13

Swim!

-Ratings-

Plot & Character Development: 8/10

As far a sequels go, they did a pretty good job on this one. They didn't open up any doors that had already been closed, and this time they included Rei more, which I found satisfying. You get to see not only Iwatobi, but also a lot of Samezuka and Rin in this season. The character development is great in this season. They introduce three new characters, and by the end of the season you're comfortable with them. Although the focus is often on Samezuka, Iwatobi isn't neglected, and each of them have a lot of great character development too. I felt like I grew closer to all of them, and I really didn't know who to vote for in the races because of that. Which was a weird feeling, but it was exciting.

Music & Art: 8/10

I really liked the opening and ending for this season, more than I did the first. The ending seems to suit the anime, although the opening is a little like the first one, both musically, and in that it was a little over-dramatic. The animation was amazing for both opening and ending. The background music was okay, it didn't really stand out though. Like the first season, the art and animation were great, especially during the action shots. The character design was good, but I felt the new characters were a little more ordinary compared to the older ones as far as looks.

 Overall: 8/10

[♂]

Bottom Line: Although at first it may seem a little boring, it defiantly picks up a few episodes in. I think this season was better than the first, and the character development present is something worth watching for. Regardless if you liked the first season or not; I'd check out this anime.

Until next time!

~Tenshi

How To Become A Cosplayer! *PART 1*

I wish I could've come up with a more creative name for this, but idk maybe I'll change it later. X_X

So how does one start off a blog post as big and general as this one? I guess I'll just share why I wanted to do such a general post.

I always thought cosplaying was out of reach. The world of brightly colored wigs and intricate outfits all seemed so far away. Honestly, when I thought of cosplay I thought of all those professional-quality photos with beyond amazing cosplayers. Little did I know, the world of cosplay was well within reach and reason for a *normal* girl like me! ^O^

I decided to do my first cosplay when me, my friend Hannah, and my sister Becca, dreamed up the idea of being the cast of  Fairy Tail for Halloween. We quickly got our friend Christine on board, and with close to two months to go, we started our first cosplays!

So what are you waiting for? Get ready to discover your inner cosplayer, in a way that's much easier than you think!

Kiss Kiss Fall In Love! -With Cosplay, Obvi

~♥~

Step 1: The Idea

Some simple questions need to be answered first, before you start any sewing or web-shopping. (Wow that was a really bad term. Web-shopping? Tf Gaby) Get you pencil and paper out, because this is stuff you don't want to forget!

-Who do you want to cosplay?
-When or what do you want to cosplay to? (Halloween, a con, a meetup?)
-Do you want to do a group cosplay?
-Would your friends be willing to do a group cosplay? (For those of you with non-otaku friends, I'd try to make some real quickly bc you'll probably need em'!)
-Do you have the money? (More on this later)
-Do you have the time? (Especially important if you're sewing your own cosplay)
-Do you want to make or buy your costume? (More on this too later)

Take as much time as you need. After all, this stuff ain't easy.

Convincing your non-otaku friends to cosplay can be a challenge

Now that you have your idea, let's pursue it!

~♥~

Step 2: The Motivation

This step is very important. Without any exterior motivation, it's likely you'll fall into a slump of the classic "I-don't-feel-like-cosplaying". Even with motivation, this will probably happen, but I think every cosplayer has their moments. *shrug*

Some GREAT forms of motivation I have in my cosplay life include:

-A Cosplay Group

A cosplay group is a great way to step up your cosplay game and get more involved in events! It makes group cosplaying easier to organize and carry out, and it gives you a tight-knit group of friends to visit conventions with! Starting one is as simple as asking your friends if they want to start a squad with you where y'all cosplay together. (Gaby, stop you're being too weird.)

Focuses On: Group Cosplays, Visiting Conventions

*Cue snazzy music*

-Social Media For Cosplay

Obviously, I have my instagram (@the.otaku.diaries). Being committed to an account and posting often isn't easy, but it sure motivates you to get off your couch and cosplay on a daily basis! Plus, knowing you have people that support you is a great feeling. Getting compliments on your cosplay on a day-to-day basis, when you don't have to get out and about to cosplay, is perfect to keep the cosplay snowball rolling!

Focuses On: Day-To-Day Cosplay, Boosts Self-Esteem

I've always loved this picture. If you have artist credits or know who does, please inform me!

-Going To (And Planning For) Conventions

Even before we had our first costumes done, my friends and I decided to go to an anime convention! For some reason I picked one out that was really far away (Zenkaikon), but as soon as I pitched the idea to my friends they were on-board! Getting our parents to take us and pay for some of the stuff was a little harder, but they agreed (Big thanks to the parents who took us and helped with the money, btw.), and with about 6 months to the convention, we started planning who we'd cosplay. So we had gone from one cosplay planned out to about three each. I actually ended up with four cosplays, haha.

Focuses On: Getting More Cosplays Done, Group Cosplays

Friendship is a beautiful thing (◡‿◡✿)

There are many more ways you can find motivation, but it really helps a ton! :)

~♥~

Step 3: Make It Rain

This title = dead X_X

Okay, I know you're getting impatient and you just want to cosplay already, but if your broke you can't do that hun. So let's finance!

Write down every element you'll need for your cosplay. I'll show an example with Natsu.

Pink Wig:

Natsu Scarf:

Vest:

Arm Band:

Tattoo:

Belt:

Weird Skirt-Thing:

White Pants:

Black Sandals:

Happy Plush:

Now, decide what'll you'll make and what you'll buy. Remember that buying something doesn't make you and less or worse of a cosplayer, and vice versa with making. I honestly buy a lot of my cosplay elements.

For my example, I said: "Alright, I'll make the skirt thing. I'll also add the trim to the pants and vest. So I now need gold ribbon and black fabric."

Then, do some online searching and figure out how much everything will cost. Remember, it's better then to have extra money than to not have enough.

Pink Wig: $15 

Natsu Scarf: $10

Vest: $20

Arm Band: $25

Tattoo (Red Sharpie): $5

Belt: $5

Black Fabric + Gold Ribbon: $10

White Pants: $25

Black Sandals: $10

Happy Plush: $20

Total: $145

In retrospect my mom paid for a lot of this so I wasn't as cheap as I usually am. My basic cosplays usually cost around $80-$100? But more detailed cosplays are around $90-$200, depending on the detail and quality you want.

~♥~

Will be updated soon!~ Please be patient with my turtle slow pace owo

-Gaby

How To Create A Genderbent Cosplay

Hello all! Today I will be posting about the steps to make a genderbent cosplay, based on my experiences with genderbent Hiro Hamada. This works for the two main types of genderbends; male → female / female → male.

I honestly thought this picture was so cool it has to be included

If you will be cosplaying the opposite gender, you might need to take extra steps such as getting a binder or vice versa. (Excuse my ignorance, I have no idea what steps guys take to cosplay girls.)

But before we begin; I'd like to address a fairly sensitive topic in order to later avoid offending anyone: gender stereotypes. This is all up to the cosplayer, but this post will center on genderbends that use gender stereotypes and play off of them to convey the point more clearly. I do not enforce gender sterotypes, I will just be referencing them so your cosplay can be more clear that it's genderbent. I believe in more than two genders and equality for all genders and sexualities. Please keep this in mind as you read. Thank you. 

~♂↔♀~

Step 1: Pick Your Character/Gender & Find Inspiration

So, decide who'll you'll be genderbending first of all, and the gender you'll eventually be cosplaying. The more well known the character, the easier it will be to convey your point across.

Next, try to find some good examples of fan art or other genderbent cosplays for that character. But just remember: don't copy. It'll be so much more fun to come up with your own design instead of just using the design of some fanart. And might I add, that could very easily turn into stealing if you don't give proper credit and/or contact the artist beforehand.

Step 2: Create A Design

Depending on how complex your character's outfit is; you might need to sketch this out. For Hiro, it was fairly simple so I really just mapped it out in my head and with Cosplanner.

This is the part where you can incorporate gender sterotypes in order to convey your point. Yes, of course I know not all girls just wear skirts and dresses, some don't even wear them at all. But it helps get the point across that it's a genderbend. Not all girls have long hair; but it tells the viewer that you're not just cosplaying the original character.

Other things you can do for a male to female genderbend are lots of jewelry, heels, and a lot of makeup.

As for a fem. to male genderbend, try short hair, shorts or pants, and looser clothing.

Step 3: Get Your Materials & Assemble

Try to find things that fit your design as closely as possible, or better yet; make your outfit from scratch. Since Hiro wears fairly normal clothes, I got all of my cosplay from Amazon.

Work out the little details and get your final cosplay together. There's not much to say at this point, really.

Step 4: Rock Your Cosplay & Be Ready To Explain What A Genderbend Is To Your Parents

What a cheesy title, but now it's really up to you. Behave like the character, but incorporate masculine/feminine traits as you see fit. Maybe change your walk, voice, or posture, Just don't go too far and lose the original personality of the character you're portraying. And if your parents ask "What character is that?" and eventually, "What's a genderbend?" be prepared to explain.

~♂↔♀~

Over all, a lot of genderbending is up to you. Have fun with it and don't be afraid to change a few minor details. As long as you don't lose sight of the character, you'll be fine. ☻

~Tenshi

Double Review: Wigs [Hiro Genderbend + Miyuki]

Hello, everyone! Today I'm back and reviewing two of the news wigs I just got; my Hiro Hamada genderbender and my Miyuki Takara wigs. I will also be including things relating to their companies, MelodySusie and Cosplay House, respectvily.

 Let's get started!~ \(^0^)/

-♥-

MelodySusie Black Curly Wig Review

This one can be found on the MelodySusie website, but I ordered from this link on Amazon, where it was a few dollars cheaper and included free shipping.

So I ended up being frugal on this cosplay, which ended up backfiring for different reasons unrelated to this wig. But for about $15 I was very surprised by the quality and packaging of this wig.

When I opened up the cute lil' box, I got 4 items: the wig, a "professional wig comb", a wig cap, and this weird bookmark. The box had instructions on how to take care of the wig, and honestly it's one of the best packaged wigs I've gotten and the cheapest. The only problem I had was that the comb's package was halfway opened when I looked in the box. Honestly though, I used it anyways, and it's great for combing curly wigs. The wig cap wasn't anything special, it was standard quality.

The wig itself was like the product picture, plus it was easy to run my fingers through and had no tangles. Excellent quality. Below's a picture of the wig I took the other day.

I really can't say much more about this wig, because it was excellent quality. It got to my house within a week. It fit nicely, other than the wig cap hurting a little. On the packaging it says curling wands and straightening irons aren't recommended.

Pros: Great Quality, Low Cost, Nice Extras/Packaging
Cons: I honestly can't think of any. You get well beyond what you pay for with this wig.

~Final ★ Score~

Cost/Shipping Time: 10

Quality: 10

Accuracy: NA (It's up to the cosplayer on this one, really)

Material & Fit: 9

Overall: 9.5

-♥-

Cosplay House Miyuki Takara Wig

Can be found on Cosplay House's website.

Unlike the last one, I got this one for about $35 plus around $10-$12 shipping. The reason was because all the other Miyuki wigs looked inaccurate.

I got it after about two weeks, as advertised. It also came pre-styled like the website said it would be. It was great quality, but I was paying a lot so that was expected. I'm happy with the wig, there's really not a lot more to it.

Another thing worth noting is the wig cap it came with has been the first comfortable wig cap I've really worn. Very good quality on that too. ^.^

It was accurate, too. Great job done on the styling. Here's a picture:

Pros: Comfortable Wig Cap, Pre-Styled, Good Quality

Cons: $$$

~Final ★ Score~

Cost/Shipping Time: 8

Quality: 10

Accuracy: 9

Material & Fit: 10

Overall: 9

-♥-

So which wig is better?

I'm not here to answer that, because they're both great quality wigs in themselves. But I will say that if you want to get a wig from one of these two companies, go with MelodySusie. The reason is just simply that you get around the same quality for 25% of the price. It's true that MelodySusie doesn't have a lot of cosplay-oriented wigs, so if you can't find what you're looking for, consider Cosplay House. It's expensive, but if you're looking for excellent quality you really can't go wrong on that one.

I'm very happy with both of my wigs, and am looking forward to ordering from both of these companies again! Thank you all so much for reading, and be sure to check out my new gadget with my IG feed and if you have an IG, check out my acc at @the.otaku.diaries!

Until next time,

~Tenshi