Cyber Goth Geisha Progress Report: Turquoise corset

The turquoise corset is finished!

Well, sort of. I tore some of the netting on one of the panels (wonder when and how that happened) so I will eventually have to take it all apart to replace that piece, plus, I wanted to add black satin binding around the top and bottom, and I couldn’t find the rhinestone buttons I bought for the center front seam two years ago. But it is wearable.

Metallic Turquoise Corset

It looks really good with the short Furisode too!

Cyber Goth Geisha Outfit

So I’m all set for tonight. Happy New Year! (or for the non-pagan among you, Happy Halloween!)

Cyber Goth Geisha Progress Report: Crimson Vision Gothic Geisha

When you are tired, you make mistakes; it is a reality. I was almost done with my corset last night; I just had to assemble the exterior part with the lining when I realized that half of the pieces on the exterior were sewn the wrong way. It was 12:30 am. So, I un-sewed the trim and pieces that needed fixing and then, since I was falling asleep at the sewing table, I went to bed. Today I worked on it a little, but it wasn’t finished in time to wear at Nancy-Raven’s party. So I went with plan B and wore red accessories.

Gwenyver as Crimson Vision Gothic Geisha

It looks good! I had many positive comments on the wig’s colour too; both Nancy-Raven and my Sweetheart agree I would look good with my hair dyed fluorescent red. Not that I would dare, but maybe I’ll find more occasions to wear that wig in the future.

Instead of my red tights, I remembered I owned knee high black and red striped socks, and I recently bought the half gloves to match. I wore a headband with a big sating flower and my lovely new sexy heals.

Now I will try to finish my corset before I crash in bed so I can wear it at least once this Halloween!

Cyber Goth Geisha Progress Report: Short Black Furisode

The Furisode is done!

Short Black Furisode

Please excuse the beige twill tape; I could not find my black one for the picture.

I am actually much more satisfied with it than I was with the Juban; I was also more careful. I really love the tone on tone stripe in the fabric too: it gives the whole look more texture. I found it in the discount bin of course, but I find it works well. The collar is a little flimsy, but I am hoping a good pressing will fix that (I just hope I don’t burn it!).

I also started to sew the corset’s lining. I assembled all my pieces only to find that it did not close in the back and there was a huge ugly lump at the center front, chest level. That is when I realized that I was missing a piece, which I later found at the bottom of my “to do” bin, but it was time to go to bed.

I hope I have time to finish it tomorrow night, but if I don’t, I’ve decided to wear a red Nagoya obi with my red tights, red wig and red makeup. This way, I will not have worked in vain, but I won’t stress to finish and make myself sick.

Cyber Goth Geisha Progress Report: Juban

Okay, so tonight I finally started my own costume. I have 3 days to make it as I want to wear it at Nancy-Raven’s party this Saturday. Of course, I’m already thinking of solutions in case I can’t finish in time, because this whole no sleep thing I used to be able to pull off is way more exhausting than I remember, but I’m still going to try.

Tonight, I managed cut the pieces that were missing, like the Juban and fusing, and sew the Juban. It is actually a mix between a Hadajuban, because of the sleeves, and a Nagajuban, because of the collar. Observe:

Juban

There are many imperfections, especially with all the puckering around the collar, but I have decided to let it go; I don’t have time to fix it, and it will all be hidden anyways, so why bother.

I had actually planned to make the two: a Hadajuban of poplin and a Nagajuban of woolen twill. Due to lack of time, I decided to only make the thicker twill one, only to realise I did not have enough fabric for the sleeves (it was a leftover which my aunt gave me). Hence the mix of genres, but I think it will work well. Besides, this is a fantasy costume; I don’t have to be accurate!

Next step: the Black Furisode.

Cyber Goth Geisha Progress Report: Accessories

I haven’t started sewing yet: I just finished a costume order and I am now attacking my daughter’s costume.

In the mean time, I figured I would show you the accessories. First, here is the Forever 21 headband I had mentioned:

Vintage Rose Headband, Forever 21

I think it is going to look awesome with the rest of the look.

Then, there are the Dreads Pony Falls I had custom made for this costume 2 ½ years ago:

Black, Blond, Blue and Turquoise Dread Pony Falls, custom made by LS Seven

I wonder what they will look like on my head. Can you believe I have never tried them on?

Next, I am happy to report that I found socks and half gloves in the black and white stripes, just as I wanted:

Black & White Striped Half Gloves, from Ardene

I think I can thank Alice in Wonderland (2010) for those gloves. If Colleen Atwood hadn't added them to Alice's costume, I'm not sure I would have found a fair so easily at a jewellery and accessories' store.

Black & White Striped Knee Socks, from Ardene

If anyone is interested, I got both at Ardene, in the 5 for 10$ section. (I got three more pairs of half gloves in colours that match some of my legwarmers!)

Finally, the shoes:

4" Heel Black Patent Leather Mary Janes

I found them on sale, at a Halloween store. Well, I got them on sale because the cashier gave me the 50% rebate some of the other shoes had, but the sales girl had told me they were not, so I don't know who was right, but I still paid half the price. The guy at the register also made a comment about me looking very sexy in these heels. I guess this could also explain the rebate. Hmmm...

Anyways, they will also be perfect for an Abby Sciuto look, which I guess is popular, considering the number of comments that post got and still gets (Thanks guys – I love comments).

Back to sewing fur! I am so thankful we recently got a Dyson – my sewing room has carpeted floor!

Cyber Goth Geisha

It was one of my New Year Costuming Resolutions: to finish costumes which were cut and left hanging (well, they're piles in a box, really). Well, this Halloween, I am doing just that. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that my Alliance Impériale friends had decided to dress-up in Japanese inspired costumes. I figured it was the perfect excuse to finish my Cyber Goth Geisha costume, cut for Otakuthon 2008 and abandoned due to lack of time. (Would you believe it? I was a little too last minute. Me!)

Let me tell you a little more about the inspiration for this costume. First, I have loved Traci’s Cyber Geisha look:

Cyber Geisha by Traci of Crimson Vision

It is simple, but sexy and eye popping (could be the cleavage, which she wears very well, but I would personally never dare try it this way).

Then, there is Maral’s Emerald Gothic Lolita:

Emerald Gothic Lolita by Maral Agnerian a.k.a. Sarcasm-hime

Black and white matched with one bright colour is combination I love. I especially liked the corset she used. Also, I was surprised how much I loved the multicoloured dreads. Dawn a.k.a. Kaijugal has a similar set:

Pumpkin Lolita by Dawn McKechnie "Kaijugal"

So I mixed what I liked about these styles and came up with this:

Cyber Goth Geisha Conceptual Art by Gwenyver

It consists of a short black Furisode, worn over a white Juban. A turquoise liquid lamé corset takes the place of the obi. I will wear this outfit paired with blue tights, black and white striped half gloves and knee high socks, black patent leather platform Mary Janes, a black headband with bow, flower and feathers (which I got at Forever 21), and my custom made Dread Pony Falls in Black, Blond, Blue and Turquoise. As for makeup, I am aiming for a Geisha look, including full white face and neck prongs, but I will replace the usual reds and pinks by blues and turquoise. I will also paint my nails blue.

I do hope I can finish in time! (And that it is warm enough for me to wear it – it can snow on Halloween in Québec).

Pictures from Otakuthon 2009

If you have been following faithfully, you will know that I was NOT at Otakuthon this year, but that many of my friends were, and as I had asked of them, they took pictures. And people I've never even heard of took pictures. And all these people are posting their pictures. So now, I almost feel like I was there (almost).

I feel it is my duty as a Costumeholic to post some of these pictures for you my numerous faithful readers (you're all welcome to make yourselves known anytime or else I'll start thinking I'm talking/writing to myself here). I've been meaning to do so for days, but couldn't for numerous reasons (the main one can be explained in two words: Teething + Baby).

Disclaimer: The following pictures were NOT taken by me. For the most part, they feature friends of mine that gave their permissions for me to post their picture here, but if you see a picture that you either took or that features you and you would like me to give you credit or take it down, just drop me a line. In no way would I want to steal credit for something. Ever. Really!

Nancy-Raven as Tsunade (From Naruto)
Picture by Kelovar

Mageknightterra as Jill Valentine (From Resident Evil)

Picture by Tionniel

Tionniel as Zelda, Teknobug5 as Sheik, Marie-Ange-The-Celt as Midna, Sennajos as Navi and Gwiguig as Link (From The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Twilight Princess)

I don't know who took this picture.

Hamelingrafix and Reno as Power Rangers

Photo by NeoValentine

TK7410 and OptimusSuperPrime as Spartans (From Halo) and TB7445 as Assassin (From Assassin's Creed)

Photo by TK3026

Fullmetalsam as Terminator Chaplain (From Warhammer 40K)
Photo by Wookiemart

Now we get to the "I don't actually know these people but their costumes are great so I want to show them" section of this post:

CardCaptor Sakura
Photo by Pantsukon

I'm a CardCaptor Sakura fan and I have to say, this costume is particularly well done.

A couple of CyberGoths
Photo by NeoValentine

I do like the whole CyberGoth look (in fact I'm working on a project...) so these two caught my eye.

Jusdepomme as Yukari (From Paradise Kiss)*

*Thank you Sakura for answering the call and enlightening me to who and what this was. Truly appreciated.

OK, here, I just HAD to show this costume for the work that was put into the dress. I mean look at all this beading! All I can say is WOW!

Character From Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles
Photo by Anh Thy Nguyen

I saved the best for last! Breathtaking, wouldn't you say?