Otakuthon 2013: planning / planification

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

Every year, around this time (and sometimes earlier), I start planning the costumes I will need to make for Otakuthon. I don't always end up going, but I always keep my fingers crossed. This year, I plan to go with both my kids. With three costumes to make and not all that much free time to sew, I need something fairly easy to make. I had a few ideas, but in the end, I choose a Doctor Who group theme for us because an anime convention full of Japan fans is the perfect place for me to wear that TARDIS kimono I want to make, and hell, it is the Doctor's 50th this year.

Chaque année, à ce temps-ci de l'année (et parfois plus tôt), je commence à planifier les costumes que j'aurai à préparer pour Otakuthon. Je ne réussis pas toujours à y aller, mais je garde toujours les doigts croisés. Cette années, je planifie y aller avec mes deux enfants. J'aurai donc trois costumes à préparer, et comme je n'ai pas toujours beaucoup de temps libre pour la couture, ce doit être relativement simple à faire. J'avais quelques idées, mais au final j'ai choisis une thématique Doctor Who pour mon petit groupe, parce qu'une convention d'anime pleine de fans de culture Japonaise est l'endroit rêvé pour porter le kimono TARDIS que je veux faire, et en plus, c'est le 50e anniversaire du Docteur cette année.

TARDIS Kimono / Kimono TARDIS

A kimono is easy to sew (just a few hours of work really), and for the various design details, I plan on using fabric paint to make my life easier.

As for the kids, here is what I am thinking about.

Un kimono est assez simple à coudre (quelque heures de travail à peine), et pour les différents détails, je compte les réaliser avec de la peinture à tissu pour me rendre la vie plus facile.

Pour les enfants, voici ce que j'ai en tête.

PosiTori: Barbie Dalek

For my daughter who adores Daleks (she doesn't really know they're the bad guys) and the colour pink in general, I'll be making a pink Dalek dress, not unlike PosiTori's Barbie Dalek costume, complete with pink and silver toilet plunger decorated with rhinestones.

Pour ma fille qui adore les Daleks (elle ne sait pas vraiment qu'ils sont les méchants) et le rose en général, je confectionnerai une robe de Dalek rose, similaire à la robe de Barbie Dalek de PosiTori, ainsi qu'un siphon à toilette rose et argent décoré de strass.

Mini Doctor Who

For my little boy who will be 11 month old at the time of the convention, what better than a mini 11th Doctor. I'll make him a brown jacket, dark pants, use a store bought shirt and finish the look with a bow tie and a fez. No sonic screwdriver though; that would be a little too health hazardous.

That is where my planning is at for now. I'll let you know how things go as I progress.

Pour mon petit garçon, qui aura 11 mois lors de la convention, quoi de mieux qu'un mini 11e Docteur. Je lui ferrai un veston brun, une paire de pantalon sombre, j'utiliserai une chemise achetée et je compléterai l'allure avec un nœud papillon et un fez. Il n'aura pas de tournevis sonique par contre; il y aurait trop de dangers d'étouffement ou de blessures.

Voilà donc où en est mon plan pour le moment. Je vous partagerai les progrès au fur et à mesure.

Logan's Run "Green" / "Verte" de L'Âge de cristal

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

This was long overdue by any standards. Some of you may remember that for Halloween 2011, I had planned to make myself a "Green" costume (from the 1976 movie Logan's Run), but the only pictures I had were taken by my the 2 1/2 daughter (lots of waists and thighs, not many faces), so I needed to take better ones before posting my costume here. One thing leading to another, I could never find the time for a mini photo shoot, then I was pregnant and did not fit in my costume, and all in all, I had never shared it here. Until now.

Ceci était plus que dû par n'importe quel standard. Certains d'entre vous se souviendront peut-être que pour Halloween 2011, je planifiais de me faire un costume de "Verte" (du film L'Âge de cristal de 1976), mais les seules photos qui existaient avaient été prises par ma fille qui avait alors 2 1/2 ans (beaucoup de tailles et de cuisses, très peu de visages), alors j'en avais besoin de meilleures avant de les présenter ici. D'une chose à une autre, j'ai manqué de temps pour une petite séance de photo, puis je suis tombée enceinte et mon costume ne me faisait plus, et enfin, je n'avais jamais partagé d'images de mon costume ici. Jusqu'à maintenant.

This costume was the easiest I have ever made. Using light green polyester faille I had in my stash, I cut two rectangles, sewed shoulder seams at the top  leaving an opening for my head as well as the sleeves opened, and side seams with a small slash at the bottom, and hemmed everything else.

Ce costume est le plus facile que j'ai pu faire. J'ai utilisé de la faille de polyester vert pâle qui se trouvait dans ma réserve, j'y ai coupé deux rectangles, puis j'ai assemblé ma tunique en cousant les épaules, tout en laissant une ouverture pour ma tête et le dessus des manches ouverte, et les cotés mais en gardant une petite fente au bas de chaque coté. Enfin, j'ai fait les bords restés ouverts.

For my accessories, I went for all silver, and already in my possession as much as possible (tight budget): a silver boho belt I had, some silver bangles that were my grandmother's, silver roman inspired sandals bough for a wedding the previous summer, silver hoop earrings I've had since high school, and my only new item, a silver gorget necklace from Aldo (on sale the week before). Ihad also glued a plastic rhinestone inside my palm at the time, in lieu of a lifeclock. I meant to make myself an Ankh in Fimo and paint it silver, but I never got around to it and since I was going for the generic extra look, it's not that big a deal.

Coté accessoires, j'ai choisi du tout argent, et se trouvant dans mes tiroirs autant que possible (budget obligeant): une ceinture bohémienne de disques de cuirs argent que j'avais déjà, des bracelets argents hérités de ma grand-mère, des sandales d'inspiration spartiates argent acheté pour un mariage l'été précédent, des boucles d'oreilles que je porte depuis le secondaire, et mon seul nouvel item, un collier gorget argent de chez Aldo (acheté en vente la semaine avant). Je m'étais aussi collé un strass de plastique dans la paume de ma main à l'époque pour faire figure de cristal lifeclock. J'avais l'intention de me faire un Ânkh en Fimo et le peindre argent, mais j'ai manqué de temps, et comme je visais un look de figurant générique, ce n'est pas si important.

It is the fastest costume I have ever made, and it is also the most comfortable. Even though it is ridiculously simple, I felt glamourous in it. Proof that sometimes, you don't need big bucks and countless hours of work to be happy with a costume. And I know I will wear it again if I can, as a hall costume to a Con.

C'est le costume que j'ai confectionné le plus rapidement, et surtout, c'est le plus confortable. Même s'il est ridiculement simple, je me sentais très glamour en le portant. La preuve que parfois, il n'est pas nécessaire de dépenser une fortune ni de travailler des heures durant sur un costume pour être satisfait du résultat. De plus, je sais que je le reporterai, probablement comme costume de jour lors d'une convention.

Wednesday Wishlist: Captain Skirt / Souhait du mercredi: Capitaine Skirt

(La version Française se trouve plus bas.)

Let me celebrate my newly bilingual blog by sharing a piece of Quebec pop culture from the 90's, La Petite Vie (The little life). It was a satyre of a "typical" Quebec family, the Parés, based on characters created by the comedic duo Ding & Dong. 

The matriarch of the family, played by a man (Serge Thériault), always wears nightgown type dresses and bonnets. You wouldn't think it worth making as a costume, but there was one episode ("Le rêve de moman" season 4, episode 12), in which she, Jaquelyne "Moman" Paré, dreams that she is Captain of a spaceship, and her name is Captain Skirt.

Pour célébrer le tout récent bilinguisme de mon blog, je vais partager avec vous un peu de culture populaire typiquement Québécoise datant des années '90 et j'ai nommé La Petite Vie. Il s'agissait d'une satyre sur une famille "typiquement" Qébécoise, les Parés, basé sur les personnages créés par le duo humoristique Ding & Dong.

La matriarche de la famille, jouée par un homme (Serge Thériault), porte toujours de grandes robes de nuits et des bonnets. Ce n'est pas le genre de costume que je voudrais normalement reproduire, mais il y a eu cet épisode, ("Le rêve de moman" saison 4, episode 12), dans lequel elle, Jaquelyne "Moman" Paré, rêve qu'elle commande un vaisseau spatiale, son nom est Capitaine Skirt.

Serge Thériault is/est Jaquelyne "Moman" Paré as/en Capitaine Skirt

Guylaine Tremblay is/est Caro Paré as/en Sperme Vader, Claude Meunier is/est Aimé "Ti-Mé" Paré as/en Mr./M. Spot, Serge Thériault is/est Jaquelyne "Moman" Paré as/en Capitaine Skirt 

I can't help it: I like that Star Trek uniform inspired nightgown. I know it would be a hit in local Sci Fi events (plus, I'd be quite comfortable). I guess this could count as a "guilty desire", right?

Je ne peux m'en empêcher: j'aime bien cette robe de nuit inspirée des uniformes de Star Trek. Je suis certaine que ce serait un succès dans les conventions locales de science fiction (et comme je serais confortable en plus). J'imagine qu'on peut catégoriser ça comme un "désir coupable", non?

TARDIS Kimono

Inspired by all the wonderful TARDIS dresses and coats I have found while preparing for last Saturday’s post, here is my own plan for a TARDIS costume: the TARDIS Kimono! (You know you should have seen it coming, right?)

TARDIS vs TARDIS Kimono Concept

Kimono being geometrical in design, it seems simply perfect for the windows and boxes of the TARDIS’ exterior. The “Police box” sign normally at the top would go on the neckband.

Front & Back TARDIS Kimono Concept

And what about the white sign next to the TARDIS’ door? It will go on the Obi of course!

TARDIS door sign by Tibots

The Obiage and Obi-jime would be gold or yellow, because I like the contrast with the blue, and also to represent the door handle’s brass colour.

TARDIS Obi Concept

The light at the top of the TARDIS I imagine as a Kanzashi, made of silk petals and pinned to my hair.

Now as to how to make my vision come true: ideally I would like to do proper silk painting, with resist and everything. As a next best option, quilting is also something I could to, although it would require a lot of pattern preparation. If I am really lazy, I will just use fabric paint. We shall see! For now, I have nowhere to wear it to, so there is no rush to make it.

Of course, to be a Doctor’s wife (i.e. the TARDIS), I could also make an Irish dancing dress along the theme. Now what would that look like?

Did you say TARDIS?

Any Doctor Who fan out there will of course know what the TARDIS is, but for those of you who do not know what it is, it is the Doctor's ship. The name stands for "Time And Relative Dimension In Space", and it looks like this:

The TARDIS

Yes, it is a 1960s style London police box, and that is sort of the joke. Anyways, I have recently discovered that many Doctor Who fans like to cosplay as the TARDIS.

Tardis Costume

And not just as a regular police box; many of them are very original in their interpretation. Just you look:

Steampunk TARDIS Bustle dress by Courtney Stoker

The Doctor and his Tardis, found on EPBOT

TARDIS Ballroom Dress by Kelldar

TARDIS Corset

Dalek and the TARDIS

A trio of TARDIS

TARDIS Hostess

TARDIS Costume from EPBOT

Short Sleeved TARDIS dress

TARDIS' day out

Shoulderless TARDIS dress

Corseted TARDIS dress

Otakon 2011 Tardis costume

Tardis cosplay by Kistaa, picture by Kium

All these creative interpretations have given me an idea: there should be a group for all of these costumers (of which I hope to be a member soon - I have my own design idea), just like the Let them eat cake group for people who make sweets inspired 18th century outfits. I was actually discussing this with the instigator of this group, who is also a Doctor Who fan, and she loves the idea.

Edit: The Doctor's Wives it is! Please join us over on Facebook - The Doctor's Wives.

A commercial interpretation of the Na'vi

Does anyone remember my prediction that people were going to want Na'vi costumes? If you don't, may I refer you to Movie Monday: Avatar (posted on December 14, 2009). I expected the geeks to want them, but apparently, it has reached more people than I had imagined.

First, let us all know what a Na'vi looks like:

James Cameron's Avatar (2009)

And now on to the costumes. First, there was Ben Stiller at the 2010 Oscars:

Ben Stiller, 82nd Academy Awards

But today, I was hit by how much people want Na'vi costumes. I was at the Shopping Mall and I saw an add for the temporary Party Expert that opens there for Halloween. On the add, amongst many other costumes, I noticed these:

Na'vi Jake Adult Costume

Na'vi Jake Child Costume

Na'vi Neytiri Adult Costume

(Everyone knows a Female Na'vi wears pumps to run around the woods!)

Na'vi Neytiri Child Costume

Of course, if you don't already have long, black, braided hair, you can get a Na'vi wig!

Na'vi Neytiry wig

Na'vi Jake wig

And since most of us have round ears, the prepackaged costume industry has thought of us by offering latex ears:

Na'vi Latex Ears

Actually, those might make nice Blue Fairy ears. I might get a pair (they are less than 10$).

Ocean Hellman as Queen Titania, Voyage of the Unicorn (2001)

There is also a "Jake" version of the latex ears and a Na'vi make-up kit, if you are interested in making (or purchasing) that costume.

Apparently, if you are REALLY into the Na'vi, you can even learn their language!

But back to the commercial costume: personally, my first reaction was "You have got to be bloody joking!". But I guess the leotard could be used as a base for a much better costume. I'm not sure it's worth the price, but that really depends on your budget.

Just promise me something: if you make a female Na'vi costume, don't wear it with heels!

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Khâny the Vinéan

Everyone has a favourite of everything, right? Even comic books. My absolute favourite graphic novel is Yoko Tsuno by Roger Leloup. I read my first book (Les Titans, 1978) when I was eight (it also happens to be book #8 in the series) on my class's first trip to the school's library (I had just started at that school). Growing up a Trekkie, I love the space age science present in the story. I only own four of the books, but I have read most of them. One day I hope to complete my collection and have each and everyone of the albums on my book shelf.

A quick anecdote, after I had moved in with my Sweetheart, he saw my Yoko Tsuno books and ask if those were mine or his. Apparently, he had been a fan since he was a child too.

Khâny and Yoko Tsuno, Les Titans, Roger Leloup, 1978

Obviously, if I'm telling you all about this is because I would one day like to cosplay as one of the characters. As I don't look Japanese, have blond hair and look good with blue skin, I'm hoping to dress up as Khâny, the blue skinned woman from planet Vinéa. Although Vinean fashion always follows a certain style, the clothes worn by Vineans vary from one book to the next. The look I would like to go for is the one seen in La Forge de Vulcain (1973).

Yoko Tsuno, Khâny, Lhâna, Sylka and Poky, La Forge de Vulcain, p. 18, Roger Leloup, 1973.

For this costume, I will need:

• A white turtleneck - Check
• White leggings
• A Lavender sleeveless tunic with a white band down the center front and center back
• A violet belt with pockets
• Violet gloves
• Violet flat heeled boots with a white band down the front
• A violet padded headband (worn on the back of Khâny's head). I could skip this and have a funky hairdo with braids instead to be a generic Vinean.
• A Desintegrator: their weapon, which in the picture is the metallic box hanging from Lhâna and Sylka's belts. It has a scissor like attachment to it to direct the ray.
• A Universal Translator: an orange headband with earpieces and crescent shaped antenna.
• Snazaroo Face Paint in pale blue

Well, seeing as I only have one item on my list, this costume is not happening tomorrow. But maybe for a Comic-Con, I could get it ready. After all, it's not the most complicated pattern.

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Bajoran Vedek

While I'm watching Lost (2004), my Sweetheart is re-watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). Now I'm sure I mentioned this before, but I'm a Trekkie. I learn to speak English watching Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), and I remember that we were always allowed to go to bed later on nights when Star Trek was playing.

In Deep Space Nine, I really liked the presence of the Bajorans, as they are my favourite Star Trek Aliens. I liked the earring they all wear and got myself a few in that style when they were in fashion and the general philosophy.

Of course, I also have a favourite costume: the Vedeks.

Vedek Winn's costume, owned by Thot Pran a.k.a. Jim, Niner's Paradise

The Vedek's costume can vary, which will give me great freedom for creating my own. Generally, for female Vedeks, such as Vedek Winn, the attire includes a robe, some sort of draped "sash" (sometimes similar to a roman toga) and a hat shaped like the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Opera House

Now you can't make a Vedek's costume without using silk (how sad), so it will be a little pricey to make. For the robe itself, Dupioni or Shantung silk is the way to go. This I can find a local fabric store. For the draped "sash" and hat, I want to use silk brocade with a paisley motif. Once upon a time, I had found a really cool one in orange with lime green details, but I can no longer find it. So I started looking around and I found another nice one on eBay (I have not bought it yet); but this time, it's purple (why niot, I could go with a purple and brown colour theme).

Oriental Silk Brocade - Purple & Black Paisley, Anya's Collection

It is about 13.50$ per metre, plus shipping. This leads me to conclude that when I am ready to make that costume, I will order my Brocade fabric first, and then I'll mach it to Shantung I can find locally.

Ah! I love silk!

Lost: Dharma Initiative Worker

I admit it, I have gotten Lost. My parents lent me the first four seasons on DVD a while back, but I have just begun to watch them and now, I can't stop. I know the show has been around since 2004, but I didn't start watching it back then, and when I tried latter I was, well, lost. It's tough to follow if you haven't seen all the shows.

It doesn't start off with very many costuming possibilities, as the story is a contemporary one, but but right away, I liked Shannon's clothes.

Maggie Grace as Shannon Rutherford, Lost (2004)

Sure, at first Shannon is a spoiled brat and you just want to smack her back to reality, but she wears nice things. I love the outfit she wears in the pilot: a dusty pink satin jacket, a pink tank top with sequined neckline, a turquoise and gold oval pendant, a white pleated mini skirt and gold strappy sandals.

Maggie Grace as Shannon Rutherford,"Hearts and Minds", Lost (2004)

I also liked the turquoise sequined top she wears in a flashback in "Hearts and Minds" (Season 1, episode 13). I know, it's a shocker: I like something turquoise.

If you like that series and you want to make yourself Lost costume, I suggest you go with a Dharma Initiative jumpsuit.

Dharma Initiative Jumpsuit Ad, by Hot Meteor

It's quite basic really. First, you need a gray or beige jumpsuit, like a Mechanic's. It can have patch pockets or zipped welt pockets, it doesn't matter.

Ken Leung as Miles Straume, Jorge Garcia as Hugo 'Hurley' Reyes and Daniel Dae Kim as Jin Kwon, Lost (2004)

On the left breast pocket, you will want to have your name embroidered in black, bold, capital letters, as well as your position, in smaller letters and underneath your name. For Example: Roger - Workman or Gwenyver - Costumer (okay, I doubt there would be a need for a Costumer on the Island).

And last but not least, you will need a Dharma Initiative patch to go over your name.

Lost "Dharma Initiative" Patch from J. Kerezman Costumes

You can choose from a number of stations: the Staff, the Arrow, the Swan, the Flame, the Pearl, the Orchid, the Hydra, the Looking Glass, the Tempest and the Lamp Post.

Personally, I would choose the Orchid because I like plants and gardening, and I would love to travel in time. Which station would you like to be a worker of?