Shopping Alert - Costumes in Fashion: Gladiator Sandals

We all know that Fashion Trends come back every 20 years, right? Fashion also gets its inspiration from further back in the past or from movies so sometimes, it's good to keep an eye open for Trends that can translate into the perfect costume accessory. This summer's Hot trend? Gladiator sandals. And they are on "end of season" sale right now, so if you're planing on making an Antiquity Themed costume in the next 20 years, grab a pair before they're gone!

My personal favorites are the following from Aldo Shoes:

Aldo Shoes: Neglia

They are PERFECT for this Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (2002) costume idea that I have AND their price is down from the original 125$ CAD to a mere 49.98$ CAD. If only I had some extra money lying around! (You would be surprised how little maternity benefits really pays.)

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?

Wednesday Weekly Wishlist: Queen Amidala's Senate Costume

I'm going to pull a fast one on you: today, according to what I said last Friday, I should be reminiscing about the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France since they start today, and I should talk about Anticipation tomorow, as that is when it begins. But I have never been to WorldCon, so there will be nothing to reminisce about tomorrow, and I always go to the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France on the Saturday, so I'm not missing anything right now. So what I'll do is use Wednesday Weekly Wishlist to tell you what I would wish to make / wear to an event such as WorldCon.

One of my dreams is to recreate Queen Amidala's Senate Costume, that is, the costume worn by Queen Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) when she goes in front of the Senate to ask them to lift the blockade on her planet.

Queen Amidala's Senate Costume, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

All the research and pictures one might need for such a costume can be found on Maggie's wonderful website, The Padawan's Guide (to Star Wars Costumes).

All that's left for me to decide is do I get brown wigs for the head piece or do I make a "Beach-Blond" version of the costume. I haven't made up my mind yet.

(Thinking out loud: "Maybe I could make the whole outfit it in watery colours and make the head piece blond, that would be truly original. Hmmm..")

Costumes in Fashion: Maison Martin Margiela

Ever notice how sometimes, designs you see on the Runaways seem to remind you of something you've seen in a movie or on TV? Here I was visiting New York Magazine's Fashion section (in the search for another current trend I've seen in a movie costume) when on the first page, which is currently showing some Fall 2009 Couture, this caught my eye (I love watery colours, so blues, greens and turquoises always get my attention):

Maison Martin Margiela Dress, Fall 2009

OK, so all I can hope is that this is not the beginning of a new trend of Christmas Garland Dresses. Now look at it and tell me if you see it too: the large, straight shoulders, the hanging in the back, the gathered waist... Doesn't it remind you of something, a classic costume, a blast from comedic television past?

Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman in "Went with the Wind", The Carol Burnett Show (Original Air Date November 13, 1976 - Season 10, Episode 8)

Do you see it now? It hit me as soon as I saw the Martin Margiela Dress that it very much seemed inspired by Bob Mackie's parody of the Gone With the Wind (1939) Green Velvet Drapery Dress.

Incidentally, in this year's Collectible Barbie collection, they have a Went with the Wind! The Carol Burnett Show Doll:

Went with the Wind! The Carol Burnett Show Barbie

For those of you who have never that sketch, you can view it all on YouTube, just follow the links:

• Carol Burnett Show- Went With the Wind, Part 1
• Carol Burnett Show- Went With the Wind, Part 2

Movie Monday: District 9

(Sorry I'm so late in posting today, I had a busy day and then, to go with the Movie Monday theme, I watched AFI's 10 top 10)

I like a plethora of movie genres, from fantasy to Sci Fi (except for Horror flicks, so don't count on me to talk about their costumes), and although I mostly like costumes that my Sweetheart would qualify as "Pretty Dresses", I know some costumers out there (including some of my friends in l'Alliance Impériale) like to make complicated Alien suits ant Sci Fi Police uniforms. From what I've seen of the trailer and the pictures, I expect to see some District 9 costumes in the months to come. And for those who would like to organize a movie premier event in costumes, hurry up, it comes out in less than two weeks (Friday, August 14, 2009 to be exact)!

This Just In: Otakuthon in the news

Le Devoir, a (French) Montréal newspaper, wrote an article about this week-end's Anime Convention, Otakuthon. If you care to read it, follow the link:

Complètement Manga

Photo of Sophie Latreille-Beaumont, Marie-Soleil Dubuc and Jessica Sauvageau, by Jacques Nadeau

P.S. Thank you Uiltmutez for bringing this to my attention.

Reminiscing: Montréal Highland Games 2006

It was back in 2006 that I last went to the Montréal Highland Games (in 2007 I was in Pennsic and in 2008, I was supposed to go but morning sickness kept me home until noon and by then, everyone was soaked and had left). It is not a costuming event per se, but my local SCA branch, the Barony of l'Île du Dragon Dormant, is often invited to go and setup a demonstration, so I had gone with them and I had sat on the ground to embroider, I had watched the fighters, I had tried to answer questions from curious onlookers and I had gotten a really bad sunburn because I had forgotten my sunscreen. Mostly it was an excuse to finish and wear my Scottish Lady's Outfit (OK, I know it really is a 15th century Black Irish Dress and a Léine* worn with a Scottish Arisaid**, but I didn't know better at the time and I was basing my outfit on Simplicity Pattern 3623, using McCall's 4091 for the Léine).

*Léine: Irish Shirt/Tunic
**Arisaid: Scottish Women's Cloak

Two Scottish Ladies: Mebh of Orkney (Nancy-Raven) and Mórag Filia Scayth (me)

Some of the Scottish musicians marching in to the field and passing our setup

Some of our fencers demonstrating their martial art

P.S.: My heart goes out to all the ones who went today and were drenched in the pouring rains. My Lord Conrad, please be mindful and take care of that Flu!