He Is My Master: Sawatari Mitsuki 02

Izumi's younger sister who was also hired by Yoshitaka to become one of his maids, Mitsuki is an industrious young girl who, with the help of Yoshitaka's media archive, makes her older sister a "Net Idol". Izumi's popularity and Mitsuki's hard work, eventually allows Izumi to pay off her debt. Mitsuki also gains popularity and has her own fan club from her school and other schools as well.

Cute cosplay! I really love her expression in this photo. It's a bit similar to Orihime's isn't it? Thanks to Lila2021 for sending this in!

Technorati tags: cosplay, cosplayer, holic, role, play, roleplay, costume, anime, manga, he, is, my, master, sawatari, mitsuki, izumi, young, sister, hire, yoshitaka, nakabayashi, maid, industrious, girl, media, archive, old, net, idol, popularity, hard, work, pay, debt, gain, fan, club, school, other, cute, expression, lila2021, コスプレ, コスプレイ, これが私の御主人様, 中林, 義貴, 沢渡, いずみ, みつき

MISS COLOMBIA UNIVERSE 2010 NEW PIC

MISS COLOMBIA UNIVERSE 2010 NEW PIC

Arisa Mizuhara Cosplay

Dejiko - DiGi Charat

Maga Oscura- Yu-Gi-Oh!

Belldandy- Oh! My Goddess

Edward Elric- Full Metal Alchemist

Inuyasha- Inuyasha

Shimako Toudou- Maria sama ga Miteru

Kagamine Len- Vocaloid2

Felicia- Darkstalkers

Pastel Ink- Moetan

Chii (pink)-Chobits

Name:水原ありさ Arisa Mizuhara

Nick:ありさ Arisa

Nationality:日本 japan

Occupation:銀行員 Banker

Birthday: 11.22

Height: 165cm

Favorite Color:赤／コバルトブルー Red／Cobalt blue

Favorite movie:ロードオブザリングシリーズ The Lord of the Rings

Band / artist favorite music:ラルクアンシエル／ユーロビート L'Arc〜en〜Ciel ／ EUROBEAT

Food and drink:コーヒー coffee

Hobby:コスプレ＾－＾ cosplay

Favorite anime series:銀魂／ａｘｉｓｐｏｗｅｒｓヘタリア gintama／Axis powers HETALIA

Favorite Manga:銀魂 gintama

How many costumes did you make?
約１００コスチュームです。 About 100 costumes.


Which is your favorite one? 
デジコ（デジキャラット） DEJIKO（Di Gi Charat.


How and how long are you in the world of cosplay?
約１０年です。 About 10 years.

What is your inspiration to make cosplay?
好きなキャラクターを見て魅力を感じたらコスプレをします!＾－＾ When I see a anime and I like the character I usually make cosplay.


What was your first cosplay and why? 
同人誌即売会で【デジコ】のコスプレをしている人がとてもキュートで!自分も【デジコ】の服を作ってみたくなりました。When I saw a cosplayer who was cosplaying [DEJIKO]in
the literary coterie magazine spot sale association, I wanted to tried it because it was very cute! So I want to make Dejiko cosplay.


Why do you make cosplay?
Because I like anime and make my own clothes.

When you make cosplay, do you really identify the character?
ほとんど自分の好きなキャラクターを優先してコスプレを実行しています。ただ、好きなキャラクターですが自分に似合わない場合は残念ですが諦めています。。＞＿＜
Well, almost all the time I make costume play about a my favorite characters. But I give up about those characters who don't suit me though.


Do You think it's necessary to act like the character when you are making a cosplay? キャラクターの特徴的な動きや表情を演技することは大事だと思います。なるべくキャラクターになりきって写真を撮るように気をつけています。
I think is important to feature movement and the expression of the character. It is important to look as the character in the photographies.


Have you ever participated in cosplay contests?
いいえ。コンテストとか競い合うのは苦手なので出たことはありません。 No. I haven't ever been in contests, because it's not good.

Have you ever won on cosplay contests?
いいえ。参加していないので。 No.I haven't ever participate.

When you make your costumes, do you need some help?
たまに母や友達に手伝ってもらう時があります。
My mother and some friends occasionally help me.

Where do you buy your wigs and other accessories?
Wigs 【zephyr（http://www.rakuten.co.jp/zephyr1/）】 wig【シペラス（http://cyperous.com/）】

What is your favorite fabric? 化繊系の布地が使いやすいです。It calls 【chemical fiber】 system, because it's easy to use.

What was your last costume? 冥土へ誘うものアイリ【クイーンズブレイド】

What is your definition of "cosplayer"? 
好きなキャラクターの服を作って楽しんでそれが嬉しければ幸せなことだと思います。
I think a cosplayer is someone who is happy what she or he is. Someone who enjoys making  herself/himself clothes about his/herfavorite characters.


What is your next project?
秋山澪（けいおん!）／平沢唯（けいおん!）初音ミク（ＶＯＣＡＬＯＩＤ）／イギリス（ブリタニアエンジェルver）（ヘタリア）.
Mio Akiyama【Keion!】／Yui Hirasawa【Keion!】/ Miku Hatune【VOCALOID】／UK（Britannia Angel version】 【HETALIA】

What advice would you give to all new cosplayers?
自分が楽しくコスプレをすることが一番大事です。私も皆さんもプロではないのですから心から楽しく活動できればそれで充分幸せだと思います。
The most important thing is to be happy when you are cosplaying. It doesn't matter if we fail because we are not professional. If you are happy, is enough.

How has your life changed now that you are considered the best cosplayer in the world?
今はコスプレは私にとってライフワークです。いろいろな作品に出会うことが出来た。又、色々な国の人と交流が持てるようになって本当に幸せです。
Costume Play is like a work for me now. Because of cosplay, I was able to meet great cosplays from different countries and that makes me really happy.


What would  you tell to your fans around the world?
私も世界中の皆さんのコスプレを見ていつもとても幸せに思っています。日本のアニメを愛してくれて本当に感謝しています。私もこれからも楽しく大好きなコスプレを楽しんでいきたいです。この度はありがとうございました。
I also see many cosplays of people around the world and that makes me very happy. I wish to express my gratitude for loving (Japan) anime. Thank you.



Thank you a lot dear Arisa, for give us your time in this interview.

Visita su Blog

          

 
               

Paul Smith modifications - a review

As the proud owner of one of Steve Ricks’ famous Tennant Coats, it was only a matter of time and money before I commissioned him again. This time though, it was the Matt Smith look I was working on.

A bit of background: when those pictures were published of that Southerndown beach shoot in July last year, a lot was made of the tweed and bow tie. However, for me, the two most striking elements of the costume were the boots (oh those elusive All Saints...) and the shirt; such a strange but stylish pattern, when combined with the bow tie and tweed gives a strangely modern but retro look at the same time. In fact, when I first snapped eyes on the shirt I thought ‘old-man’s shirt’ - kind of knackered, charity shop style. It wasn't until you venture up close and see that design that you realise there is more than meets the eye.

My good friends on Gallifrey Base went into costume over drive and we soon worked out the various brands: All Saints boots, Topman trousers, Harris Tweed jacket and... a Paul Smith shirt. Yes PS by Paul Smith to be precise, but I was surprised.

I checked out the John Anthony website and they were selling the burgundy shirt, but only had S, M and XXL. Now if I knew what I know now about the sizing, I would've snapped up the XXL there and then, however I decided that at £55, I wanted a good fit. So I noticed an alternate colour, navy blue and grabbed an XL and was disappointed to find it was very very snug. Now I don’t consider myself a particularly large chap, but I was making this thing bulge out in a not too attractive manner! So, in the wardrobe it went for a while.

When subsequent filming shots of Matt Smith were released from Croatia (I think), he was sporting that navy shirt (he had been in burgundy up until then). I was immediately fired up to get this shirt of mine wearable. Enter Steven Ricks.

So impressed was I by his customer service and top quality work, I asked him whether he could mod my blue shirt in the MS style - the factory shirts come with little blue sleeve straps to tie the rolled sleeves back. These are removed and stitched onto the edge of the cuff to create a distinctive finish. Also, the buttons are covered by fabric on the PS shirt but not on the Doctor’s.

Steve told me to send the shirt to him so he could examine the pattern so he could prepare a reproduction and while it was in his possession, he would perform the mods. Not only that, but he said that he could also provide me with more breathing space by letting it out at the back.

When the shirt returned to me a few weeks later, it was as you will see it on screen. Finished beautifully, the cuffs are brilliant now and the buttons are visible (on a button stand I believe - am not particularly well versed in tailoring parlance). But this is the clincher - it fits like an XL now. God knows what kind of sizing Paul Smith were using for the factory shirts - I nearly went for a Large, which is what I am in a Marks & Spencer type shirt. All this for a very reasonable price.

Steve Ricks: The man is versatile, thoughtful, very amiable and communicative and above all, his final product is so worth investing in. I can now wear this shirt day to day and not worry about breathing in the whole time. Money well spent.

All I need to do now is find those damn boots...

11 shirt - Paul Smith modifications pt4

I’ve now finished the three main modifications I needed to do no my Paul Smith PS shirt to make it into a Matt Smith shirt: Breast Pocket, Cuffs and Buttonstand.

There is, however, one more modification I am going to make, which may not be strictly screen-accurate – but it’s for my own personal comfort!

The Paul Smith PS shirt is very tailored, in that it is very fitted and quite tight around the middle, being intended for a considerably slimmer frame than most normal body sizes.
The shirt I bought was an XXL, which for me is ludicrous, as I normally wear a simple L. As a result, the sleeves are bordering on being too long and the collar is slightly too big for my neck, BUT the body of the shirt is tight around me.

Having studied the shirt carefully, I realize there is an easy way that I can make it fit better. The back of the shirt has a dart on either side, taking in around and inch each side (see above).

Notice how the shirt is quite taught around my tailor’s dummy.

Because the shirt isn’t lined, these darts are simply sewn and the fabric is not cut in any way, so I can carefully unpick them and press them flat.
There will be a little scarring where the stitching was, but this will be in the back and will hopefully get lost in the pattern of the fabric anyway.

Furthermore, the centre of the back has a double-pleat, as do most dress shirts. However, a conventional shirt has just the tops of these pleats sewn at the yolk-line, allowing the folds to drop out within a few inches. The Paul Smith PS shirt does this a little differently, with a line of stitching running the full length down the back to keep the pleat sharp to the hem. My plan is to unpick this as well and re-sew the hem opened out, giving a further inch and a half across the back.

This will give me a grand total of an extra 3.5 inches across the width of the back!

The fabric is very thin and delicate, so the un-picking has to be done with care. All goes well and after doing all I intended I find the back has become a lot more loose as required.

All I then need to do is re-hem the bottom where I have released the centre back pleat (see left).

So finally I have done all the modification I wanted to do and have a shirt ready to wear  – with comfort!

You can see in the picture (see right) how loose the back now is compared to the BEFORE picture at the top of this posting (shown again, below).

So at last I now have my fully modified shirt ready to wear!

below is the burgundy version for myself.

And here is the blue version for my friend.
Look out for his Review of his shirt in a future posting.

Hollywood History launches with lots of Star Trek stuff!

My first friend in props (I met him in the line for Christie's Star Trek auction) Dana Hammontree, and Wesley Cannon, the admin of a popular movie prop blog, have launched "Hollywood History", a prop company dedicated to bringing props, costumes & such to collectors at reasonable prices. Dana has been collecting props & costumes longer than almost anyone I know and is a good person to start a new company to serve collectors.

Hollywood History joins The Prop Store of London and Screen Used Props in the field of direct sale and consignment of props & costumes through fixed price sales. While both PSOL and Screen Used are good companies with solid reputations, the problem with these sites has often been outrageous prices and high mark ups.

I know personally I have seen items on Screen Used at prices I would never pay. One Star Trek costume I was interested in was a bit expensive, disappeared from their site, and reappeared at twice the price! Now, to be fair, Screen Used is mostly consignment and they list items at the price their customers want. So if their customers are have unreasonable expectations, then the listed price will be high. But Screen Used has a great site (though the search is not very good as there is no search box) and makes great custom display cases. Jeff and Desi are well respected in the community and do a good job.

Also, there has been a lot of information coming out about the mark-ups that some prop shops charge. 100% - 500% or even higher mark ups are the norm it seems. In fact, frustration with these mark-ups was one of the reasons that Hollywood History was started.

Hollywood History will have to deal with the consignment pricing issues, but they have a few large collectors consigning who are not happy with the crazy prices in the hobby. Going through the site, I found all the Star Trek props & costumes are at reasonable prices (I even bought something!). Dana has said they will make sure that consignors don't ask for unrealistic prices, as they know that reflects poorly on them.

Hollywood History has a ton of Star Trek pieces, so check out their site, and know that Dana and Wes will take great care of you!

Alec

11 shirt - Paul Smith modifications pt3

Today I tackled the buttonstand on the Paul Smith PS shirt, and found sometimes things are easy, and sometimes they are not!

The shirt Matt Smith wears, although it is a Paul Smith PS shirt, has visible buttons when it is worn (see right).
Studying the pictures, the buttonstand needs to be a full three columns of squiggles wide, lined up accurately on either edge (see right, inset). So I need to bear this in mind when I am reworking the fabric available.

The original shirt has a concealed buttonstand, making a very clean line (see left).

Sometimes these concealed stands are tacked halfway between the holes to help keep it in place, but thankfully this shirt does not have that, which should make things a little easier.

This is very simply created with a single line of stitch which basically forks the shirt front into two equal width fold: the lower has the buttonholes; the upper hides them from view.

The best way to show how the fabric is folded and sewn is in this diagram (see left).

I have a couple of shirts to do modifications on, one for myself and a couple for friends. Mine is a XXL shirt, and both of my friends’ ones are XL in size.

Before starting work I need to take a little time to look the shirts over and asses what to do and the current structure of the shirt.
To my surprise I noticed something curious, and a little annoying!

My XXL shirt has the buttonstand’s edge lining up with the edge of the column (just the way is needs to be) (see right), but both the XL sizes has it breaking a column in half (see far right).
This makes my work a little harder, since it means I cannot use the existing buttonholes for the XL size, and my approach for each will be very different.

Either-way, I need to unpick the existing placket to see what I have to work with. There is a single line of stitch which makes this, and I need to release the top and bottom so I can press it out flat (see left).

Now what I do depends on how the shirt was originally made.

Buttonstand for XL
Both the XL shirts I have have the pattern falling in exactly the same place, with the edge of the existing buttonstand cutting a column of squiggles in half. This renders the existing buttonholes useless to me.

I therefore have to cut them clean off, which I do as close to the holes as I can (see right).

I then press everything out flat and see where the column of squiggles line up with the front of the collar stand, as this will determine where I start from. I can then press the left edge of the new buttonstand and the width of it to three columns wide.

All I then need to do is pleat what is left to create an edge between the new buttonstand and the shirt front.

It was difficult to show this in photos, but I have done another diagram to show what I mean (see above). This is what I am aiming to achieve for both sizes of shirts.

I then had to re-sew the buttonholes through the new stand I had created (see right). I kept the discarded strip of original buttonholes and use this as a position guide.

For my own reference my settings on my buttonholer were:
 Length=halfway Bight=H Space=A.

The finished result came out pretty well (see left).


I am very pleased that the front edge of the buttonstand lines up perfectly with the collar stand.

The second XL shirt I had to do modifications to was the alternative blue version, which Matt Smith has been seen wearing in some of the later episodes, as well as the new series teaser trailer.

Buttonstand for XXL

The XXL shirt has the existing buttons in the right position, so this one is a little easier to do.

Again I unpick the existing buttonstand and open it out to reveal as much fabric as possible, which I then press out flat.

I then fold and press the edges of the new buttonstand to three columns of pattern, with the existing buttonholes in the centre.

It is then a relatively simple process to re-pleate the rest of the edge to create position the new buttonstand in the correct place, following the above diagram as closely as I can. This is stitched through all layers to the front (see right).

It does, however, finish with the edge just short of the collar stand (see left), but this isn’t visible when the shirt is buttoned up.

D.N.Angel: Hiwatari Satoshi

The police commander in charge of capturing Dark, Satoshi graduated from high school at the age of 8, and college at the age of 13. He enrolled in Daisuke’s middle school as he knew Diasuke was Dark’s alter ego. Although most people find him cold and distant, Daisuke insisted that they become friends.

This is Hagaren, the same cosplayer as X/1999’s Monou Fuma. When I first saw this on Deviant Art, I immediately fell in love with the photo, so I had to feature it here!

Important Announcement!

Please take note that Nanao's Cosplay Research may be closing down soon! New cosplays will be added on Cosplay Holic from now on. Thanks for everyone's support! Watch out for more cosplays here on Cosplay Holic!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, holic, research, anime, manga, game, cosplayer, costume, role, play, d.n.angel, hiwatari, satoshi, police, commander, dark, mousy, graduate, high, school, college, age, 8, 13, enroll, middle, daisuke, alter, ego, people, cold, distant, friend, hagaren, x/1999, manou, fuma, deviant, art, love, photo, feature, announcement, important

Miss Mauritius 2009/2010 - Dalysha Doorga

Miss Mauritius 2009/2010 - Dalysha Doorga

Lorac 78% OFF !!!

I just got a mini Lorac haul and it was only $35 since everything is 78% off =P

The sale is only going to last 38 more hours from now (and they have juicy couture on sale right now too for 65% OFF

here is the link >>> http://www.hautelook.com/invite/hbui34

xo

Vocaloid: Meiko

One of the first Vocaloids created by Crypton Future Media, Meiko’s voice is based on a Japanese female singer, Haigou Meiko, whose singing is suitable for any musical genre. The anime character added on the box of the DTM (Desktop Music) software had nothing to do with the singer’s image, but her appearance had an appeal to the mainstream audience, selling the software quite well.

Beautiful cosplay! I love how she did her make-up and nails in Meiko’s signature red color. I wonder if this cosplay is from one of her music videos? Thanks to Lilica for sending this!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, holic, research, anime, manga, game, cosplayer, costume, role, play, vocaloid, meiko, first, crypton, future, media, japanese, female, voice, singer, haigou, music, genre, character, box, dtm, desktop, image, appearance, appeal, mainstream, audience, sell, software, make-up, red, cards, dress, video, lilica

Richard Simmons of the Day!

Kuroshitsuji: Sebastian Michaelis 04

A demon and a butler, Sebastian Michaelis formed a contract with Ciel Phantomhive to abide by his master’s will in exchange for his soul. He is required to do whatever Ciel commands, including becoming his personal bodyguard. Sebastian bears a striking resemblance to Ciel’s late father, Lord Vincent Phantomhive.

Awesome cosplay! And that blurred hand… do you think that’s blood on his glove? Thanks to Bailiff for sending this in!

Technorati Tags: nanao, cosplay, holic, research, anime, manga, game, cosplayer, costume, role, play, kuroshitsuji, black, butler, sebastian, michaelis, demon, contract, ciel, phantomhive, abide, master, servant, will, exchange, soul, command, personal, bodyguard, resemblance, late, father, lord, vincent, blur, hand, blood, glove, bailiff

Know Your Venetian Masks

The following article was submitted by guest-poster Brenda Hineman. Enjoy! -D.

While we mostly tend to associate freakish masks with Halloween, Mardi Gras/Carnevale gives us another celebration that openly embraces masks and costumes. While some may find them freakish, others find them equally beautiful. Whatever your stance on Venetian masks, knowing the different types of masks can help increase your appreciation of them. Without further delay, here is a quick primer on the different types of Venetian Masks.

THE BAUTA
The Bauta mask is one of easiest Venetian masks to identify. Characterized by a pronounced chin and jawline, the Bauta may even come to a jutting point at the tip of the chin. Different masks have their own historical adornment, and the Bauta traditionally features generous amounts of gilding and gold-leaf work. Interestingly enough, the pronounced chin feature of the Bauta also serves a very practical purpose, allowing party-goers to eat and drink with the mask still on, as to maintain their disguise at all times.

THE VOLTO
The Volto mask is also known as the Larva mask, from the Latin "evil spirit" or "ghost". Appropriately, then, the traditional Volto mask is all white and usually worn with a black cloak and tri-corner hat. As a more form-fitting mask, Voltos were made of a light wax cloth to ensure more comfort and breathability than some other Venetian masks. Over time, the classic white Volto has been seen as a canvas for decoration, allowing for much more ornate versions than its original conception.

THE MORETTA

The Moretta is a mask traditionally worn by women who were visiting convents. The Moretta is also known as the "Servetta Muta" or "mute maid servant". This name comes from the fact that the mask was held in place by a button on the inside of the mask that the wearer would bite down on, thus preventing the ability to speak while wearing the mask. Although invented in France, it became very popular in Venice for its simple black appearance that accentuated female features. This is the least common of Venetian masks still worn today, as it promptly fell out of favor in the 1760s.

THE COLUMBINE

The Columbine is a half-mask that is held in place with either a baton held in the hand or a ribbon tied around the back of the head. Whereas other masks discussed so far have been full masks, the Columbine is a half mask. Traditional decoration of the Columbine includes gold or silver, jewels, and a wide array of different feathers. The Columbine is the most popular Venetian mask in contemporary society as it is very light, comfortable, and makes talking, eating, and drinking very easy.

THE MEDICO DELLA PESTE

The Medico Della Peste is translated into English as "The Plague Doctor". This unique name has origins that are just as macabre as the mask itself. Characterized by a long bird-like beak, the Medico Della Peste was originally worn as a full-mask, but many half-mask variations exist today. Unlike some other Venetian Masks that were designed with appearance as the primary focus, the Medico Della Peste has its roots with Charles de Lorme, a French doctor in the 16th century who fashioned this mask to wear in his extensive time spent treating plague victims. While other Venetian masks don't usually have an identifiable accessory, the Medico Della Peste is, once again, very different. Because its roots lie with doctors during the plague era, the Medico Della Peste is often accompanied by a cane or stick that was originally used for poking dead or near-dead bodies to avoid contact and reduce the spread of the disease. CONCLUSION.In time, the lines that define the styles of Venetian masks have blurred. It is common for the once-white Volto to be very ornate. Indeed, we may have all done a mask painting project in high school art classes that involved creating a variation of the Volto. Likewise, there seems no limitation to the variations of the Columbine. One thing that has not changed in hundreds of year, however, is the availability of Venetian masks everywhere from your local costume shop, to high-end collectible artisan masks designers. Find one you love and make a statement this Mardi Gras / Carnevale season.

Brenda Hineman is a costume aficionado who also writes about Halloween Costumes at StarCostumes.com.