Hair attachments finished

I've finished making the hair attachments.
It took quite some time considering I had to do it in stages and wait for the glue to dry.

Hair attachments & the search for a top - Part 2

I've almost finished making the hair attachments. It's just a matter of waiting for the glue to dry after every stage of their creation.

Regarding the top. Well I found two potential items on eBay and bought them both rather cheaply (one had free p&p - whoo!)

That's pretty much it...
Going to be looking at the polyester & elastane leggings in New Look at the weekend. Hmm....

Oh yeah, regarding getting the red material on, I was told about a special type of paper at Sew Simple today (it's an Art & Craft store near where I live - biggest in Norfolk in-fact). You draw the pattern you want on the paper and cut it out, then you iron it on to the fabric to be transferred, then you cut around the fabric and then iron it on to the garment. Apparently it's all machine washable - it says that it's guaranteed to work on the little slip of information I was given about it.

I added a few more photos to the TinyPic album.

Hair attachments & the search for a top

I got the hoops from a little store in Norwich. They weren't earrings and were steel bracelets (I think). Everything was fine until I got home. Then I found they were all interlinked. Damn.
So, this morning my dad went into his shed, cut them off one another and soldered the ends back together. I've just added the black ribbon to them and they're in the process of drying (used fabric glue).

As for the leggings....well I've seen something a bit better if I can use them (shiny polyester and elastane leggings). However, they're £10 a pair - I'll be getting some regardless of what I do to them anyway.

Now the top. This is making me swear both mentally and aloud. I can't seem to find the right sort of thing anywhere. I've bought two tank/sport tops and a waistcoat and none of them are suitable for modification and nor do they even look right. Damn again. So, we're going into detective mode to try and sniff out the right top another way. Those things (at least similar things) must exist somewhere. It's just a matter of flushing them out from wherever they're hiding.

Oh! And the boots are perfect. ^_^'

Getting there with the preparations

I've purchased those boots (the 4 inch thicker heeled ones). I'm just waiting on them, another choker, the waistcoat and the silver hoop earrings to use for the hair pieces.

The other items I require are as in my previous entry.

I will soon be ready to begin work on it. If I can get some cheap thin paper I can at least start on the leggings. I will probably do the top afterwards because that will be the hardest part of the costume.

Process of the final gatherings

I've bought those hoops, but I don't know if I'll be getting that particular waistcoat (we'll see). I got a different waistcoat that looks like it might take the punishment I'll be giving it, but that has yet to turn up.

The choker turned up but it's too thin, so I've bought another one that's thicker. I'm desperately trying to get the boots I want still, but the seller won't let me buy them directly on eBay instead of bidding. I hate bidding on there! I'd rather just buy the item and be done with it rather than have to wait days and then battle it out at the end and end up losing it. All it takes is for someone to have slightly faster internet and to refresh the page and get the last bid in.

The last things I need to get really (providing the waistcoat is alright and I get the boots I want) are: red straps (perhaps watch straps? I don't know...still have to look around), corset suspender garters (though I'm not wearing a proper corset - making the top out of the waistcoat I still need the garters), hair clips to keep the hair pieces in place and the longer lengths of my own hair in position, and the ring to go on the back of the top.

It's a royal pain the backside, but it's got to be done.

Rethink

Ok, I don't think the 6 inch stilettos are going to be the way to go. However, I found something quite similar with a thicker heel. These.

If I can't get a hold of these ones I'll be looking for boots exactly like them. Those are 4 inch heels and they have the platform...so it's close enough and it'll mean I'll be able to walk in them much more easily and don't have an extremely high chance of breaking my ankles in them.

The gloves also came today, but I think they're a tad too short. They could do with being about 2-3 inches further up my arm as Rayne's are almost up to her shoulder. However, I can only do my best with what's available. I'm trying to get another waistcoat on eBay. The seller is just taking her time getting back to me *sigh.*

I'm also trying to get this waistcoat, and have been looking at these for the hoops that Rayne has in her hair on which black ribbon is attached (I have the ribbons).

Boots

I've been looking for the boots today, and I found them. They are on eBay at - Angie Black PU Knee High Platform Boots High Heels UK 7

Now, I've never walked in high heels before in my life...let alone 6 inch stilettos. I'm a bit worried about trying to walk in things like these because I really don't want to break either or both of my ankles. The likelihood is probably slim, but then I'm probably just been downright paranoid about this. A big part of me says "buy them! They're exactly what you want for the cosplay!" and the other part is saying "you retard, why are you even thinking about this?"

Ok, so I can take some smaller more comfortable shoes if my feet get tired (and considering I've had my feet operated on as I had bunions - if you don't know it's when the big toes are out of joint and the bone becomes inflamed and hurts like hell until you have them surgically corrected - they probably will need relief occasionally).

It's a case of ease and comfort as opposed to really looking the part for the cosplay. You never know, I might be pretty comfortable in them. I don't know until I try though. These guys have a 7 day policy to make payment, so if I selected a cheque as a payment option then I wouldn't have to send one (I'm guessing) if I sent them back within those 7 days.

I'm not able to buy just yet though - somewhat short of cash - but I'm thinking of just going for it as soon as I can transfer the money over and....give them a go.

Part 2 of Stage 1

Well the leggings turned up today, and last night I ordered a black choker from eBay. It's velvet, but I can only get as close as I possibly can (and I am determined to make it pretty damn perfect considering the materials and items available to me). One just needs to search thoroughly for these things, and I think that if you're going to cosplay you've got to do it as best you can and not completely half-arsed so that you don't look anything like the character you're trying to pull off.

I also bought a waistcoat that I HOPE will suffice for taking the punishment I'm going to be dealing to it. If not, that'll be the second time I've wasted money on a top that won't take it. *Sigh.*

Now I need to look for a suitable pair of boots (and some silver paint that I can add to the heels that will come off when scrubbed - need to look the part as I said above), and then there are the hoops for the hair pieces. I have the ribbon. I just need the hoops themselves and clips to hold the relevant bits of my own hair in place.

I just seriously hope me and my father can find a way of doing the contraption on the arms for the blades and the blades themselves (which will be made out of wood - no worries!)
I think a visit to places like B&Q and Wickes would help.

Materials

Ok, I already have most of the materials.
I'm waiting for the leggings and the gloves to turn up and also need to find the right kind of boots.

I went to the London MCM Expo in October this year, but found out too late to cosplay. So, I've got the cosplay bug now and have decided to do Agent BloodRayne for the next one in May. However, I am obsessed with getting the costume done as soon as possible to ensure I get it right.

My TinyPic account is here - Cosplay


I don't have many photos yet. The hair ones are experimental, as is the crap one of me wearing the leggings and the black waistcoat (I won't be wearing that waistcoat because it wasn't cheap and I'm not going to ruin it). I was just seeing what sort of thing I'd need to be wearing and/or how I would make a top look as I need it to.

I'll be updating as and when I have new pictures and progress to talk about.