DOGS Cosplay~

[Renge]

so, i have a question for you cosplay-savvy folk whom i love and adore (and that's all of you, by the way). i was planning to make Nill's first lolita outfit (black dress, white long-sleeved blouse, and black Alice bow). but upon reading further into the manga, i've seen another outfit i'd like to make: the new white lolita outfit in volume 5. i am weighing my options and i wondered what you guys thought and what your reactions might be (i.e. would you kill me for doing something).

Volume 0 outfit:
- more diverse
- could easily wear pieces at school
- don't like as much since it's black and that's not as practical for me, but i might alter the design slightly so i like it more
- already have shoes for it
- cheaper
- excuse to get a wig i want
- i'd want more petticoats for this

Volume 5 outfit:
- less easy to wear at school
- i like it more
- more expensive and time-consuming
- have shoes i could wear, and if not, flats would be inexpensive
- higher impact
- less recognizable/well-known (since only people who have read vol. 5 will have seen it)
- will have to get a different wig (but i could stand for being inaccurate just this once)
- i can use the petticoat i have without needing new ones

thanks for your opinions. <3

Attachments:

[Tamaki 1.0]

_{I'M A DISGRACE TO THE DOGS FANDOM. I ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK UP THE VOLUME 0 OUTFIT.} Anyhow! There are many ways of lolita-ing up the 0 outfit. I realize black's likely not your thing, so don't worry about recognizability~ If you're with us, you'll be immediately recognized. Why else would a lolita hang out with a ragtag group like ours?

You've got great points for both outfits here. Decide which ones are more important to you. Is it critical that you wear pieces to school? Are you going to regret getting a wig you don't like, or are you going to regret being inaccurate? I'd regret being inaccurate, especially in the long run. >_<
But you've said you're okay with this. <3

In the interests of playing wig doctor with Cosplay Daddy, I'd suggest Amphigory's Cleo for the Vol. 5 outfit, with a bit of trimming. What wig did you want an excuse for? xD

Normally when I plan out a cosplay, I count the wig as the most expensive portion. However, you're a little different, considering that you sew or modify many of your own things. Is it realistic to pair a wig with a more expensive outfit? Or will that clash with your other cosplay dreams for this year?

[Renge]

i like black, i just don't like that it gets gobs of white pet hair on it at my house. XD actually, Jacob said the same thing about being recognizable; that it's fine providing i'm with the group.

thank you for your thought-provoking questions. i simply like to be able to wear as much cosplay stuff as i can to school, since i have spent so much time and money on it and i don't like that to go to waste by only wearing it a few times a year, when i'm proud of it and i want to show it off. i'm only okay with getting an inaccurate wig if you all are okay with it. (i would regret it, too, in the faithfulness-to-the-design sense, but considering that i'd use this other one more it makes sense money-wise right now.) if you don't want me to do that, then i won't. i have no problem with getting a different wig for the sake of the group. that's really what that's about. X3

the Cleo is lovely, especially in terms of length. thank you! <3 i've been oggling the Dorothy. ~<3

usually my materials cost around the same amount as or less than my wigs, and those are like, the super-duper cheap cotton. this year i'm upping the ante, in a way. since i want to wear my Mello a lot, i want it to be durable, and i also want it to be accurate and get many of the details. his is by far my most expensive cosplay yet. (it also works in reverse; the more it costs, the more i feel i need to wear it in order to get my money's worth.) for Nill, it's similar: since her outfit is lolita, i want to do it properly, so neither cosplayers nor lolitas will scoff at me. XD i also was planning to incorporate her things into my own usual wardrobe, and with things i've made strictly with lolita in mind in the past, durability and quality have been a BIG issue (i.e. they start to fall apart in the wash after a few wears). those are really my only new cosplays so far this year, but i may do something new for Renge. my point is, i have no qualms with spending more money on the outfit; in fact, i want to. just that my wallet is crying. =_='

you know, i thought of another thing. i might have to worry more about a new petticoat for the Volume 0 outfit. i think the one i have is the right shape for the Volume 5 outfit. also, what color do you all suppose the flower is? i first got a lavender vibe, but it could very well be pink.

[Tamaki 1.0]

My only concern with the Dorothy is that it seems very set. It might look a little too perfect unless loosely combed through with a wide-toothed comb. To be honest, the Dorothy may be the perfect mix of Vols. 1 and 5 to be extra recognizable~~ <3

I think the Volume 5 outfit (which seems to be what all things are leaning toward) is reasonable to wear to school. I mean, it is shown from a high angle in the manga, but it seems to have full coverage I vote lavender on the rose, btw. It'll go nicely with Nill's hair color (#613).

[Renge]

i totally agree with you about combing. thanks for the tip!

i only mean that i get made fun of easily for this kind of thing at school. nothing in the rules says i can't wear it, but it's still sensitive territory for me. thanks for your opinion on the rose color, too. =)

i realized while watching Ep 4 that if i find that i have extra time on my hands. it looks as though it wouldn't be too hard to use the same blouse for both outfits. all i'd need to do is make the flower removable (like on a pin) and reinforce the cuffs of the sleeve so i can flip them up or down. i may have to make the lace under the flower removable, too.

[Tamaki 1.0]

Omfg, Nill. WING TUTORIAL.

[Renge]

that's the one i'm using! yay! XD

[Kyouya Ootori]

For the costume, I'd say make whichever one looks more fun to you ^^ I think the one from volume 5 is gorgeous. As for the wig, really, the only time I've seen Nil's hair that curly is that one picture, plus, the way it's styled is pulled back, which would be intensely hard to do with a wig that curly, as I doubt the pieces will easily separate without intense frizzing and tangling. But, like Leaf said, if you'd rather have a wig you can use frequently, go for Dorothy. It is really really lovely.

If it's a question of accuracy, definitely go for Cleo, as that's how Nil's hair is naturally, and that's the way its styled for the majority of the series, I believe, so if you ever make more Nil costumes, likely that the one you'd need.

Of course, you can always mix and match. Both are awesome awesome wigs, and if you'd rather have one you could use in more costumes, go for Dorothy, though it will be a higher maintenance wig. If you're wanting accuracy, do Cleo, though it would be a wig that's pretty exclusively for Nil. I don't mind you doing the hair inaccurately or changing the pattern to make an outfit you like better XD Cosplay is about lovely the product you make, so go for it :B As long as you've got blonde hair, a loli dress, and wings and you're hanging around a creepy white hair guy and an eyepatch guy, you'll be recognizable as Nil. ^^ And outside of our group, you'll just be a super adorable loli angel XD

[Renge]

thanks, Jenny! i agree with you about styling issues involving the bow. i'm glad you guys aren't too worried about not being recognizable.

i thought the volume 5 outfit would be more expensive and time consuming, but after thinking it over, i believe i jumped to conclusions because of the extra details that it has. i think that the volume 5 outfit is going to be cheaper, even with the venise lace and the rose. here's why: the volume 0 outfit is layered, which means more fabric; if i alter it, i'm adding a ruffle along the bottom, which means a lot more fabric; and the lace on the volume 5 outfit is not ruffled, which means less lace and lower cost/effort. also, there are some extra details in the sewing (pintucks) that i could fudge on because i really don't think they'd look good where they are placed in reality. not having to buy/make a new petticoat is a BIG plus because they are so expensive and hard to make. i will need one eventually, but i'd rather put it off for now. so i'm going to do volume 5.

i think i may end up going with the Cleo because it's cheaper. i'll still get my fair use out of it. XD

do tightly curled wigs like the Dorothy usually tangle on their own (i.e. in the packaging or if you don't separate the curls)? because i seem to have this trouble with straight wigs. just wondering about the lasting power of each of them.

[Tamaki 1.0]

Sept 12, 2009 2:43:13 GMT -5 Renge said:

i'm glad you guys aren't too worried about not being recognizable.

We're not worried about being recognizable. At all. *waves automatics wildly with both arms*

Sept 12, 2009 2:43:13 GMT -5 Renge said:

do tightly curled wigs like the Dorothy usually tangle on their own (i.e. in the packaging or if you don't separate the curls)? because i seem to have this trouble with straight wigs. just wondering about the lasting power of each of them.

I'm a little worried about this for my Dorian Red Gloria cosplay, as well. Each of the curled fibers is going to separate out as you move it, and as you wear it, and since those fibers aren't laying parallel (like they would be in a straight wig), there's a greater chance of snarl and fail. I think the main problem would be in the back when you wear it, as those fibers tend to rub together and invite birds to lay eggs make tangly messes.

Also, keep in mind when you detangle, you run the risk of straightening. Straightening curled fiber will lengthen it, and may make your lowest layers fall below the normal end length of the curled wig. Of course, you can always straighten the whole thing and try to recurl it at another point - but it's never going to be the tight factory curls again. >_<

[Tamaki 1.0]

Sept 12, 2009 1:29:48 GMT -5 Kyouya Ootori said:

Both are awesome awesome wigs, and if you'd rather have one you could use in more costumes, go for Dorothy, though it will be a higher maintenance wig. If you're wanting accuracy, do Cleo, though it would be a wig that's pretty exclusively for Nil.

In other news, you'll be getting a light enough color where if you wanted to dye or trim the Cleo some crazy color for another cosplay, you could.

[Benio Amakusa]

Ok guys! So I know it's a little late but I think I decided who I'll be! I'll go as Campanella Frühling, or the pin striped suit lady!


.........No one's taken that right? XD

[Haruhi]

Nope, I was trying to get Dani to cosplay her, but nope she's still free!

[Benio Amakusa]

Score!

[Haruhi]

*giggles* YAY I GET TO CALL YOU MOTHER! XD