Wizard World Austin Comic Con 2013

I've been putting off this post because this convention was unlike any other I've been to. Usually, I drive a few hours to a different city, stay in a hotel room crammed full of friends, and have cosplay plans with other people.

This con, however, was totally different. It was in Austin, so I didn't need a hotel room - score! - and I decided to go last minute. But at the same time, not many of my friends that are at the bigger Texas cons went to Austin Comic Con. I went alone to a convention for the first time.

Despite all of that and my fears that the convention would be lonely, I ended up meeting up with several friends, old and new. Not having plans and commitments was a relief and made the con a lot less stressful. This experience was different than my usual con experience, but still special in its own way.

The convention itself was a little different too. I usually go to anime conventions, so comic cons are different in a few ways. They tend to be more expensive, but have programming with industry guests instead of fan-run panels. The costuming is predominantly from comics or sci fi (though you wouldn't be able to tell from my photos!), which is interesting since anime cons seem to have a wider range of cosplay. 

I wore Fionna and Ramona - and for the first time, there weren't lots of these characters running around. Usually if I am dressed as a more popular character, I have fun taking photos with everyone else in the same costume, but not at this con! 

 

I also tried circle lenses for the first time with my costumes, and I absolutely LOVED it! These lenses change your eye color, but the main reason I wanted to use them was to make my eyes big and cartoony. With cosplay, I love exploring the border between fantasy and reality. Anything I can do to help me look more unreal is welcome. I feel like these lenses and the makeup I tried with them really made a difference in the overall effect of my costumes. I'm hoping to give a full review of the lenses I ordered soon, so stay tuned!

The highlight of the convention for me was meeting up with my friends from around the internet. I ran into Betty Felon, comic book fashion writer extraordinaire, who I've been following online for years and is among those who inspired me to start blogging. I also got to meet up with Mindy and a few others I've known online for a while. I realized recently that most of the friends I have I've met online before I met them in person, and I think that's awesome!

It was great to go to a con spontaneously and by myself. I'm definitely looking forward to the 2014 convention season and the new costumes I have planned!

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Cosplay: Hipster Fionna from Adventure Time

It's no secret that I love Adventure Time! I've cosplayed Fionna before, but I didn't like the way her outfit fell on me. The skirt felt really tight and short, the socks were uncomfortable and didn't stay up, and overall I just didn't feel my best. Even though I spent some time making the hat, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be cosplaying her again.

Then, a little idea crept in that I couldn't get enough of. I love crossover cosplays because it can take a common costume and give it a fun twist. Hipster crossovers crack me up, mostly because I love hipster style, and particularly with Adventure Time because some people dislike it because it's a "hipster cartoon." The word "hipster" is so nebulous and hard to define that it makes it silly reason to dislike something, so I thought a hipster-type costume would be especially fun.

Fionna from Adventure Time

Fionna is basically the cannonical genderbend version of Finn, and sadly has only been in two episodes so far! I love the genderbend episodes and Fionna struggles with being more into fighting than fashion and how to embrace who she is. 

Conventions

• Anime Fest 2013

Materials:

• Hat: Handmade with this pattern from felt
• Bows: Claire's and Forever 21
• Wig: Arda Wigs Ferrari 
• Glasses: Forever 21
• Shirt: Forever 21 (I'd link to it but there are seriously so many)
• Skirt: Forever 21
• Socks: AJ's Retro Thigh High Tube Socks - if you are looking for Fionna socks, these are by far the best. They aren't too tight at the top and stay up pretty well!
• Booties: Forever 21

It was really fun wearing Fionna at the convention, especially because I had Peony as Science!Princess Bubblegum and Liz as Hipster!LSP! We took some awesome photos and we definitely look like a rockin' girl gang. I was a lot more comfortable in this modified version of Fionna, partly because these new socks were much better and partly because this costume is way more my style.

I was inspired by a lot of fan art of Fionna, especially this piece and this piece. I wanted to maintain her same color scheme and her iconic hat and socks, but with a more stylish, detailed twist.  I love the idea that she would wear her hat, but open and with long, loose pigtails and with a ton of accessories. I also wore my "21 is Terrific" button that Peony got me since we wore this on our birthday! I added a Sharpie mustache to my finger and walked around with my giant DSLR camera around my neck, and I think it all turned out pretty dang cute. Plus, with costumes that are made of actual clothing pieces, I can always re-wear the pieces outside of cosplay.

For more cosplay, check my cosplay tag here or my cosplay page!

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Anime Fest 2013

  

Cat ears, fake eyelashes, hipster Fionna costume

I feel like I've mentioned this a lot, but Anime Fest is one of my favorite cons because it falls on Labor Day weekend, which means it's a 4-day con AND it usually lands on my birthday!

My birthday is also special because one of my very best friends has the same birthday! We were born in different years, but sharing your birthday with someone really makes it a lot more special. This year, we celebrated my 21st birthday. I'm not really a drinker so spending the day in cosplay with my close friends is more my scene. Plus, some of my friends got us presents, nice people that they are!

The first day, I wore this same outfit but with the addition of a pearl cat ear headband. I love this headband so much, even if it feels a little costumey. Cat-themed accessories are my favorite since I'm only a few steps away from being a crazy cat lady. 

Sailor Moon locket (gift!), 21st birthday pin, Ramona Flowers, CORGI!, vegan cupcakes from Capitol City Bakery

On Saturday, I dressed as Ramona Flowers (video game version) and walked around with the big hammer I made for Comic Con. I'm a little sad that the hammer got damaged since last con. I am planning on re-making it anyway, but I was hoping this hammer would last a little longer. I was also able to successfully put on fake eyelashes for Ramona this year! I try pretty much every time I wear cosplay or lolita but rarely have success. I love the extravagance they give a costume, it makes everything more cartoon-y and adds to the suspended disbelief of costuming.

Hipster Adventure Time, posing with my friend Camille, Totoro plushie

On Sunday (our birthday!), I wore a new costume -- Fionna from Adventure Time, Hipster-style! I had Liz as Hipster LSP and Peony as Science Princess Bubblegum, which made it even more fun. I have a full post on the costume coming up, so look forward to that and more photos!

The con felt really quiet this year since a lot of people were at Dragon Con or PAX, but I still enjoyed it. 4-day cons always feel so much roomier and lower stress!

With that, con season comes to a close. I don't have another convention scheduled until Ikkicon in December, which means plenty of time to focus on other things and work on more labor-intensive costumes.

What did you do for Labor Day weekend?

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