Toralei Stripe Cosplay: PHOTOGRAPHY

So.. What the heck is this blog?

Well, I'm an MA Fashion student currently swimming in work between my MRP research (basically a Humanities based Thesis) on Cosplay and Costume Fandom, classes, and working part-time. For one of my classes, I decided that for my final project I would follow one of my own Cosplay projects in its entirety, from conception to finish.

This meant choosing something brand new so I could reflect on my thought process in choosing this new project. And so my journey with Toralei Stripes began!

While at SDCC 2011 to research and interview Cosplayers for my graduate research I was lucky enough to find the Monster High booth and meet Garrett Sander, creator of MH at Mattel (and pick up my first con exclusive ever, Ghoulia x Deadfast!). I had thought Monster High was cool before that but the entire experience instilled a love for MH that I didn't have previously. So when this opportunity to follow my own Cosplay came along I thought about everything I might want to do and knew that a character from MH would be much fun! And Toralei is someone I haven't seen Cosplayed before ;) (plus I pretend I'm a cat all the time lol)

So.. If you've managed to find this blog, feel free to follow my work. It will probably be a fair bit of stream of consciousness stuff but once I start making things, I'm sure you will be able to appreciate the work I put into this project! And hopefully it will be interesting to watch the process and reflection of a Cosplayer and their work.

This is my main blog in case you'd like to know more about what I do: http://smashworks.blogspot.com/

TOTAL COST (in progress): $257.99

03/11/2011 - Go Jane - 47.00

07/11/2011 - Ardene - 14.74

07/11/2011 - H&M - 7.85

07/11/2011 - Forever XXI - 16.84

08/11/2011 - Super Smoke - 4.66

26/11/2011 - Walmart - 37.18

26/11/2011 - American Apparel - 26.89

28/11/2011 - R. Hiscott Beauty Supply - 14.63

29/11/2011 - Candy's Costume Store - 88.20

Supplies Already On Hand

-silver Sculpey (3.00)

-orange cotton broadcloth (10.00)

-gold, black, pink, red, white textile paint

-white acrylic spray paint (9.00)

-heat adhesive studs

-orange spandex

-flesh tone polar fleece

-f/x makeup

-random metal ring crimp thing

-hair clips

TOTAL HOURS: 97h56min

Research

02-03/11/2011 - (4h)

04/11/2011 - (4h)

06/11/2011 - (5h)

12/11/2011 - (2h)

24/11/2011 - (1h)

05/12/2011 - (4h15)

Shopping

07/11/2011 - (0h34min)

08/11/2011 - (1h)

26/11/2011 - (4h)

28/11/2011 - (0h30) - unsuccessful wig hunt

29/11/2011 - (0h30) - base wig success

Blogging/Photo Work

07/11/2011 - (5h)

08/11/2011 - (1h)

12-13/11/2011 - (2h)

13/11/2011 - (1h) - Kerchief post

24/11/2011 - (1h)

26/11/2011 - (0h20)

01/12/2011 - (1h30)

04/12/2011 - (10h40)

04-05/12/2011 - (7h34)

Construction

09/11/2011 - (1h) - Kerchief

10/11/2011 - (1h) - Kerchief

12/11/2011 - (1h) - Kerchief (stencil, screening)

27/11/2011 - (2h12) - Belt, Dress

28/11/2011 - (3h35) - Belt, Dress

29/11/2011 - (6h40) - Dress (screening)

30/11/2011 - (7h39) -

01/12/2011 - (1h50) - Buckle

02/12/2011 - (0h33) -

03/12/2011 - (12h14) - Ears, Sleeves/Gloves, Shoes, Wig, Dress Slit, Slashed Leggings

Cosplaying

03-04/12/2011 - (3h20)

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Becoming Toralei Cosplay - Performing Under a Gaze