"Magpie" - Original Design
| Finally finished the whole thing for London Expo, less like a ball design but more true to my original sketches! I had a really good plan for the weapons, but then laziness settled in on my week off before the convention and I ended up buying toy guns and weathering/decorating them :D Finally got some outdoor photos thanks to the amazing Nert, now I can considering her 'done'! -------- Completely inspired by Silver's lovely Jay dress I saw earlier in the year & from chatting with other people with similar ideas, I started with the theme of a Magpie for this year's Cosplay Ball dress. I really had no inspiration with the theme (Arabian Nights) so just went for something I found fun. (P.S I know my designs never end up looking like what the idea started as, but I thought it would be good to have some background as to why I ended up with what I did!) I thought I had done enough dresses to appease people over the last 2 balls, so wanted to make something more "me". I wanted to keep the outfit quite structured/tailored rather than flowy so I went with a tailcoat design & shorts - this was also to try and represent folded wings (the short side tails) and the long tail of a magpie. I see them as very smart birds in terms of looks and intelligence and tried adding a bit of a military theme with the epaulettes. Going with the "ZOMG I LIKE SHINY THINGS" mentality of a magpie, I wanted to add a lot of silver decorations and found objects. I ran out of time (ahaha, as always) but managed to get the main details on. I used bits of white throughout the outfit to try and match the colour scheme, but I ran out of time to add any blue highlights! I kidnapped Amy-Lou in the week before the ball and enslaved her to help with some hand sewing (to avoid me gluing!) and she was also lovely enough to make my head band ornament thing. (Mainly because I threw feathers and stuff at her and gave her my saddest face possible until she started making something for me :P) THANKS AMY-POOOO! This is by *far* the cheapest outfit I've ever made, as I found the black suede which as a lovely pattern on it for £1 a metre. All the cost was in the jewellery & wig! The suede was lovely to work with, and I'll be making some cushions out of the remnants :D ------------ |
25th May 2011
It starts!....Again....
For Expo I've decided to finish off my Magpie outfit, and complete her to the original design I drew which is a bit less ball-worthy. So far I have the gloves nearly finished, boots started and added a bit more bling. Main new addition is the headdress which I finally did yesterday, see pic! It's basically funky foam, feathers, gems and a decorative flower piece I found, all hot glued and attached to a headband. It's not rocket science, but felt good to be crafty again :)
wOw. The design is really nice. Definitely captures the essence of the Magpie ^__^
Pretty~! *_*
Wow, this looks really lovely!
This is lovely hun! Looks great :)
you look very nice ^^, well done on designing this
Wow, I really love your design, and the patterned fabric and the drape is Fabulous. You look beautifull.
Ooo... pretty... and SHINYTHINGS. <3 You must wear this again. Its really gorgeous! More original designs from you plz! <3
Beautiful design and you looked exceedingly pretty! *_*
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments! @Silver I hope to wear it again with the added bits, and I have an idea for a headdress/hat thing. I still thank you for being my inspiration for this one, with your lovely Jay costume! :)
Wow! I love this design. Love the fabrics you used as well.
I love this outfit! It has an Utena feel to it without being too obviously militaristic, and the draping is beautiful.
i like it you suit it well :)
I love the headress. So gorgeous. I can't wait to see it.
New headress looks lovely.
This design is amazing, I love it! Really awesome work!^^
lovely design!
This is absolutely gorgeous - fantastic work!
wow, this is just...wow. Beautifull made and crafted as was as an incredible design. I ust love everything about this costume.
Such an amazing design, with beautiful results! Great stuff! :P
Outstanding Detail :] i love Original Characters Very Well done :]
Nicely done, the detailing is gorgeous!
Gorgeous design =]
this is gorgeous, love your desgin and all the detail and fabrics you've used ^^
Love all of the detail that went into this cosplay, looks great!!
What a gorgeous design! :D