It's no secret that I love cosplay. Having and nursing babies has really cramped my style in attending my favorite convention for it, Dragon*Con, but not this year. And while it's likely far too ambitious on my part - especially since it's already July and I've barely gotten started - I'm planning at least two new costumes, possibly three. I'm positively slavish when it comes to accuracy, too, so my ambition is further compromised by the fact that two of the three really require some serious replication. Oh, well. Who am I if not stressing over fictions?
I fell for Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries pretty hard after my best friend recommended it to me, as would anyone with an interest in noir, beautiful period clothing, and/or boss ladies of many stripes. Coincidentally, my best friend practically is Miss Fisher in looks and (some) deeds, and as we're going to the con together, I thought, how much fun would it be to cosplay the lady detective and her modest but no-less-badass companion?
Dorothy, or Dot, or Dottie, Williams is a pretty fabulous character who gives me an excuse to wear a cloche. How could I say no? Nevertheless, I fear that her costume, needing the most from me in terms of sewing (read: making time to sew), may not happen. But she's so cute how can I not hope?
Because I'll be a panelist at Imaginarium this year and they have an annual literary costume ball, I figured I ought to finally live the dream of cosplaying Ms. Frizzle from one of my childhood favorites, The Magic School Bus. I found a dress that should be easy to work with in terms of making it look genuinely Frizz, and I have a crinoline from my brief stint as a female 10th Doctor that should give the skirt enough sass. I'll also have the opportunity to add to my already extensive collection of red wigs. Which is to say, I'll now have two.
Miss E also loves The Magic School Bus, so I should earn some pretty killer mama points come Halloween.
But the costume where my heart really lies is also the one I'm most likely to fret over perfection, which is Agent Peggy Carter, and specifically, her blue suit. I acquired something that may work on eBay, but the cut of the skirt is all wrong, and my brain is railing against wearing a pencil skirt when hers is obviously a-line.
Yes, these are the things that actually keep me from sleeping some nights. In addition to, you know, real problems.
But the color is perfect and I question my capacity to sew something so structured from scratch, so, we'll see how rusty my alteration skills are. I've avoided getting a hair cut to make her lovely tresses happen, so you know I'm committed.
Possibly institutionalized.