First up, entry number 1, the girls from Digi Charat. Digi herself looks really well done, and the girl actually got the gloves. I like the really oversize bell, that's a nice touch! The Petit Charat is just as cute and even got the cat ears right, rather than just getting a regular cat-ear headband. The Rabi En Rose is pretty good, though not quite with the flair of the other costumes, and the Pyocola Analogue III has a different color design than the picture I found, but that can be manga/anime version differences...all in all, very nice!

Entry 4 is Sailor Saturn and won the Best Young Fan prize from Anime Pavillion, good work! I'm not sure what kind of material that the outfit is made from, but it looks like some sort of white satiny material that looks nice, and is well made. The shiny, silvery puffs at the collar and choker do stand out well. I wonder what the blades are made from on the staff? Sometimes photos don't do costumes justice...*sighs*

Next on the list, Entrant 5, Harry Potter. Admittedly a pretty simple outfit, but all the little details seem to be nailed down, for the most part. The shirt looks professionally made, if it is I'm quite curious to know just where they got it. The cape looks good, and the glasses are spot-on. I don't see the scar very well, but it does look like there's something where it should be, just hard to see. Again, photos don't always do justice...

Entry 6, mislabeled as Ewoks but they're really Jawas and actually won the Best Young Fan award and and a prize for Most Whimsical from FAO Schwartz. I wonder what the routine was. Pretty good outfits, although I doubt Jawas normally wear Ray-Bans. Then again, that one's pretty pale, so maybe it's okay.

Bilbo and Samwise make up Entrant seven and do a pretty darn good job of it. I'm not sure where they got the source material past some celebrity photos and the trailer, but it seems pretty accurate, made out of the right outfit, and the characters look right. I just want to know how they got the hair on the feet like that, what did they use? And...I'm terribly sorry, but I want to quote "Alas, poor Gandalf. I knew him well, Bilbo." looking at it.

Next up is #9, Queen Amidala from the victory parade at the end of Phantom Menace. It...it's...a very pretty and well-done outfit, especially with the "feathery-lace" sleeve look. Technical quality is quite good, and the dress is very nice. The makeup is quite well applied, and I do like the outfit on technical merit. However...ma'am, it's a very good effort, but you really don't resemble the character...

Wai! Sakura-chan is entry nine! Quite well done, though the jacket doesn't have any of the insignia for the school, and the hair's a little dark...but it's still enormously cute and otherwise great. The staff is accurate, of course, and everything else hits the pose just right. And this is one of the very few Sakura costumes with the hat, nice touch adding that! And the costumer is so cheerful, just like Sakura.

Entry 11 is The Phantom in all his purple-spandexness, and is done pretty well. The mask is right, I can't see the guns but they look normal, and not big toy comic-y looking, and the costumer has the right build for the character. Good work.

Temptations from Farscape is number 12, and my! That outfit is really well done! The makeup seems to match the skin color of the character quite well, from what I've seen, and the hair as well. Plus, the costumer really does resemble the character, and I'm muchly impressed. Good work, and congratulations on the Best Presentation award.

Skipping a bit...Entry 24 is a...something that looks patched together really well from all kinds of costumes. The legs look like elephants, but the rest of it is just too much a mix of stuff to figure out. I like it very much, and it has a lot of character with that face! Really well done blending it all together. And might I add this outfit won a prize from Troma Films, for "Best Future Troma Monster"?

Entry 25, Team Rocket did a pretty good job actually. Mostly good matches on the hair, except for where the redhead on the right shows a little black hair on the side of her head. And the Meowth is really funny, I like that. I'm not a fan of Pokemon, but these characters - and the people cosplaying them - are really good. Much kudos, and the expressions for the characters really match!

Entry 26 is a character from Perfect Blue, whom I don't know anything about since I haven't actually seen Perfect Blue yet. But, from the pictures I've seen, it looks really nice, and seems to be a pretty good match for the outfit.

And entry 28 is the Power Clow Card..and..a box of Spam? Er...well anyways. The Spam looks about right, for a box of Spam, and the Power Card is quite good. The hair is just right, and the huge-balloon pants are perfect on. The frill around the waist is the right size...this one came out really good. What's funny is that I was just thinking that noone had done an outfit of one of the Clow Cards just this last Saturday.

Next up is Entry 36, Chocolate Misu and Devil Hunter Yohko. This looks like the OAV version of Chocolate, and is tastefully done with the flesh-colored tube-top. The wooden spoon I don't think is quite part of the outfit, but considering just who Chocolate Misu is...I think it works. Yohko's dress actually looks custom-made, with the gold trim and the fit on the shoulders. A bit of what looks like gold lamé for the bracers is a nice touch, though sadly she doesn't have the hair-loops of Yohko and the yin/yang pattern on the front of the dress looks a little rough in the closeup. Nice work otherwise, keep going!

Number 38, the Illumnated Nervous System, is a really amazing design. It looks like a simple bodysuit, made of some very shiny spandex, and wired up with what I'm guessing is a lot of fiber-optic cable. I really want to know how this costume was done, ma'am, if you see this please e-mail me! I want to find out all about this one! And much congratulations on winning Best Of Show with this...it looks worth it! Look at all the little wiring to this, this is amazing!

Chun-Li's Angels makes up entry 41, with Strider apparently as Charlie. Yes, it's definitely got the giggle factor, but the costumes are pretty well done...all the ribbons look right, good choice of materials, good construction, and the three girls really do match the character, especially the young lady in the red costume. Strider Hiryuu is done quite well, it's been quite some time since I played the game, but they did an excellent job, all.

And not competing in the competition was Vash the Stampede. Well done, the trenchcoat is right, even down to the loops down the sides and the central bib-shirt style fastening. It's not quite worn like the original is, and the hair's a little bit off...as an aside, if you're going to cosplay someone, and you do decide to dye your hair, wait till the last minute, so that you don't get much natural-hair growing in underneath it. The left arm is done well, with all the proper buckles and straps. Good boots too! Except for the hair, and sadly the lack of the sunglasses, this one's pretty okay.

And so ends the Comic Con 2001 showcase, look for Otakon soon! Arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san!

I had to interview him, and find out his latest creation - Blair is a master of creating costumes from old junk, he's probably most well known for the Giant Robo costume made from a weber barbecue and planters. Blair is also probably certifiably insane, but you must give him credit, he does do impressive work. There are six photos of the costume on the site:

Full body
Full body, a bit closer.
Chest/Head/Arm closeup
Rear body and upper legs
Rear, vent panels open
Rear closeup, vent panels open

And the mini-interview with Blair, earlier tonight:

Tomoyo: So tell me. Just what is is all made from?
Blair: Um let's see- the head, shoulders, and calves are all baseball helmets with holes drilles in them- the face is the same hobby mask that I used for Robo- the teeth are plastic sporks- the earlobes are "bubbletape" containers- The jaw is the edge of a gallon milk jug- most of the body panels are a variety of tupperware containers-the spine is built out of a multitude of flower shaped 'lazy susan' dishes- cut up and layered over each other-
Blair: The boots are motocross armor with pars added- the arms are the same as the mirage knights arms "I want an Easter Egg, I want an Easter Egg!" The thighs are twinned gomi buckets with plastic pith helmets riveted down to them- the croth piece was a dish shaped light fixture once
Tomoyo: Gomi buckets?
Blair: lots of random tubing and a spiffy pait job- waste baskets with some japanese flair
Tomoyo: Ah. Yes, I thought the arms looked like the ones from the Mirage Knights costume.
Tomoyo: How much did it all cost, do you think?
Blair: about $200.00 including paint
Tomoyo: That's not a typo? Just two hundred?
Blair: no it's not a typo.
Blair: Oh and the thruster plates are plastic beach shovels- the actual thrustes are cut out of an "abdominizer"
Tomoyo: I did see those, how exactly did they work?
Blair: I used a pull string and use zip ties for hinges
Tomoyo: Ahhh, okay.
Blair: I goofed though- I didn't paint silver under the thruster flaps
Tomoyo: Oops. I thought they looked a little odd.
Blair: well It's not like I can't fix it- wear it for AX with somne added LEDs and stuff-
Blair: As fgor cosstume- It took approx 5 hours backstage for Chris Dawson, Natalie, Tim, Chris, Dawn, and my freind Kenji to strap me into the costume- As for movement- i copuldn't sit down.
Tomoyo: But you could walk around ,and touch things, and use hands well right?
Blair: pretty much- also important feature- I could actually use the restroom in it - (number 1 at least) although I never actually had to.
Tomoyo: Always the most important.
Tomoyo: So how long did it take to actually make, how many months?
Blair: about 5
Tomoyo: So you were working on in...what, February? How many rough hours do you think it took?
Blair: hard to say- I bought the boots on a whim 2 years ago- thta took five minutes at the time- actuall time in the workshop- everyday for a month strait after work- 2- to 10 hours each time
Tomoyo: Now, as for the face of it, how did you accomplish that?
Blair: do the math- a pretty big chunk of man hours
Tomoyo: So, you'd figure maybe 150-200 actual hours of work?
Tomoyo: for actual construction?
Blair: I went to micheals- bought a mask face- plain white- you remember like for robo- cut it into segments and then layered them a little- used the heads from the de-eared bunny pieces to frame the eyes- shaved down plastic eggs for eyes - the mandible was the bottom corner of a milk jug with the chin from the 'face' glued back on and a pair of spoons to add jowles attached it all to a de-brimmed baseball helmet from the 99 store- the tubing is from a vacum hose
Tomoyo: de-eared bunny pieces?
Tomoyo: This sounds less like a costume and more like animal rights violations.
Blair: You remember the bunnyu head plastic things i used to do the fingers on Spaccorn? I thoughtfully bought a couple of extra packages- They came in handy
Tomoyo: Yes, I do. Now, the chest portions, the somewhat L-shaped parts...what were those?
Blair: another neat trick- Not having time to attatch all of the pieces to the basic body suit- we bought a fishnet suit and wore it over the black- Wanna make a fishnet shirt? Cut the crotch out of a pair of hose and stretch.- oh- those were parts from an oval segmented serving dish- I used the center of the same piece fro the stomach and the buttock pieces.
Tomoyo: Interesting. Would not have thought of that. I was going to ask, what kind of a bodysuit did you have underneath it all?
Blair: a spandex cat suit- legs and torso with stirupps over the shoulder and then a lond sleve T that i edited for space considerations- added a colar that kind of stuff.-
Tomoyo: *nods* alright. I noticed you didn't do anything like a collar around the neck and head, to cover the gaps in the plastic there. Will you for Anime Expo 2002?
Blair: I had a solid 'gorget' and let the hoses hand down from the head- all the gaps were supposed to be filled up with random tubing and wiring- just didn't have time to add them in- maby AX ooooor Hallowen-
Tomoyo: Now, as for the spine - what is it, and where did it come from?
Blair: ok the spine- picture a flowwer shapped serving tray- cut off all the petals and then turn them over so the all overlap the same way - now connect them -and voila! instant spine!
Tomoyo: Flower shaped serving tray, hmm...
Blair: Not sure yet but seriously leaning toward a LED Mirage for next years competiotion- Ayasumi nasai
Tomoyo: oyasumi!

Ragabash, yes, PVC is flammable at a certain point. You don't have to heat it much to shape it, though, just to the point where it becomes pliable. All plastics are like that, they will soften, then melt, then catch fire. Anytime you are working with a stove, or plastics, always be careful.

If you're going to make a scabbard by the method I mentioned before, then you need to heat up the PVC first - you need to soften up the plastic. Or else it'll shatter when you try to mold it to a flatter shape. And if it shatters, it's dangerous, because those pieces could fly everywhere. So heat it up, carefully and evenly, and wear good gloves when you work with it. Again, I'm sorry for forgetting this before!

Tip for the day - hair. Hair for some characters is very easy, it's colored like natural hair (blonde, brown, black, etc) and often isn't styled difficultly. For other anime characters...well, the sky is the limit. (quite so in the case of certain Tenchi Muyo characters) There are several ways to go around doing this - the first, and sometimes easiest, is to grow your own hair out, dye it, and spend the morning with lots of hair gel, trying to shape it right. Friends willing to help are a must at this, because they can look at reference pictures and see your hair from the same angle. Hopefully, they know a little about style.

Second off is actually constructing hair, usually from foam cut to shape. This can be done well, if the right material and paint is used. However, the rest of the character, if done superrealistic, will clash heavily with the more anime-looking hair. If you're going to do this to get the hair right (like a Washuu I saw once) then do your best to keep the hair from clashing with the outfit - find fabric that is a little brighter in color and really go for a direct representation, so that the hair doesn't draw too much attention.

Wigs often are a good option for a realistic look, though their high cost for good quality can often turn down most cosplayers - budgets can be tight, and you don't want to spend all your money on hair! However, if you're like my friend who cosplayed Allen Schezar, that might be a good thing - he got a marriage proposal because of how good the hair looked. Sadly, he had his wig on, and it wasn't all his true hair. Perhaps next time!

Cosplay pick of the week: 2 chibi-Sakuras and Meilin! Awwwww! How cute! They're adorable, and the outfits are really well made. The sleeves on Meilin's outfit are accurate, as is the rest of the costume. Front Sakura's costume is a bit harder to see, and is mostly correct, though the skirt in the original was solid, just very high-cut in front. The tights are easily understandable, this is a little girl after all! And the one in back is quite well done, and appears to have the key staff...and has wings even! Excellent work, mom and dad!

Tip: Swordmaking.
Need a sword, and on a tight budget? A PVC pipe, flattened out with a wood-block and hammer, makes a fine scabbard and hilt shape, then paint as needed. Get a pair of brass dresser drawer handles, and attach then about where the hilt would be. A little bit of sheet-brass that you can get from most hobby and craft stores (make sure it's thin enough to cut with scissors!) provides the flat portion of the hilt, and more can be wrapped around the PVC pipe for decoration and endcaps. Presto! Instant sword. Admittedly, you can't draw it, but it does look quite nice if you take your time.

Remember, when working with brass and scissors, or any tools, always please be careful with them! If you're not properly trained in their use, make sure you get someone to help you. And wear a pair of good, heavy duty leather gloves, they will go a long way to protecting your fingers and hands in case anything goes wrong. Safety first, because you don't want to be known as the Nine-Fingered Cosplayer, now do you?

I've noticed that paramilitary and army costumes have become popular lately, with some new video games being released, and the Gundam series becoming more popular here in the United States. Military surplus stores should be your first stop there - in most cases, the anime based their army uniforms off of modern-day or historical outfits, and you can usually find most or all of the parts you need. Boots for almost any costume can be found in these stores as well, solid hiking boots, army boots, all sorts are availible, and usually far cheaper than what you'd pay for a pair of Doc Martens or another brand name.

That's all for now, please visit again soon! Arigatou gozaimasu!

Very choice, and hence, pleasing to good taste; characterized by grace, propriety, and refinement, and the absence of every thing offensive; exciting admiration and approbation by symmetry, completeness, freedom from blemish, and the like; graceful; tasteful and highly attractive; as, elegant manners; elegant style of composition; an elegant speaker; an elegant structure.

Elegance also, I believe, involves no small element of resourcefulness and budgeting. After all, with enough money you can do almost anything - and some do. But part of the challenge is not to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on an outfit - it's the challenge of limiting your budget, and working to find a way within your means, and managing to make things look very good. Try thrift stores, 99 cent stores, and all kinds of options. Open your mind to different and unique solutions for an outfit. Vinyl upholstery material can often substitute for real leather, and is far less expensive. Line it with a matching-color broadcloth, and you have a good jacket. Think outside the lines.

A little bit of fudging, of course, is required - often times, the costumes are designed without much regard as to the actual feasibility of things in a three-dimensional world. It's often far easier to draw a completed design than it is to build up something from it. And not all the little details can be replicated, like for custom buttons. Patches can be difficult as well, for the military cosplayers, since embroidery machines are expensive. But take heart, and try to come up with a good solution. Accuracy is paramount, yes, however creative workarounds for difficult things will produce excellent results.

And remember - enjoy it! Have fun and do your best.

What is Fabric Fanart? Well, it's my cosplay review site. Since cosplay (costume play, or dressing up as favorite characters, anime specifically) could be considered a form of art, I decided to make a page for it. Art, you ask? Well, it may be a pre-existing design...but you do have to create the costume, in a three-dimensional medium, based on images you find. Just like anime character fanart - your're taking time and energy to create something for other people to admire artistically. So yes, then, cosplay IS an art form, just one that's lots more fun than drawing.

Some people don't care much and will throw together anything and claim it's a costume(waruuuui!). Others will go all out, and spend lots of time, effort, and money to do a really good job(sugoi yo!). Most will try to do their best, but are limited in money, time, or skill(ganbatte!). I'll post ideas, tips, suggestions, and also lots of reviews where I can find them.

I'll also have lots of links to cosplay sites, so let's start with the well-known Fan's View! Come back in a few days, once things are up.