ok let's see...

rinoa

pros
-i get a proper shot with squall (seriously, if there's no squall i wouldn't even be considering this character)
-i get a shoot with squall (yes i'm so gonna corner squall)
-it's games related
-location kinda fitting for character

cons
-need to get my boots done
-my hair sucks
-my arms suck
-female character sucks
-too little clothes, i'm gonna be cold
-i run the risk of impossibly ugly photos with double chins and fat arms
-what if... there's no squall?!?!??!?!?!

kimimaro

pros
-male character, i like
-well, there's naruto games right
-lots of nice, thick make up. good, can hide face.

cons
-bonesword too furry
-i can't walk around in his shoes. hell.
-my wig hair sucks too his zigzag parting drives me nuts
-he doesn't wear much too, i'll get cold
-i need a binder, and i still haven't got one
-i run the risk that my costume might drop off (yes i repaired the zip.. but you know)

my conclusion is... i probably shouldn't even cosplay... looking at the cons. T_T ARGHHHHH somebody shoot me.

yasuaki

pros
-nice thick clothes
-yes, there's harutoki games. but it's SO NOT well known
-nice make up

cons
-i need an amulet
-should i change his furry ball?
-his hair is too troublesome to roll mans
-convention centre scenery don't exactly fit an onmyouji.

eh heh??? heh? heh?

brr... seriously i haven't a clue what i should go as. on one hand i'm so bloody tempted to take pictures with an expected-be-to-damn-drool-worthy-squall by being appropriately dressed, but on the other hand, i really don't want to do a girl cosplay. bahh.
oh and there's the whole indoor is cooling factor, which means i really should put on more layers (and not waste my yasuaki).

but anyway, whatever the case is i'll be fixing those costumes up and decide later on.

good thing i had leftover metal surfaces for my shoe buckle.



i even tested my new extensions. used brown marker to 'dye' the extra blond hair i cut from ryuuki's wig.



(and yes i always find i look better with half my face. oh well)

repainted pinwheel with added shades the previous weekend... blahs. looks more realistic... i hope.

i wanted to go for kurobara as rinoa (since it was my very first cosplay) so i tried to repair the costume a bit. doubt i'll go as that in the end though since my hair's really not up to it. sighhs. anyways i bought blue lining to stitch the seams.




altered the shape of the gloves a bit and stitched up the seams. (it was rectangualar... now it's like a cone-shaped to fit the variation in wrist to arm size)



fixed a bit of the skirt as well



was rectangular, then i thinned it at the waist a bit and added padding inside to thicken it at the waist. (found it difficult to fit in later on cos it became non stretchy lol)



and then i built my pinwheel weapon! using my huge birthday card piece and spray paint.



attached bands on the underside to loop around the arm



need to tarnish it a bit more though...

might as well recall the materials and amount i spent on other cosplays. starting with the oldest:

rinoa
blue lined cloth: $4 x 2 = $8
dark blue cloth: $4 x 1 = $4
metal studs: $4 (3 pieces)
boots: $25
necklace & rings: $10
blue lining: $0.90x3packet = $2.70
black zips: $1 (2pcs)
black and gold hairspray: $2
brown perm marker: $2.45
repair boots: $12

all are rough estimates since i can't remember clearly, but should be close enough.

total: $72.15

reflections/lessons learnt
hmmm my very first cosplay! wasn't that bad! if you can't paint the pattern, sew the pattern... what i did for the wings on the cloak. it's important to get the correct fabric, and not use things like jean skirt for her skirt (which is not jeans material). maybe i should get a weapon next. i didn't do her streaks... nor put any make up.