COSPLAY - SAINT OR SIN?

I have a little confession to make...

Last year I attended a Cosplay event - Edinburgh's much anticipated Auchinawa Convention. The convention comes once a year and people travel from all over Britain to attend the event. Myself and my friend Naomi went to Auchinawa in 2010 and stayed for the whole weekend. 

It was the strangest weekend I think I have ever experienced in my entire life.

Lets get one thing straight, Conventions are not my thing. Neither is Cosplay. My friend Naomi begged me to go and I knew I would feel a little out of my comfort zone, I did not know anyone else who was going to the event other than another girl from my High School called Eilidh, I did not know how serious the Cosplay scene is and I didn't know if my costume would receive a good reception. Fortunately, everyone loved my costume. I chose to dress up as Sailor Venus - from the Sailor Moon series.

Apologies - this is the only suitable photograph I could find of myself. I was terribly camera-shy that weekend. So unlike me, but I felt very mediocre compared to the other Cosplayers.

The REAL Sailor Venus - my costume was close enough.

If any of you are Sailor Moon fans, you can see that my costume is not accurate. I'm missing a tiara, red hair bow and although you can't see it in the photograph, I was wearing incorrect shoes. This quickly became a problem to me as all the other Cosplayers took their costume VERY seriously. Most costumes had been tailor-made by a Cosplay costume designer or had even been made by the Cosplayer themselves. It's safe to say that as a Fashion student, I quickly became very ashamed at my lack of effort. I ordered my Sailor Venus costume on Ebay from Japan, cut the length of my dress very unevenly as the skirt was huge, quickly hemmed  it and then complained to the seller as half of the accessories did not fit me. As for the wig, I borrowed it from a friend who wore it for a Lady Gaga themed party.

Despite my Cosplay faux pas, my costume received a very positive reaction. My character was pretty old skool and really recognisable. I played it very safe compared to some of the others.

My confession is that I am a bit of an anime geek. 

I chose to be Sailor Venus as I grew up watching Sailor Moon, it was my all time favourite TV show as a kid and I loved speeding home after school to watch it. To this day the best gift I've ever received - even above my Vivienne Westwood bag, is my complete Sailor Moon DVD collection. I mentioned to my boyfriend in passing that I always longed for it and he bought it for me last Christmas. He went to so much trouble getting them as many that are sold online are the wrong region.  They cost a bomb too as they are so vintage. 

I collected the Sailor Moon books as a kid and foolishly threw them away later - WHYYY?? I had the first volume which is now being sold on Amazon for $89... I assume this is because the books are discontinued and therefore collectible items now.

I found watching Sailor Moon as a child so romantic - I was in love with the characters and I always thought that the Sailor Scout's costumes were beautiful. 

The original Sailor Scouts

One of my favourite Sailor Moon costumes - Princess Serenity dress.

As you cannot see my makeup at all in the photo I provided, I've decided to recreate the Sailor Venus makeup I applied that day. I followed Michelle Phan's Youtube tutorial and amped it up a little. 

What I used to get the look. Mac Studio Fix Fluid foundation, Urban Decay "blond" eyebrow kit, High Beam by Benefit, Barry M liquid eyeliner, Loreal siver eyeshadow, Mac lipstick in "Frosted Bombshell".

On the day I also wore HUGE fake eyelashes to look more anime-like. 

Although Cosplaying is not my thing - I wouldn't readily attend another Cosplay convention any time soon, I think it is a really fun hobby and not to be taken too seriously, although I know too well that it can be pretty competitive!

A perfect example of competitive Cosplaying can be seen with world famous Cosplayer Yaya Han.

Cosplaying Christie from the video game Dead Or Alive

Ada Wong - Resident Evil

My favourite costume of hers - peacock design costume

That weekend I met some lovely and very extrovert people. I think Cosplaying is an excellent way to channel your love for your favourite cartoon characters and putting  artistic flair into practicality. I'd love to be able to design and create my own Cosplay costumes!

WOULD ANY OF YOU COSPLAY? WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIME?? I also like Fruits Basket!

xoxo

P.S. Here is Michelle Phan's tutorial if you are interested...