Cosplay Crush: Gackto

I'm a fun person that doesn't like long walks on the beach. I rather be at convention walking the entire day cosplaying or taking pictures of cosplayers. My life is usually pretty busy and I haven't had a bored moment in years. There's always the next cosplay or the next YouTube video to make among other side projects I am usually doing. I'm also a huge foodie and I like to eat almost anything. I have been to Japan five times and will be going to Korea soon too. I guess if I had to sum up my life, it would include studying, work, eating, traveling, kpop, cosplay and YouTube videos. Oh... and hanging out with friends. Hanging out with cosplayers from different parts of the country and traveling around is really cool. That pretty much takes up all my time. 

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay?

Gackto:  I didn't really get into cosplay until a few years ago although I have been going to conventions for a long time. At first, I bought my cosplays. Then I made my cosplays. Now, I do both just because life has gotten really busy from making YouTube videos to traveling to conventions everywhere. The real reason I even started cosplaying was because all of my friends were doing it! I know, peer pressure. One of my earlier cosplays was L. It was really popular back then and I met a lot of people because of it. I love the experience and meeting people through cosplay so much that it's very much part of my life now. I am not sure what I would do if cosplay wasn't part of my life anymore.

TNG:  Do you make or buy your costumes?

Gackto:  Both. It depends on what part of the year and what other projects I'm working on. I try to make whatever I can because sometimes, you just can't buy the props or the outfits. It's way to complicated for anyone to make and sell. So then I have to make it. And it's pretty fun making things too. Some people like to categorize cosplayers and break down who buys and who makes, but I don't have time to make sure I fall into a specific category. Cosplayers are cosplayers in my mind.

TNG:  Any tips for people just staring out in cosplay?

Gackto:  Just cosplay whoever you want. I would suggest just buying a cosplay, actually. Then wear it and see how you like cosplaying. That way, it's a stress free experience! If someone is making their first cosplay, I think the best tip is learn and ask other cosplayers for answers if needed. When it comes to working with materials, it is always better to get some ideas about from others about their experiences. It will save time and money. Oh yeah, cosplaying with friends is also very fun!

TNG:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures.  Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code?

Gackto:  There's no certain protocols for me. As long as they ask for a picture, I'll let them take it. They can even request a certain pose as long as I don't look ridiculous or offensive.

TNG:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer?

Gackto:  Ebay. And Taobao. However, I think it's more convenient and more buyer protection on Ebay. And the plus side is Ebay is in English. Of course, there are plenty of cosplayers that also do commissions too! So technically, someone could get a commission, make another part of the cosplay and then buy some accessories off of Ebay. I know a lot of cosplayers do that. Some cosplayers are good are sewing. Some cosplayers are good at making props. So whatever they don't do well, they usually have it commissioned.

TNG:  Do you think about posing a head of time?

Gackto:  Of course! You need to know what angles and poses give you the best pictures. In addition, some characters have unique poses. It's good to also learn not to obstruct your face with your props or do anything that can make the picture look kind of weird.

*I had the pleasure of meeting Gackto at Vid Con this past year and he is the nicest guy!  I find it so much fun to meet new people at cons!  Check out his FB page, follow him on Twitter: @Gackstream and don't forget to keep and eye out for him at conventions!  Thank you Gackto!!*

Cosplay Crush: Aleu the Mermaid

I was lucky enough to not only meet Angi Viper at D23 this year, but Aleu the Mermaid.  She as hanging with Angi and completely embodied the character of Tiana.  Check out her amazing cosplays below!

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay?

Aleu:  I first got into cosplay around 2009. My first convention was Anime Expo, which I attended shortly after moving to Los Angeles. I cosplayed as Fire Nation Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender. It was such a thrill to make my own costume and have others admire my work, even though it was my first real cosplay endeavor. I fell in love with the convention scene and have been cosplaying ever since.   

TNG:  Do you make or buy your costumes?

Aleu:  Nowadays I like to make or ‘up-cycle’ my costumes. Up-cycling usually involves getting individual pieces of a costume from thrift stores (or my closet) and putting them together to make one full costume. If an elaborate costume is needed for a particular event or shoot, then I will usually have a friend make it. For example, my Princess Tiana dress was made by my very talented friend Morgan Gannes! I wanted it to be very detailed since I would be doing appearances for children and charity events.

TNG:  Any tips for people just staring out in cosplay?

Aleu:  The best advice I can give to anyone starting out in cosplay is BE CREATIVE. You don’t always need to buy expensive fabric and props to be a good cosplayer. The world is your toolbox! I made my Han Solo belt buckle out of a reflective cookie sheet, and most of my fabric comes from thrift stores. Be confident and be true to yourself. Cosplay is about fun and embodying your favorite character.

TNG:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures.  Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code?  

Aleu:  I don’t mind at ALL when people approach me for pictures. It is the most flattering thing in the world! I don’t think I’ve ever denied someone a cosplay picture of me before. I would have to be really busy or feeling really sick to turn that down. As long as the picture taker is being respectful and exhibiting common courtesy, I have no problem with it. 

TNG:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer?

Aleu:  If you are not a seamstress but would like an elaborately tailored costume, there are many sellers on Etsy and similar sites that can make a custom design to fit your measurements. You can also meet talented contacts at cosplay conventions. 

TNG:  Do you think about posing a head of time?

Aleu:  I never think about posing ahead of time. When I am in a certain costume, I automatically go into acting mode and become that character. If you’re cosplaying a Disney princess, your mind and body should tell you to be graceful and flowy in your poses. If you are cosplaying a superhero, your poses may be more bold and powerful. Each character has a back story. Cosplaying to me is not just playing dress-up. It’s acting how that character would act. Character accuracy makes cosplaying so much more fun in my opinion!

*Thank you to Aleu for answering our questions.  I am getting so many great tips from these amazing cosplayers.  I hope you all are too!  Make sure you check out Aleu over on Twitter and Instagram!*

Cosplay Crush: Geek Pinata

My name is Crystal and I'm a geeky chicana living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love games, comics, sci-fi, and more. I run a blog called Geek Pinata which focuses mostly on geek fashion and women in pop culture, but you'll see other things sprinkled in there from time to time. I also cosplay! :)

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay?

Crystal:  While in high school I was introduced to comics - the first one being Daredevil and of course I immediately grew fond of Elektra. Then I believe it was 1999 when I first went to San Diego Comic-Con (I'm old! Haha) and I loved it. I saw everyone having a blast and even dressed up in costume which I later learned was called 'cosplay.' So for SDCC in 2002 I finally decided to finally cosplay and went as Elektra.

TNG:  Do you make or buy your costumes?

Crystal:  A bit of both. When I dressed up as Elektra in 2002 I made that completely from scratch. I had never really sewn before but I made it happen! Recently I wanted to be Elektra again, but I knew 2002 version would not fit me since I was very thin when I was younger. I happened to run across an Elektra costume for sale by Constantine in Tokyo so I purchased it. As Poison Ivy the bodice, bottoms, boots, etc I purchased but then I altered them with a lot of hot glue and leaves. As Mario I already owned the dress and tank top, so I purchased the yellow buttons and sewed them on and bought the Mario hat from a Halloween store. Wonder Woman was a pre-made dress so I altered the bottom to be a hot pants instead. My latest cosplay as Catwoman from Arkham City was purchased. It was made by the talented people at Snakepit Studios. (note: they would have sent me a cowl too but it was only a few days before Stan Lee's Comikaze this year so I didn't  give them enough time to get me one).

TNG:  Any tips for people just staring out in cosplay?

Crystal:  I'd recommend that if anyone is just starting and getting a little lost, use Google and YouTube! They are a lot of tutorials out there on how to create costumes. If creating them from scratch or mostly from scratch is intimidating to you, start small or find vendors that will create a costume for you. Even if you purchased your costume you are still showcasing your love for the character so it still counts! :) Also don't be afraid if your costume doesn't perfect - just have fun with it!

TNG:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures.  Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code?  

Crystal:  I definitely prefer people to ask me for a photo. For the most part, people do ask and it's very much appreciated! It's just a matter of politeness. If I'm already posing and others stop to take a photo, that's ok too, just make sure the cosplayer is still posing.

TNG:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer?

Crystal:  I mentioned Snakepit Studios already, and Constantine in Tokyo sells her pre-used costumes at times. I often drool over stuff made by Peachykiki, Lena's Fashion, and hmwsgx creates some beautiful Mass Effect costumes that are available for commission. 

TNG:  Do you think about posing a head of time?

Crystal:  I do! I often think about the character, look up some reference material, and try to burn the poses into my brain. I often forget though because when I'm at a con I'm having so much fun.

Thank you to Crystal for answering our questions!  I so excited to finally catch up with her in real life at a con next year!!  You can follow Crystal on Twitter @geekpinata.  And of course check out her amazing blog Geek Pinata!

Cosplay Crush: Angi Viper

Angi and I had been Twitter friends but were able to become IRL friends at this year's D23.  I was so happy to meet her and see her amazing copslay in person.  Check out our interview with her below and find out how she makes these incredible looks come to life!

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay?

Angi:  I started cosplaying in high school.  I was heavily into anime/manga and Japanese culture and I regularly went to my local anime/fantasy/sci-fi convention where I saw people dressing up as their favorite characters and I was so inspired by the creativity and passion I saw.  Until then I’d thought you could only dress up on Halloween or at costume parties and it never occurred to me to make my own costumes for characters they didn’t have at Party City.  I went home after my first year and told my mom I wanted to start cosplaying.  She was so supportive and enthusiastic about it.  She helped me make my first costumes and we both thrived on the challenge of figuring out how each item was made.  I absolutely would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.

TNG:  Do you make or buy your costumes?

Angi:  I make all my costumes myself.  There are certain costume pieces that I’ll buy because they are out of my range of ability (like shoes) or are a pain in the butt to make (like gloves – assuming I can find ones that match) and some base items (like wigs), but I make alterations and style those items to work with the rest of the costume so it’s very rare that you’ll see me wear an off-the-shelf item on the con floor.

TNG:  Any tips for people just starting out in cosplay?

Angi:  Just do it – though I do recommend picking a character you really love because if you aren’t happy with what you’re wearing, it will affect your experience.  There’s really no way to describe the atmosphere of a convention and the thrill of cosplaying.  I’ve met some of my best friends in the whole world through cosplay and connected with many of my industry idols by going to conventions.  I wouldn’t trade this hobby for anything and I’ve barely met anyone who wasn’t encouraging and supportive.  There are always going to be people who try to tear you down for doing what makes you happy, but the beauty of this community is that the people in it want to build you up so the haters are few and far between and for every one person who tries to be mean to you, there are ten others who will fearlessly stand beside you.  My advice for new cosplayers stands for anything: don’t let (the possibility of) someone being mean stop you from doing what makes you happy.

TNG:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures.  Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code?  

Angi:  You have to go into cosplay knowing you’re going to have people ask you for photos.  Sometimes they’ll be polite, other times they won’t.  You can’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.  If someone asks you to do a pose you aren’t comfortable with, you can say no.  If a photographer tries to take you somewhere you don’t feel safe, you can turn down the shoot.  If someone grabs your ass, you can pull away and/or say something.  Most importantly, if you aren’t feeling up to taking a photo, you don’t have to.  I don’t think there’s any specific “cosplay” code because it’s the same code that should apply to everything.  It’s all about being courteous and respectful.  Cosplayers are people too.  We get offended by lewd, rude or inconsiderate comments or inappropriate touching, we get tired after a long day walking in heels, we have bad days and sometimes we’re reconnecting with friends we haven’t seen in a while and we just want to talk to them for a minute.  Photographers should also be considerate of other photographers.  If a cosplayer is in the middle of a photo shoot, it’s rude to interrupt and ask them for a shot.  If you’re in a crowd taking photos of a cosplayer, try to be considerate of the photographers around you and don’t ruin other people’s shot.  It’s all about being considerate.  These are the same rules/codes people follow every day, so why should a convention be any different?

TNG:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer?

Angi:  When I started, I got a lot of my costume pieces from thrift stores.  I would find something that almost worked and then alter it (sometimes even just with safety pins or liquid seam/glue) to fit my body and the costume better.  There are a ton of vendors online where you can buy ready-made costumes or costume pieces for popular characters that are ready to wear, though you may want to alter them to fit better.  There are also many cosplayers (like myself) who take commissions to supplement their income and they will make them to fit your exact measurements and specifications.  There are also tutorials and classes out there to help you improve your own skills if that’s the direction you want to go.

TNG:  Do you think about posing ahead of time?

Angi:  Yes and no.  It depends on the character how extensively I think about posing before a con or shoot – some characters are very natural for me, where others require a little more work to get the character down, but for the most part it’s more rehearsing a character for me than practicing posing.  I try to really bring the character I’m portraying to life so “thinking about posing” for me is much less holding my head or body in different positions and more playing pretend in my bathroom mirror.  I’ll recite lines from the character’s movie or series or I’ll come up with little sketches for them.  I’ll practice my evil laugh.  I’ll scream and yell and snarl and cry and sing and contort myself to get the emotions and personality of the character down.  For me, cosplay is as much about the play as it is about the costume.  My favorite part is getting to really become/embody a character I’ve aspired to be for a few hours and I keep that in mind with every costume and every shoot.

*HUGE thank you to Angi for answering our questions.  She has some amazing skills that I would love to learn myself...wish we lived closer!!  Check out her Facebook page for more amazing cosplay and follow her on Twitter @AngiViper.

2014 Blog Wrap Up!

With 2014 almost behind us and I thought it wise to look back on the year.  I feel like I have come so far in just two years writing for this blog.  In 2014 I felt my place in life has shown itself, and I could not be happier with what the future holds!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*My favorite posts of 2014!*

1.  Favorite Post of 2014:  An American Angliophile Tries to Brew a Proper Cuppa.  I had such a fun time with this post and I hope you have a fun time reading it!  CHEERS!

2.  Favorite Everyday Cosplay of 2014:  Shawn Spencer and His Pineapple.  This has to be my favorite of the year because, I FINALLY got The Hunny to join me in a cosplay!  Bonus that it was during my favorite time of the year SDCC!

3.  Favorite Nerd Craft of 2014:  Sherlock Holmes Day at the SD Library  My very first solo outing as a blogger!  It was exciting, stressful and nerve racking but I made it through and everyone seemed to have a great time!

4.  Favorite Music Monday of 2014:  Bad Veins.  I had such a fun time hanging out behind the scenes with this awesome band.  I cannot wait to see and rock out to them again next year!

5.  Favorite Five Fandom of 2014:  Gateway Fandoms That Made Me Who I Am Today.  I am so happy that Super Space Chick and I were able to create this weekly link up together.  I have so much fun writing and reading them each week.  It gives me something to look forward to.  Thank you to everyone for participating and see you in the coming year!

6.  Favorite Day at SDCC 2014:  I just went back through them all and I truly cannot pick!  Everyday I met amazing friends, celebrities and had cosplays I loved.  I cannot pick one!  Read ALL of our SDCC 2014 adventures HERE.

7.  Favorite Other Con of 2014:  Comikaze 2014.  I was able to see my first John Barrowman panel, hang out with nerd friends and even cosplay with one of them, Brooke.  Great con all around!

8.  Favorite Concert of 2014:  A Silent Film.  My very first solo trip to a place I had never been to meet people I've never met in real life couldn't have turned out better.  I had the time of my life!

9.  I Heart Instagram Tag - Instagram holds my photography heart.  I've been a photographer since birth and I am so happy to share and express myself through this app.

10.  Favorite Book:  Meant To Be.  Falling in love in London.  Yes please!

*Blog Posts You Viewed Most*

1.  Nerd HQ Tips and Tricks

2.  London Travel Tips from Being Geek Chic

3.  Introducing 5 Fandom Friday

4. The Best Photo Op You Will Ever Do

5. Everyday Cosplay If My Blog Was An Outfit

6.  7 Lucky Tips for SDCC Badge Sales

7.  Everyday Cosplay - John Bender 

8.  Confessions of a Blogger

9.  Matt Smith Photo Op

10.  Everyday Cosplay - 12th Doctor

*Top Referring Sites*

1.  Google

2.  Twitter

3. Facebook

4.  Bloglovin'

5. Pinterest

*Top Keywords*

1.  www.thenerdygirlie.com

2.  thenerdygirlie

3.  alexandria the red

4.  imagine dragons

5.  the nerdy girlie

6.  tardis

7.  comic con parking

8.  everyday cosplay

9.  nerdy girlie

I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE to reads/shares/comments on my blog.  You made my 2014 unforgettable!!!  I hope that I can continue to write what you want to read.  This blog is such a passion project of mine.  I cannot thank you all enough for all your support and kind words.  I hope to see you all at a con in 2015!!!

What is Everyday Cosplay & My 3 Favorite Places To Shop For It

👉 Grab my Comic-Con checklist here

Everyday Cosplay {ev-ree-dey kos-pley}

Cosplay is the art of costume play. Portraying your favorite fictional characters in the way you dress. Add an Everyday in front and you have something you can incorporate into your daily life.

Everyday 11th Doctor

Everyday Cosplay has been featured on the blog since the beginning and I LOVE it. Every time I create a new outfit, I cannot wait to share with you all! I'm horrible at keeping a secret!

IGGPPC Summer Camp: Everyday Cosplay Panel

The Internet can be a funny place!  When beginning my blogging journey I found a LOT of awesome geek girls on Twitter.  One of them is Leslie from the International Geek Girls Pen Pal Club.  After following her on various social media platforms, I recognized a picture of her adorable niece as a baby I had seen before!  Come to find out one of The Hunny's college buddies was the babies father!  The world can be a small place some time!

Meeting Leslie IRL for the 1st time at The Geekie Awards

{L to R: Arielle, Leslie, Me, Anne}

Flash forward to now and Leslie has asked me to join her and some other awesome nerds in an Everyday Cosplay Panel for IGGPPC's Online Summer Camp!  ALL the details are below, I hope you can all join us on THURSDAY August 21st!

THURSDAY August 21st 6PM CST – Everyday Cosplay Panel (Webinar)
Presented by Leslie Hunsinger, ft. Leo Camacho, Megan Gotch, and Joanna Volavka
Are you way into cosplay? Do you wish you could cosplay everyday, but don’t want to scare your family or get fired? A new movement in the world of fandom involves designing outfits inspired by our favorite comic book, movie, and pop culture icons. Join Leslie Hunsinger, aka Stewie, as she talks to a few of your favorite everyday cosplayers. We’ll cover such exciting topics and Disneybounding, inspired geeky ensembles, how to design an everyday cosplay, why cosplay is an important form of expression, and so much more!

Cosplay Crush: Matt Holden

I’ve always been rubbish at talking about myself!

I’m Matt, I’m 31 and I’m from Ipswich in the UK. The best way to sum me up is the bio from my page: Tennant lookalike, blogger, costumer, event reviewer, voice actor, podcast presenter, twitter addict, geek!

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay?

Matt:  It’s a three part story for me. It all started, as with most good stories, with a girl in a pub.  It was a Saturday night back in 2007 and I was in London visiting some of my friends. Towards the end of the evening while sat in the pub chatting I was surprised to have a random, slightly drunk (and from memory not unattractive) girl stumble over to me and proclaim “Did you know you look like David Tennant?!?”

I think my reply was ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me’. After that I didn’t give it another thought as she’d had a few.........

Skip forward a few months to August and it happened again. This time it was at home, my housemate of the time had friends round, I’d come home wearing a (pin stripe) suit and the same comment was made....Ok I thought to myself, perhaps there is something to this.

Around March 2008 I got myself a 10th Doctor suit and coat, by this point I’d also got a new housemate who, as it happened, worked for BBC Radio Suffolk. As part of the 2008 Suffolk Show they were going to broadcast live from the show, have a Doctor Who display in the tent and suggested that I should go along in my Tennant gear as it would be good fun. The reaction was crazy! I’ve never been photographed so much in my entire life!

Following on from that, I attended my first convention in 2009, at this point I had no clue that there was such a thing as cosplay so I went along in jeans with a shirt and jacket. People kept commenting on how I looked and I had my first exposure to convention costuming, so for the second day of the event I took the 10 outfit. The rest as they say is history…

The Nerdy Girlie:  Do you make or buy your costumes?

Matt:  Most of my outfits are purchased, simply because the characters I portray usually wear modern day clothes. My main costume is the 10^th Doctor and as such buying the component parts was far more practical than trying to make a suit.

I have made parts for costumes before; the best example of this was the Neural Probe for my Sao Til outfit (if you’re not familiar with Sao Til have a look at this link www.tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Sao_Til).

One day I do plan on making a costume from scratch but I’d need to find the right character first.

The Nerdy Girlie:  Any tips for people just starting out in cosplay?

Matt:  Pick a character that you like. The more you enjoy the character you are being, the more fun the experience will be.

My main costumes are The Doctor (Doctor Who), Scarecrow/Dr Jonathan Crane (Batman) and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing). The characters have almost become aspects of my own personality so that when I’m wearing them they just feel like an extension of me.

This brings me onto my next tip, make sure you feel comfortable; if you’re going to wear an outfit you should enjoy wearing it.

The Nerdy Girlie:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures? Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code? 

Matt:  I don’t mind being approached. It was a strange experience at first, why would anyone want my picture?!?, but now I’m used to it. 

As for photo protocol, the best plan is always to ask and never assume. The other key thing is to always respect the person that you are asking for a picture. They may be dressed as your favorite character but they are still a person and should be treated as such. I.e. don’t jump on them, grope them, etc., etc.

There have been a large number of articles recently about inappropriate behavior towards cosplayers, my view is to follow the teachings of Bill and Ted, simply ‘Be excellent to each other’.

The Nerdy Girlie:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer?

Matt:  Ebay and Etsy are the big two. If I need anything I just Google it, 99% of the time it’ll be on one of those two sites.

If you need specific items there are a number of cosplay companies that will make items to order. 

Social media (Facebook and Tumblr especially) is a great place to find information. If you’re looking for a cosplay item then ask the cosplay community! If you’re doing an outfit then the chances are other people will either be working on similar outfits or will have done it in the past.

The Nerdy Girlie:  Do you think about posing a head of time?

Matt:  I never really think about posing, I just do it. There are a number of candid pictures of me where I’m posing without even realizing that I’m doing so!

I think, because I only do a small selection of characters, it just becomes a natural thing when the outfit is on. A number of people have said that I’m a completely different person when I’m dressed as the Doctor compare to when I’m just dressed as me.

*Thank you Matt for taking the time to answer our questions!  He is an amazing cosplayer and I just love getting to hear other nerd's backstorys, how and why they love what they love!  Hoping one day he can get out to San Diego Comic Con!!  

You can follow Matt on Twitter:

@mh10thdoc 

LIKE him on Facebook

Check out his blog:  Travels of a Timelord

& his podcast:  Travels in Fandom

He is a busy fellow!

Cosplay Crush: Alexandria the Red

My name is Alexandria the Red. I’m 21 years old and hail from Southern California. Im a nursing student as well as a cosplaying geek.

The Nerdy Girlie:  How did you get into cosplay? 

Alexandria:  In 2011, I went to the Harry Potter premiere as Bellatrix Lestrange. A few other cosplayers asked me if I went to conventions. My immediate reply was, “THERE’S CONVENTIONS FOR THIS?!!”. I did a bit of research and decided to attend Wondercon 2012 as Black Widow.

 

TNG:  Do you make or buy your costumes? 

Alexandria:  I make almost all of my costumes. The only 2 that I didn’t make myself of heavily alter are Amber Sweet (made by Castle Corsetry) and Slave Leia (by Jamin Fite). I usually buy costume pieces if I can’t make the item myself.

TNG:  Any tips for people just staring out in cosplay? 

Alexandria:  Just have fun! Don’t feel pressure to cosplay a character just because he or she is popular. Do it for yourself. Also JoAnns offers sewing classes. You never know, you could be a natural. I learned to sew at a local community college for $30.

TNG:  How do you feel about people approaching you for pictures?  Is there a certain protocol/cosplay code?  

Alexandria:  I feel that most people do a great job at asking to take photos. My only advice is to have your camera ready. Some cameras take a really long time to turn on /operate. Sometimes I also encounter people who are shy to ask me for photos and “don’t want to bother me” Bother away! I wouldn’t be running around in a ridiculous costume if I didn’t want pictures taken. Another little tip is to ask before touching. You never know if a costume is particularly fragile.

TNG:  Any suggestions on where to shop for costume pieces if you are not a sewer? 

Alexandria:  The best place I know of to procure costume items is Goodwill. They always happen to have exactly what I need.

TNG:  Do you think about posing a head of time? 

Alexandria:  When I first started I never thought about poses beforehand, until I received a really unflattering photo of me JUST STANDING THERE. After that I try to practice a few poses that work well with my character/props

*I was able to briefly talk with Alexandria at D23.  I fell in love with her Hipster Ariel cosplay and took the picture featured at the beginning of the post.  I cannot wait to chat more with her at a con in the future!  Check out ALL her amazing cosplays on her Facebook page:  Alexandria the Red.  You can also find her on Twitter: @Alexandriathred.*

Cosplay Crush: Hannah Black

This will be my very first year cosplaying at Comic Con!  It took me 5 years to get up enough guts to do it.  I LOVE dressing up for Halloween and during my Every Day Cosplay series, so why NOT show the world my looks?!  Since I am a beginner I asked a PRO how she does it!  Here is Hannah!  I first saw her at Wonder Con this year and fell in LOVE with her 10th Doctor costume.  It is amazing!  I was lucky enough to come across her on Twitter and she agreed to give us a few tips and tricks!

I took this picture of Hannah
at Wonder Con this year.

Hi! I’m Hannah, and I’ve been cosplaying for about eight years—I’ve only been making my own costumes for about three of those years. I’m a go-getter and generally happy about life!

I’ve been into costumes ever since I was a kid. My mom has been working in the costuming industry for forty plus years, so I was always spoiled with amazing handmade Halloween costumes growing up. I think I discovered cosplay around 2002 by exploring costumes on the internet. Being able to treat costumes as a creative art form and wearing them year round was just so awesome to me! My first con ever was San Diego Comic-con 2006, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Flash forward to now, I now am able to sew all my own costumes and I have my own career in costuming! Cosplay is a great hobby that is an extension of what I do professionally and allows me to meet so many people with amazing talents.

I give my mom huge credit for how immersed I am in this world. I was a teen when I started out, and she’s taught me virtually everything I know about costuming.

*I definitely make my costumes. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with buying a costume, but costume construction is half the fun for me. My only costume that is off-the-rack is my Claire Redfield—I only painted the design on the vest, and it didn’t make sense to sew the rest. As I said before, there’s nothing wrong with buying or commissioning a costume, but don’t do it because you think you lack “skill.” Some of the most creative costumes come from people who supposedly don’t know how to make costumes!

*A few tips for people starting out (some of these might seem a little elitist, but it’s the professional in me talking, haha)

Don’t compare: There is probably going to be other people cosplaying the same thing as you. If you go into a con constantly comparing who you think is better or worse than you, it’s not going to be very fun. Everyone makes costumes differently and we should celebrate creativity! Go in there with confidence, and you’ll have a blast!

Dress Shields: Might seem like a no brainer, but putting disposable dress shields in your costume will not only save it from staining,  but also keep it smelling great!

Undergarments: Many cosplayers I know don’t take the extra time/money/effort to have the appropriate undergarments for their costumes. I know it’s hard to spend a lot on what people are never going to see, but it will really give you the silhouette that you want.

Costume satin and crushed panne: I know they’re shiny and vivid, but they have a tendency to look very cheap, especially under a camera flash. Most cosplayers, myself included, work under a tight budget. However, I feel like it’s worth the extra few dollars a yard to get fabric that will look good for my garment. I put all of this hard work into it, after all! If you want to use satin, I would suggest a bridal or dull satin—much heavier weight and has the perfect shine. But hey, end of the day it’s really up to you.

Do what makes you happy: Don’t worry about what other people think. It doesn’t matter if no one knows who you’re dressed as (although that’s extremely unlikely at conventions). It doesn’t matter if you think you’re the wrong race, size, gender, etc. Cosplay is for you, and not for anyone else.

*I can’t speak for every cosplayer, but I am always open to people taking pictures. It’s completely normal at Comic-con or any other con for strangers to come up to someone in costume and ask for a photo. It’s even okay to have someone come in and take a picture with me. Most people pose with me by respectfully putting their arm on my shoulder or waist. Every once in a while, I’ll get an idiot who oversteps his bounds with the touching, but that’s a WHOLE different interview…

*I make everything, but usually eBay or Etsy are good places to start. I know if you’re into steampunk, sites like Gentlemen’s Emporium and Clockwork Couture are really awesome. Thrift stores are also great for cosplaying a variety of things—I know it’s a gold mine for Doctor Who cosplayers!

*Most of my posing is pretty basic unless there’s something specific to the character. I only really plan when I’m in a big group—the planning mostly consists of who will be standing in the back, who will be kneeling in front, which side to stand on depending on props and costume details, etc.

Hannah on Facebook:  Hanhar's Wardrobe

Hannah on Twitter:  @hlblack

Isn't Hannah AMAZING?!  I cannot wait to see what she comes up with for SDCC!  For even more inspiration check out our Every Day Cosplay!  It is great for NOOBs {myself included} to get your toes wet into cosplay.  I had a GREAT time doing so at Phoenix Comic Con!

*For even more San Diego Comic Con tips and tricks, check out our San Diego Comic Con Guide!

San Diego Comic Con Cosplay Tips From Angi Viper 👯‍♂️

👉 Grab my Comic-Con checklist here

{Editor's Note:  Angi and I met on Twitter!  We had been friends and chatted for awhile, then came D23 and we were able to meet in person!  She is such a lovely and kind lady and I am so happy to have the privilege to call her friend.  She will steer you in the right direction for all your cosplay needs!}

The most important piece of advice I can give to any cosplayer is to cosplay a character you love.  I’ve seen a lot of people who are asked to join a group so they can be with their friends but they don’t know or like the series or character, or they’re pressured to cosplay by someone they know or any other of a million reasons and they almost always end up hating it.  Cosplay is about expressing yourself and your love for a character through becoming them and if you can’t connect with the character you’re dressed as, you find yourself wondering what’s the point?  Where’s the fun?  I can give you a thousand tips in this article but ultimately if you aren’t happy with what you’re leaving the house in, no amount of insider information will save your con experience.

The Nerdy Girlie Team's SDCC 2013 Schedule

THAT sums me up in only a few words!  SDCC is SOOO close we can feel the rush to line up!  Here are The Nerdy Girlie's team plans {thus far}.  

Preview Night:  

*Show Floor? - The Music Maven does not have Preview Night badge, so she might just meet us over at the:

*SDCC Unofficial Blog Party at Henry's Pub from 8pm-12am!

*The Nerdy Girls are having a Nerdioke party Preview Night as well beginning at 9pm, really hope to stop by for a few just to say hi in the least...because Thursday is gonna be THE day!

Thursday:  

*Sherlock - REALLY debating when to line up for this.  Would LOVE to get there EARLY but we also have the party that night and I don't want to be tired for it, that being said, I can't go to the SherlockeDCC party missing the very FIRST Sherlock panel!

*EW Brave New Warriors - One of us will stay for this because MATT SMITH!  I will probably have to run to help set up the party but one of us will defiantly be there!

*Dexter - The Hunny is DYING to see this {as am I} but he will have to fill me in on all the last Dexter panel sadness because I will be living it up at.....

SherlockeDCC Party!!!  See you there at the Brick + Mortar from 7-10pm!!

Friday:  

*Defiance?

*Phineas & Ferb - they always have awesome swag and it is one of my favorite shows!

*Falling Skies?

*Making Roger Rabbit:  25th Anniversary - This is my only MUST see on Friday...it's gonna be a chill day I think.

*Metallica - The Music Mavin is ALL over this one!

Saturday:

*Futurama - NOON in Ballroom 20.  This is a MUST see as it is my favorite show and its VERY last panel.  I have only missed one of the panels in my 5 years attending.

*Being Human - SO excited that this panel is not over lapping with Futurama this year so NO Sophie's Choice!  After Futurama we will run over to Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront for the 4pm panel. If we get in early a bonus panel before Being Human is The Nerdist panel at 3pm.  Fingers crossed!

*I also have to make it over to the Retro Outlaw booth for their Lea Thompson signing.  As soon as I saw this, I knew that I had to do my Marty McFly cosplay on Saturday!  Here's hoping there is a Delorean some where at SDCC too!

Sunday:

*Doctor Who - WHO'S CAMPING WITH US!?

*Doctor Who Cosplay Meet Up - directly following the panel out back of the Sails Pavilion.

*Community - this might be the last panel?!

*Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

*Ducktales Remastered - HUGE Ducktales fan, but can't miss Doctor Who. Will try to send The Hunny to this one and report back!

This will be the very first year that I will be attempting cosplay at SDCC.  The Music Maven and The Gamer Geek are going to join me as well!  Here is the game plan for myself as to what I will be wearing each day...still waiting to hear back from the other two...will update when I know for sure :)

Cosplay for SDCC 2013:

The Nerdy Girlie:
Thursday - 221B

Friday - 11th Doctor

Saturday - Marty McFly

Sunday - 10th Doctor

The Gamer Geek:

Thursday - Sherlock

Friday -

Saturday - 10th Doctor

Sunday - 11th Doctor

The Music Maven:

Thursday -

Friday -

Saturday -

Sunday - 9th Doctor

**One more thing...THANK YOU to everyone who watched our live G+ SDCC Hangout this morning!  It was such a fun thing to be a part of and I hope you all enjoyed it and found it informative!  

And of course if you have ANY SDCC questions please leave them in the comments with your Twitter name and I will get back to you ASAP!

See you in 10 days!!!!!

xo