COSTUME INFO: Misa Amane ~ Original Variant (Death Note)

Brief Bio: Misa Amane is an actress / model / singer and the second "Kira" of Death Note. Kira is what the citizens of Japan and many other countries called the cause of all the mysterious deaths of criminals. Misa has an overly-bubbly personality, often referring to herself in the third person as "Misa-Misa." For a full biography, check out Misa Amane's Wikipedia Page.

Why?: Much like Tohru Honda (Fruits Basket), I don't really like Misa, but I somehow ended up cosplaying her. It was the night before a convention, and I suddenly realized that my friends and I had no costumes. So we worked with what we had and threw together a Death Note group.

Construction: I literally grabbed clothes off of my floor and went "This will work!" That was it. Didn't dye my hair or get a wig because it was so last minute that I didn't really even care.

This costume is 100% complete. I might make a more accurate Misa Amane cosplay in the future, just because I like her style, but that's a big maybe.

Convention Info: This was worn to Animation on Display 2009, and probably won't be worn again. As far as I'm concerned, it's retired.

READ MORE - COSTUME INFO: Misa Amane ~ Original Variant (Death Note)

Closet / "Lazy" Cosplayers

A decently-timed post. No way.

And still nothing cosplay-related. I had intended on making, or at least starting, Mello's belt buckle, but that didn't happen.

I may change my Halloween costume from a butterfly to the Ace of Spades.

So now's a good time to discuss another cosplay issue. Death Note "closet cosplayers." I'm talking about the ones that grab a white shirt and jeans and call themselves L, or the ones that run to Hot Topic and call themselves Misa.

I can sum this up quite simply: Who cares?
You don't know why they did it, you don't know how hard they tried. Maybe they didn't have enough money for a "real" cosplay, or if they couldn't find the items, it was last-minute, or their amazing, spectacular costume got destroyed the night before.

Now, if they're running around going "OMG! I'm L! Take my picture and give me free Pocky NOW!" then by all means, decapitate them. Otherwise, there is no reason to look down on them or waste your energy disliking them. That is much worse than "lazy" cosplayers.

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Cosplaying to Be "Different"

Another sadly cosplay-less day. And another late post (my laptop battery died). I had intended to start making my jacket today, however I spent my time cleaning up after my party. So, today's topic is: Cosplaying to be "different."

Cosplaying does make most people unique within their own communities. Whether they be the only cosplayer in their family, circle of friends, school, or even city, they will never be the only cosplayer ever.

As far back as I can think, originality is always what gets you noticed, and it seems like everyone wants to get noticed. And why wouldn't they? Fame is glorified in television, movies, and anywhere else you look.

The search for a better lifestyle, the instinctual desire for easier survival, has in a sense evolved into the search for being unique. However, I do not think that cosplaying is the ideal way to be different.

No matter what you choose to cosplay, there are others who have done it first, and those who have done it better. I believe that cosplay should not be used as a way to be unique or gain fame. It is a hobby. Just like knitting or building model train sets.

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Mello's Gun Promised (Day Three)

I had a birthday party today (well, yesterday, the 26th), which went overnight, so I couldn't post or do anything cosplay-related.

For my birthday, I was however, promised a prop handgun for my Mello cosplay. I have yet to see it, and the propmaker, a good friend of mine, couldn't come to the party, so I have no idea when it'll be done.

I couldn't even go the whole party without talking about cosplay, but in my defense, my friend bought it up first. They actually brought it up a few times. They really support what I do and find it amazing that I'm learning to sew, and can do it well.

In fact, I'm rather proud of myself. I love the clothes that make, they're unique, and since they're custom, they fit my body well. I always get a great response, before I mention that it's for a costume, anyway. Then all I get is "Oh..."

READ MORE - Mello's Gun Promised (Day Three)

Cosplay & "Normal" People

I'm posting this a little late, I know. I got really sick today and couldn't even find the strength to use the laptop until after midnight.

Nothing cosplay-related really happened today. I showed a couple people the fabric I bought for my Mello jacket. They equated it to a Santa Clause suit. Ha. Haha. Ha. Great.

They teased me about it for about a minute, but it got me thinking.

My friends understand cosplay. They understand why I do it, what the appeal is, and how the community works. They've even cosplayed a couple times themselves, and yet they still tease me about various aspects of my cosplayings, perhaps because I take it more seriously than they do.

Society as a whole generally looks down on cosplayers. People do not understand us, so they act like what we do is wrong. As if this wasn't bad enough, cosplayers are also divided amongst themselves.

Cosplayers that make their costumes don't have much respect for those who buy them. Those who buy costumes mock those who make them for wasting their time or becoming "obsessed." When people who don't understand it at all look down on cosplayers, shouldn't cosplayers stand as one and defend their fandom, instead of fighting each other?

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Mello's Jacket Fabric (Day One)

Today was a slow cosplay day, but at least I made some forward progress. JoAnn's was having a sale that I thought ended today. Turns out the coupon I used was actually supposed to be for next week, so I wasted energy stressing about using it for nothing.

I bought the fabric and pattern for Mello's jacket. It's not perfect, and there's no way it'll be accurate, but for once, I don't think I care much. I would like to have a more accurate jacket maybe eventually, but since I wasn't even going to do it in the first place, I'm just happy to have it. =]

READ MORE - Mello's Jacket Fabric (Day One)