Inspiration: I’ve always wanted to cosplay j-rock so I picked Mana. Malice Mizer is my favorite band ever! So of course I had to do one of their costumes. Reason why I picked Mana is because everyone elses looked really hard, really complex or it involved me painting my face completely white or wearing contacts. I chose the Bel Air dress not only cause it was my favorite Mana costume but because the make-up wasn’t too bad and the dress didn’t have as many details as some of his other dresses it also made him look sort of pudgy so I wouldn’t look stuffed in a costume.

Completed: September 23, 2005

Worn At: Anime Weekend Atlanta 2005

Awards - Judges award Honorable mention

Costume Pluses: The dress was comfortable like really comfortable. Except the shoes I could walk around in them for about two hours then it got painful and the head band started hurting my head after long periods of time.

Mana is a real attention getter blue lip stick and the first thing that comes to mind: ‘OH MY GOD IT’S MANA!’ *glomps* Thankfully I only got hugged a few times ehehe... the lipstick turned out good in some of the photos but I didn’t apply it right

Costume Misuses: The hand cuffs only stayed stable for about more than half the day that got really annoying. The choker didn’t show up in many of the pictures...which makes me kind of sad.

One of the bigger gripes though was about the make-up. Although really to understand I am a make-up fraud I never wear make-up and I have never picked up an eyeliner pencil till AWA of course it isn’t perfect but I’ve never done a full Mana face until then. Some pictures it looked accurate and in other it looked like I half-assed it. I did fine on the eyes but my lips are another story

The bottom of the dress wasn’t as accurate as I would of liked it to be. Only cause I ran out of time. I hand sewed this costume the full costume so of course but the time I finished the third layer I was tired and I couldn’t push myself into adding more detail on the bottom. No one seemed to notice though XD

Cost: 150$ to 200$ including make-up, trim and the fabric

Fave Aspect: I love this costume to bits. All of it was good this is my baby...

Least Fave aspect: 1. The hand cuffs...they were annoying. Sometimes they got caught in other peoples garments. They were also falling appart more than half way through the day and well the chains made it really hard for my to carry my bag. I’m so glad Zac and Tiago carried my stuff for me ::kisses::

NOTES:

This whole costume was hand sewn by me.

I unfortunately don’t fit into a real pattern size so I had to make my own pattern it isn’t anything new but I used some new techniques. This costume took a lot of time and patience and it taught me various costume tricks. I am happy it turned out well for the most part.

The costume included

1. The head band (crown of nails)

2. Choker (the nailed choker)

3. Gloves

4. Arm fishnets

5. Corset

6. The cape! (Well the thing in the back)

Really this costume was beyond my sewing skills and I managed to pull it off nothing fell apart that was sewn on, I wasn’t uncomfortable in it and well it was a good costume *nods*

I want to thank

1. Kim - She has given me continuing support since I even mentioned the idea of a Mana costume to her. If it weren’t for her I would not have made it on time.

2. Chi - From Chi studios, Psychotic doll and cosplaylab. She has helped me so much with how to and general question answering. Things would of been a lot more painful and un-satisfying if I had not had her advice

3. Ari-chan - For inspiring me to continue. The j-rock photo shoot never happend but it was a nice thought

4. The parents - Oh yes they didn’t help me or support me or think I could do it but they did drive me places and helped fund the costume and the convention

Pictures

That was Zac my body guard. Really he was awsome holding my hand and my stuff! XD

More photos can be found here

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