Page 5 of 6
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:50 pm
by KakitaKaori
Made this as an extra light wakizashi for a costume out of a silk-covered coat hanger. It weighs maybe 1 1/2 oz...very light. Balsa wood and plastic with a silk cover and a medicine bottle cap for end caps.
![Image](http://craneclan.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/5/1/6951515/20597278-10203170581942093-1543482651539697943-n_orig.jpg)
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:10 pm
by Kakita_Harun
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:28 am
by KakitaKaori
![Image](https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20914722_10211754481350673_8059969374358816287_n.jpg?oh=6dbdb7a818f62e22aecce8047bf073c6&oe=5A1A7CC5)
So here is how my full gencon costume came out. Notes to follow.
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:40 am
by KakitaKaori
Things that worked well:
The hakama looked great.
The token was cool but took a while to create. I really liked it. I will definitely just keep it.
The wakizashi was incredibly light and easy to carry, though I lost it on Saturday, much to my sadness. I will make another that is even better, perhaps. No problems with it...I definitely recommend this method of making a wakizashi for cosplay in the future.
I wore a running belt under my hakama around my hips that could hold a phone and a credit card, that worked well.
It was very cool and comfortable to wear, and I felt properly covered and comfortable.
Hair extensions worked much better than I thought they would, but be careful to use plenty of detangler and put them away right away when you take them off.
Things that needed reassessment/worked less well/worth noting:
Wearing an obi over or under the hakama just was not necessary and won't stay in place. Don't bother.
Despite the official ways of tying the hakama, you should change how you tie your hakama up depending on if you are male or female. It is perfectly possible to use the bathroom without getting all undone, no matter your gender, but it requires proper obi-tying for your needs. These things are important.
Wearing a kimono T-shirt as the under kimono was very cool and helpful, but it did need to be safety-pinned in place to keep it fully covering everything under the hakama.
The hat didn't work so well, at least in terms of convienience, but it looked so gorgeous (with the lacquered-on ferns) that I couldn't resist.
Geta/Zori: very uncomfortable. Bring backup shoes.
Iron on mons: Overall, good, though these were printed on fabric. I had a hard time getting them to stay dark enough.
Haori/Jubon: This was simple but looked wrong all week before and I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized there was no collar backing on the collar to keep the collar ridget. I made a collar lining and sewed it on the inside and it looked much better after that.
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:40 am
by KakitaKaori
If there is anything You'd like to know how to make, let me know.
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 6:16 am
by Kakita_Harun
Finished my Unicorn jinbaori. There will be a Crane one next.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/S1l5DuK.jpg)
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 4:46 pm
by Kakita_Harun
Crane jacket is coming along nicely
![Image](http://i67.tinypic.com/2d9cyyp.jpg)
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 4:38 am
by Kakita_Harun
So here’s the Crane one.
![Image](http://i68.tinypic.com/2lw5fyq.jpg)
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:14 am
by KakitaKaori
Very nice!
Re: Cosplay: Tips, Tricks and Ideas
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 4:22 pm
by DojiTenjin
Just spent the afternoon reading through this slowly, bit by bit, and I'm super excited to finish my next costume. I just picked up a new kimono in Japan I want to use, and I'm hoping it looks better than my profile picture.
That said, what I came to post were things which have worked well for my friends and I over the years. An important part of this for us, was the realization that this is Rokugan, not Japan. The doors this opens are magnificent. For instance, for shugenja, han fu and other chinese style clothes tend to look the part, and you can find them in crane colors online readily available. Also, if you aren't wearing this 100% accurately, it's alright, it's Rokugani, it's all fictional with historical and cultural inspirations. For Scorpion and Unicorn characters, I highly suggest looking into Indian or Mongol influences for inspiration on making the costume unique.
Parts which help are Karate or Judo gi tops. I'm not saying wear them outwardly, but they look and feel similar to the underwear you wear with standard kimono, just with a more sturdy material, making them GREAT for cold weather. On that note, I do want to impress the necessity of looking fabulous as a Crane, it's part of what we do. For that reason alone, I plead to not use martial arts tops as made in the west as an outerwear top as a warning. I will not hassle you, as you are showing how you see Rokugan, but as I pointed out, they REALLY look like the Japanese underwear top (like a sengoku wifebeater), and other people may give you trouble (looking out for you with my teenage mistakes).
Have fun with your hair! Even as a guy, there's a number of fun things you can do with a wig, and as a Crane particularly, having a stylish or interesting haircut is particularly in character. Do your make up too, even if lightly. If you don't want to, don't, if you don't know how, ask someone for help so you can look your best. A little cover up can hide the imperfections we all have in order to perpetuate the pristine Crane Clan air so many Crane are written to have.
Most important thing to have fun with though, is the experience. Get comfortable, enjoy yourself, and don't be afraid to say "This hurts, I'm going to go change now."