Oz Comic Con 2013 Saturday: Mulan cosplay

Credit: Jye O'Toole (That Guy Jye)

Ta-da! Revealing my second cosplay: Mulan! I originally had one made by a friend back in 2005 for the Melbourne City Romp, but it was a rushed job and I didn't like my design choices/alterations. The maroon overskirt is recycled from the first version. This costume has been a long time coming. 

I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to make. It looked simple enough. Yeah... this took longer than expected and I only just finished it before I went to OCC. The shirt is still missing that blue frilly part of the collar though. I had work from 3am-11am on Friday and was up until 2am Saturday working on the corset. I managed to only get 3 hours sleep within a 45 hour period. Yep. I'm surprised I even managed to last the whole of Saturday because I went to 'Disney on Ice: Princesses and Heroes' the same evening. Not in costume though. But, saying that, this is actually a fairly good costume for beginners because you can make it as simple or advanced as you like.

The sleeves went through 2 re-designs and the corset was completed in about 3 days. I've never made a corset before and it was a lot of work, but not nearly as scary as it seems. I had a couple of fashion corsets that I'd bought from Charlotte Russe during my time in Orlando, FL so I was able to analyse their construction which helped. After many Google searches for patterns and how-to videos on drafting patterns, I managed to find one and made my own alterations to it (lengthening it and making it fit over the bust). Luckily the girl's measurements were similar to my own. So glad I didn't have to draft one from scratch.

I've noticed that a lot of Mulan cosplayers go for satin materials which I like, but, ironically, it's too costume-y for me. I decided to use a suiting material called 'Panama Stretch' for the shirt and skirt instead. It hangs really well and doesn't reflect. My hairstyling skills are non-existant, so my Mulan is after her failed Matchmaker visit.

I bumped into these girls on the upper level:

  

Royal Exhibition Hall. Renaissance inspired architecture.  I can imagine Ezio jumping his way through this building.

These Aladdin and Jasmine cosplayers were brave. It was absolutely freezing outside!

Jealous, Jasmine? (Aladdin's idea)

I also met Cary Elwes (Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Princess Bride) who loved my costume and we ended up having a conversation about his visit to Kyoto, and I also met Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy.

If anyone has any photos of me, please share them! I hope they turned out alright >_<