This month is going by so fast! Or maybe it's because I'm waiting for numerous items to be sent out. My Gothic Lolita wig should be here around Tuesday or Wednesday since that company is located in Cali and I'm in Oregon. Not very far to go. Our cosplays and my wig are coming from much farther, CHIIIIINA. We found a great shop to buy from with real tailors (no sweat shops or factories.) Are such nice people to work with. They reply to our e-mails very quickly and are very understanding. We're planning on buying from them again.
But as it is the 26th day I'm growing really nervous about them shipping the items on time. It's literary causing me to have random panic attacks if I think too much about it. This is what happened during our first cosplay and the costumes didn't come on time. Of course that company sucked and we never got some of the items we bought. :/ I have high hopes but I'm still really nervous. If they don't come we didn't have any other cosplay ready to be worn (aka Pandora Hearts cosplays) and I'll most likely be in lolita all weekend which I won't be happy about, even though I adore my outfit and I can't wait to wear my new dream wig. I might have to talk Nico into getting the stuff needed for Pandora Hearts so we have a back up. I'm just so worried.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
CosplayWigsUSA Review
So I earned some money and decided that I badly needed to buy a new wig for my Sharon (Pandora Hearts) cosplay. Since the wig I had was tangled badly after walking in Seattle while it was windy. Plus the ponytail clip on was so heavy and the wig was a bit too big (the adjustable clips somehow broke) and really wasn't that great of a wig. So I was really happy when I saw not only was the wig I wanted on sale (20% off) right when I got my money.
It was perfect timing. So I quickly jumped on the offer. This is the wig I had been eying for the cosplay.
It looks perfect for Sharon. It's not too dark but also not fully blonde. Sort of in between.
See? Pretty similar. Which made me happy. I wouldn't have to buy another clip on Ebay wig that had over priced shipping. Since they are located in California like my favorite wig store, Gothic Lolita Wigs, the shipping was free.
The wig came quickly, around two days I believe. (I'll update with pictures of the packaging later.) Everything looked good on the outside. Until I opened the package. I swore I almost had a panic attack when I saw the color.
The wig is dark. I mean DARK. Nothing like picture above in the stock picture. It's like melted gold mixed with brown. Kind of yucky at first glance. I pulled the wig out to make sure it was the right wig and not one of the curly ones they sell on their site. It wasn't. I took the wig out of the package and noticed it was pretty tangled for a "new" wig.
See how I can be confused? The wig I got looks just like this one, color wise.
This is the top part of the wig. But you get the drift of the frizz I saw throughout the wig. It almost looked like it had been shook then put on and stuffed into the bag. Not very pleased. The color looks okay in the sunlight (as pictured) but I won't be in the sunlight all the time and it's just too dark...
I carefully put the wig back into it's bag without trying it on knowing if I did return it, it could not be worn. So I resisted trying it on and put it away. After thinking things over I decided to allow my boyfriend (who bought the wig through his account since I gave him the cash later on.)
I wrote...
I just ordered a wig (100cm golden blonde) from you guys a few days ago and it just arrived. Its a lot darker than shown on the site and will not work for the cosplay. The wig was taken out of the bag to make sure it was the correct wig but was not worn. Is it possible for us to exchange the wig for a lighter color such as the 100cm light blonde? Also is it possible if able for the exchange to arrive by the end of August?
I swore I mentioned that I was willing to pay for the shipping but I guess my boyfriend forgot to add in that part. Although I copied the part above from the second message....so maybe it was in there. Either way I was very kind, asking a question. Not demanding or fussing. I never got a reply. NEVER. Normally sites like this reply within 48 hours. It's been a week now. I messaged them on Facebook for help because on their site it says...
Returns Policy
You may return new, unopened, unworn items within 4 days of delivery for a full refund if item was receiced was incorrect or defective. Upon notifying us we'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). WE WILL REVIEW AND INSPECT ALL RETURNS ITEMS BEFORE REFUND CAN BE GIVEN.. NO REFUNDS will be given on used, worn or tampered items..
It says within four days. So I was freaking out. Since day four was just around the corner. I just wanted to know about exchanging the wig but my question was never answered. I had no idea what to do and didn't want to get stuck with a wig I couldn't use and no money to buy a new one. So I went to the FaceBook and sent them a message.
Oh. So that's where I posted about the shipping. Anyway. Once again I was nice, calm and level headed about my situation. They replied and didn't really help me at all. Which of course left me more frustrated. The con is at the end of August!!!! My boyfriend sent another e-mail. But still no reply. At this point I'm done dealing with this company. I've already made the choice never to buy from them again. They badly need to update their pictures on their site with real pictures of the product. I've seen their stuff at cons before and they always looked so good. But now I'll make sure to skip their booth and make sure my friends do too.
More pictures of the wig.
See how it's frizzy and tangled? Sorry it's hard to tell. I'll post another picture of it later. A new wig should not look like this no matter how long. All the other long wigs I own came in perfectly. I think I'll keep buying my wigs from Ebay.
Luckily for me I figured out a good use for the wig. FMA Edward Elric's father Hohenheim has dark golden hair just like this. So I talked it over with my boyfriend who wants to cosplay Hoho and told him I could style it and he could have it if he bought me a new Lolita wig. He agreed. So now our third cosplay is set in stone. Although styling this wig is going to be tough I can do it! So in the end it worked out.
Over all score of product- 3(Descent)
Shipping and packaging- 5
Do your research when buying from the site. Make sure you see something other than the stock picture.Ask questions before buying, I suggest asking them through FaceBook since they don't see to answer their e-mail.
It was perfect timing. So I quickly jumped on the offer. This is the wig I had been eying for the cosplay.
It looks perfect for Sharon. It's not too dark but also not fully blonde. Sort of in between.
See? Pretty similar. Which made me happy. I wouldn't have to buy another clip on Ebay wig that had over priced shipping. Since they are located in California like my favorite wig store, Gothic Lolita Wigs, the shipping was free.
The wig came quickly, around two days I believe. (I'll update with pictures of the packaging later.) Everything looked good on the outside. Until I opened the package. I swore I almost had a panic attack when I saw the color.
The wig is dark. I mean DARK. Nothing like picture above in the stock picture. It's like melted gold mixed with brown. Kind of yucky at first glance. I pulled the wig out to make sure it was the right wig and not one of the curly ones they sell on their site. It wasn't. I took the wig out of the package and noticed it was pretty tangled for a "new" wig.
See how I can be confused? The wig I got looks just like this one, color wise.
This is the top part of the wig. But you get the drift of the frizz I saw throughout the wig. It almost looked like it had been shook then put on and stuffed into the bag. Not very pleased. The color looks okay in the sunlight (as pictured) but I won't be in the sunlight all the time and it's just too dark...
I carefully put the wig back into it's bag without trying it on knowing if I did return it, it could not be worn. So I resisted trying it on and put it away. After thinking things over I decided to allow my boyfriend (who bought the wig through his account since I gave him the cash later on.)
I wrote...
I just ordered a wig (100cm golden blonde) from you guys a few days ago and it just arrived. Its a lot darker than shown on the site and will not work for the cosplay. The wig was taken out of the bag to make sure it was the correct wig but was not worn. Is it possible for us to exchange the wig for a lighter color such as the 100cm light blonde? Also is it possible if able for the exchange to arrive by the end of August?
I swore I mentioned that I was willing to pay for the shipping but I guess my boyfriend forgot to add in that part. Although I copied the part above from the second message....so maybe it was in there. Either way I was very kind, asking a question. Not demanding or fussing. I never got a reply. NEVER. Normally sites like this reply within 48 hours. It's been a week now. I messaged them on Facebook for help because on their site it says...
Returns Policy
You may return new, unopened, unworn items within 4 days of delivery for a full refund if item was receiced was incorrect or defective. Upon notifying us we'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). WE WILL REVIEW AND INSPECT ALL RETURNS ITEMS BEFORE REFUND CAN BE GIVEN.. NO REFUNDS will be given on used, worn or tampered items..
It says within four days. So I was freaking out. Since day four was just around the corner. I just wanted to know about exchanging the wig but my question was never answered. I had no idea what to do and didn't want to get stuck with a wig I couldn't use and no money to buy a new one. So I went to the FaceBook and sent them a message.
Oh. So that's where I posted about the shipping. Anyway. Once again I was nice, calm and level headed about my situation. They replied and didn't really help me at all. Which of course left me more frustrated. The con is at the end of August!!!! My boyfriend sent another e-mail. But still no reply. At this point I'm done dealing with this company. I've already made the choice never to buy from them again. They badly need to update their pictures on their site with real pictures of the product. I've seen their stuff at cons before and they always looked so good. But now I'll make sure to skip their booth and make sure my friends do too.
More pictures of the wig.
See how it's frizzy and tangled? Sorry it's hard to tell. I'll post another picture of it later. A new wig should not look like this no matter how long. All the other long wigs I own came in perfectly. I think I'll keep buying my wigs from Ebay.
Luckily for me I figured out a good use for the wig. FMA Edward Elric's father Hohenheim has dark golden hair just like this. So I talked it over with my boyfriend who wants to cosplay Hoho and told him I could style it and he could have it if he bought me a new Lolita wig. He agreed. So now our third cosplay is set in stone. Although styling this wig is going to be tough I can do it! So in the end it worked out.
Over all score of product- 3(Descent)
- Soft
- Can't see the netting
- Not the right color
- Tangled when opened
- No reply to my e-mails
Shipping and packaging- 5
Do your research when buying from the site. Make sure you see something other than the stock picture.Ask questions before buying, I suggest asking them through FaceBook since they don't see to answer their e-mail.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Day 27, Wig Craziness
Oh my glop we just spent over an hour and half trying to pick one wig. Since I decided to go ahead and keep the gold wig for Nic's Hohenhiem cosplay for in April I got a new lolita wig. We finally chose the Strawberries and Creame 1G from Gothic Lolita wigs. I'm very excited because it's for sure one of my dream wigs but I'm also kind of sad that it's so much. But I think once I have it and wear it I'll feel so much better.
I'll make sure to do a review on both wigs as soon as possible...In fact why don't I do one now.
I'll write the review for the CosplayUSA wig in a bit. So stayed tuned. BTW...ONLY TWENTY SEVEN DAYS LEFT. That's about four weeks. Not much time left.
I'll make sure to do a review on both wigs as soon as possible...In fact why don't I do one now.
I'll write the review for the CosplayUSA wig in a bit. So stayed tuned. BTW...ONLY TWENTY SEVEN DAYS LEFT. That's about four weeks. Not much time left.
Friday, August 3, 2012
To make one issue solved
New news is that the shoes we ordered for me don't fit (waaaay too small) so I'm just going to wear my shoes that I got for Sharon since they are light pink and will hopefully match the outfit. Besides that I just thought of a great idea for if I can't sell the wig I bought for my sharon cosplay.
The wig was shown as being a light golden blonde color but turned out much darker, more gold. So it can't be used for Sharon BUT I just thought of a great idea that will solve this issue.
Hohenheim from FMA has dark gold hair and since my hubby and I were planning on cosplaying him for Sakura-con this wig is perfect. This way I wont feel bad when he buys me the lolita wig I need. It'll be a fair trade for wigs. :D
The wig looks just like his hair when not under any sort of lighting. I just have to figure out how to style it without messing it up. But I think I'll be able to.
So that solves the issue I've been fretting about for the last few days. I feel so much better and this really pushes us to do our FMA cosplays.
The wig was shown as being a light golden blonde color but turned out much darker, more gold. So it can't be used for Sharon BUT I just thought of a great idea that will solve this issue.
Hohenheim from FMA has dark gold hair and since my hubby and I were planning on cosplaying him for Sakura-con this wig is perfect. This way I wont feel bad when he buys me the lolita wig I need. It'll be a fair trade for wigs. :D
The wig looks just like his hair when not under any sort of lighting. I just have to figure out how to style it without messing it up. But I think I'll be able to.
So that solves the issue I've been fretting about for the last few days. I feel so much better and this really pushes us to do our FMA cosplays.
Count down (late) 28
I was going to start doing a count down and post tips and such during so but I'm late by one day! I wanted to start on the 29th (which is really today but since we leave a day early it's really the 28th.) So for each day I count down I'm going to either post some sort of tip or perhaps a tutorial. Just to get more pumped up about the con.
We decided not to do our Pandora Hearts cosplay this year to Kumori-con since the con site is stretched between two hotels and the ground between got my dress really dirty last year. And to save money to buy things. Since we still need to replace our contacts and Break's boots and a new wig for Sharon since the one I bought came in the wrong color (Never buying from CosplayUSA wigs again. Review to come.)
We have ordered everything. The shoes have arrived. The contacts on their way! The costumes are made and I believe have been shipped. They are the nicest people we've worked with on costumes so far. They e-mail us back quickly and are very good at English. I will for sure be giving a review about them once we get to see the costumes. They said it'll be here around August 24th. Hopefully that's true and we get them or I'll be in lolita the whole weekend.
Which is my next topic. I fucked (excuse my words.) up my Gothic Lolita Wig by trying to add curls into it and by putting hot water on it. It wasn't very hot yet it still acts like the wig melted and frizzed up at the ends. So if you buy one of these wigs don't try anything stupid. Cutting the bangs are fine but don't try to re-style them. It ruins them. So I'm going to sell the wrong colored sharon wig and buy a new GLW since I am in love with their wigs. They are so soft! I'm getting one of the Princess collection wigs. Since I'm in all pink and am very girly my hubby liked that one. I can't wait to order it and try it on!
So that's it for now. I'm thinking of doing a review for the next post. But then again...maybe not. So maybe I'll do a quick thing about which make-up I use for cosplay. Which brands I've bought that are good, ect.
We decided not to do our Pandora Hearts cosplay this year to Kumori-con since the con site is stretched between two hotels and the ground between got my dress really dirty last year. And to save money to buy things. Since we still need to replace our contacts and Break's boots and a new wig for Sharon since the one I bought came in the wrong color (Never buying from CosplayUSA wigs again. Review to come.)
We have ordered everything. The shoes have arrived. The contacts on their way! The costumes are made and I believe have been shipped. They are the nicest people we've worked with on costumes so far. They e-mail us back quickly and are very good at English. I will for sure be giving a review about them once we get to see the costumes. They said it'll be here around August 24th. Hopefully that's true and we get them or I'll be in lolita the whole weekend.
Which is my next topic. I fucked (excuse my words.) up my Gothic Lolita Wig by trying to add curls into it and by putting hot water on it. It wasn't very hot yet it still acts like the wig melted and frizzed up at the ends. So if you buy one of these wigs don't try anything stupid. Cutting the bangs are fine but don't try to re-style them. It ruins them. So I'm going to sell the wrong colored sharon wig and buy a new GLW since I am in love with their wigs. They are so soft! I'm getting one of the Princess collection wigs. Since I'm in all pink and am very girly my hubby liked that one. I can't wait to order it and try it on!
So that's it for now. I'm thinking of doing a review for the next post. But then again...maybe not. So maybe I'll do a quick thing about which make-up I use for cosplay. Which brands I've bought that are good, ect.
2013-top cosplays
So Sakura-con is being held at the end of March this year (luckily) If I get a job by then we'll be getting married on April 27th. So I'm really glad it's not in April. This gives us a chance to still go and cosplay! I really wanted to do Yuko from XXXHolic but since we'll be doing Tsubasa I think we'll hold it off until Kumori-con 2013 instead. Since I'll be making Yuko's costume. Vic (voice of many, mostly known for doing Edward Elric) is coming we really want to do our FMA cosplay. But I feel if we make that costume we might be able to do another. So here are my top three choices for Sakura-con.
Trisha! We weren't going to do this cosplay until after we were married in case we had a family by then but I really wanted to do a FMA cosplay that I hadn't seen much of. So Trisha was my top pick. Plus it's a pretty casual cosplay. I would be making this outfit and Nic would be Papa Hoho.
Another pretty casual cosplay. Human! Mokonas. Nic would be dressed in all black as Yuko's Mokona and I would be in all white as Sakura's Mokona. Since there isn't a real version of this I'll be able to do what I want and create the outfits myself. I'm thinking a huge puffy dress for white and a clean cut/ coat tails! For black mokona. Somewhat dressy but still obvious who is who. The ears and gems will also be made by me.
Yeah so Nic and I started getting into this series and it's just too damn funny not to cosplay. Plus once again it's easy to be made and very casual. Most likely it'll be worn in the evenings and during down time.
Or
MAMI! My friend got me into this anime and I'm liking it. Mami is pretty boss even through she's cute. So I had to cosplay her. If I lose enough weight and am comfortable I might chose her for my second cosplay for Sakura-con. Either that or she'll be for Kumori-con 2013 or when ever my friends are cosplaying from this anime too. This would be a bought cosplay.
Kumori-con 2013
YUUUUUUUKO! I love her character so much. She one of my favorites. I'm not sure on which outfit (not the one shown) yet but it will be hand made by me.
Dinah from Bizenghast. Not cosplayed often but one of my favorite manga characters. I adore the author of this series so much! She's so friendly. I've been wanting to do this cosplay for a long time. I just recently picked an outfit I want to make and this is it. This might be saved for Sakura-con instead but I don't know yet. I just want to be a creepy girl for once. ;_;
One we been wanting to do and were going to do but held off. Black Butler might be done for Sakura-con but once again with a wedding, I think it'll have to be held off until Kumori-con. I might switch my character from UnderTaker to Madam Red depending on what my friend is doing.
Trisha! We weren't going to do this cosplay until after we were married in case we had a family by then but I really wanted to do a FMA cosplay that I hadn't seen much of. So Trisha was my top pick. Plus it's a pretty casual cosplay. I would be making this outfit and Nic would be Papa Hoho.
Another pretty casual cosplay. Human! Mokonas. Nic would be dressed in all black as Yuko's Mokona and I would be in all white as Sakura's Mokona. Since there isn't a real version of this I'll be able to do what I want and create the outfits myself. I'm thinking a huge puffy dress for white and a clean cut/ coat tails! For black mokona. Somewhat dressy but still obvious who is who. The ears and gems will also be made by me.
Or
MAMI! My friend got me into this anime and I'm liking it. Mami is pretty boss even through she's cute. So I had to cosplay her. If I lose enough weight and am comfortable I might chose her for my second cosplay for Sakura-con. Either that or she'll be for Kumori-con 2013 or when ever my friends are cosplaying from this anime too. This would be a bought cosplay.
Kumori-con 2013
YUUUUUUUKO! I love her character so much. She one of my favorites. I'm not sure on which outfit (not the one shown) yet but it will be hand made by me.
Dinah from Bizenghast. Not cosplayed often but one of my favorite manga characters. I adore the author of this series so much! She's so friendly. I've been wanting to do this cosplay for a long time. I just recently picked an outfit I want to make and this is it. This might be saved for Sakura-con instead but I don't know yet. I just want to be a creepy girl for once. ;_;
One we been wanting to do and were going to do but held off. Black Butler might be done for Sakura-con but once again with a wedding, I think it'll have to be held off until Kumori-con. I might switch my character from UnderTaker to Madam Red depending on what my friend is doing.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Prop update
I love cosplay. Since we don't make our costumes, making props is becoming a favorite hobby of mine. With our Pandora Hearts cosplay I didn't really "make" the props. I just updated them and made them better. My mom made a quick Emily and we bought a crappy cane for Break which I updated, sanded and made useable.
But for this cosplay I made all our props by hand. And I'm so happy how they are turning out. I started out with three main props.
And I have. With only twenty days (until day zero) I have only a few things to do. And of course twenty days is still a lot of time to do little things. So far I have finished all of them but the sphere and of course that one was the toughest to make. I had to re-start it twice. But the outcome has turned out fairly good. There are some mistakes that can be seen but I think they make the sphere look like it's been carved out from gold. So it works.
So this picture was taken a few days ago when I first applied the gold paint. It took three coats to make sure there was no white showing through. Before I did that I had to repaint Gesso on it so had a nice texture for the paint to stick to. Otherwise it would have taken forever to paint over the varnish. I also had the paint the inside (shown in the picture as still being white) which took forever. But now it's pretty much done. I have to do the first coat of varnish tonight then another tomorrow and it'll be done, once dry of course. Varnish (depending on what it's painted on) can take around a few hours to a full day to dry 100% so make sure you give it time if you ever varnish on such a project.
After the varnish is done I can finally put on the details!!!!!
The sakuras! I made two large sakuras out of foam board (painted pink) and pink quilt fabric and see through pink ribbon (for the shine) The middle is made of flat head t-pins (used for making earrings) and gold glass seed beads, stuck all together with hot glue. They could have been better but I think they'll do for now.
Besides that I have decided to make three little sakuras to make a flower headband for one of our Mokona plushies, the white one which will be sitting on top of my sphere. I just have one more to make. These are soooo hard. They are super tiny and even when making big ones it's tough. I'm having some health issues right now and I can't focus my eyes on small things for very long without feeling sick so I took a break from making them. But they are so cute! I'm glad I thought up the idea.
So everything is set and ready go (almost!) and I'm really getting pumped up for this con. There are so many cosplays I want to do, but Tsubasa was top of that long list. And I'm really glad I am going to be able to cosplay one of the first anime/manga characters I grew up with.
After the varnish is done drying all I have to do is glue on the hook (a piece I made out of thick wire base and clay, painted gold) to hang the tassel from the bottom of the prop like so...
Then glue on the sakuras and TA-DA! I'll be done. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to store the bugger.
But for this cosplay I made all our props by hand. And I'm so happy how they are turning out. I started out with three main props.
- Sakura's golden sphere
- Syaoran's staff
- Memory feathers
And I have. With only twenty days (until day zero) I have only a few things to do. And of course twenty days is still a lot of time to do little things. So far I have finished all of them but the sphere and of course that one was the toughest to make. I had to re-start it twice. But the outcome has turned out fairly good. There are some mistakes that can be seen but I think they make the sphere look like it's been carved out from gold. So it works.
After the varnish is done I can finally put on the details!!!!!
The sakuras! I made two large sakuras out of foam board (painted pink) and pink quilt fabric and see through pink ribbon (for the shine) The middle is made of flat head t-pins (used for making earrings) and gold glass seed beads, stuck all together with hot glue. They could have been better but I think they'll do for now.
Besides that I have decided to make three little sakuras to make a flower headband for one of our Mokona plushies, the white one which will be sitting on top of my sphere. I just have one more to make. These are soooo hard. They are super tiny and even when making big ones it's tough. I'm having some health issues right now and I can't focus my eyes on small things for very long without feeling sick so I took a break from making them. But they are so cute! I'm glad I thought up the idea.
So everything is set and ready go (almost!) and I'm really getting pumped up for this con. There are so many cosplays I want to do, but Tsubasa was top of that long list. And I'm really glad I am going to be able to cosplay one of the first anime/manga characters I grew up with.
After the varnish is done drying all I have to do is glue on the hook (a piece I made out of thick wire base and clay, painted gold) to hang the tassel from the bottom of the prop like so...
Then glue on the sakuras and TA-DA! I'll be done. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to store the bugger.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)