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Putting Together A Mavis From Hotel Transylvania Costume

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I’m not going to let this *waves arms around* ruin my Halloween. I’m still going to dress up. I still decorated. Sure, it’s not the Halloween I wanted but it’s the Halloween I’m going to deal with. This year I’m going as Mavis from Hotel Transylvania. I’ve watched those movies probably 100 times since October started. Did you know that a 4th one is in the works? I can’t wait! They’re such fun and cute movies. Now, I did purchase my costume but most of the items needed to be upgraded. I would have been better off just putting it together myself but oh well. I’m going to show you guys how to come up with your own Mavis look!

Dress:

The dress is a simple black dress with a mock turtle neck and 3/4 length sleeves. I’m sure some of you might have something in your closet that works! If not, here are a few options.

The Drop Women’s Karen Short Sleeve Mock Neck Body Con Mini Dress: This will cost you about $28 on Amazon! But it’s the perfect style and look for Mavis.

Verdusa Women’s Mock Neck Short Sleeve Buttoned Ribbed A Line Skater Dress This one is between $24-$26. It’s a skater style instead of a more fitted dress.

Both of those dresses are on Amazon but if you can easily find similar dresses on resell sites like Poshmark or Depop. It’s a great way to help reduce the amount of waste out there and you can save a few bucks as well. Honestly, it’s such a simple dress you can find it anywhere.

Arm Warmers:

I wasn’t sure what else to call them but you know what I’m talking about. The pair that came with my costume were very small and just didn’t work. Here are a few fun options.

ToBeInStyle Women’s Mesh Sheer Fingerless Novelty Gloves: They work perfectly! These are the exact pair that I ordered and I am very pleased with them. They were $13.95 and fit much better than the picture on the listing.

Seeksmile Spider Web Lace Halloween Fingerless Gloves : These gloves have a fun spider web design similar to the gloves Mavis wears when she gets married. I think I saw gloves pretty close to these at Spirit Halloween as well.

Tights:

In every movie Mavis wears black and red tights! The pair that came with my costume fit OK but I knew I needed something a little bigger. Right now you can find them in person at Spirit Halloween and other Halloween pop up shops. You might even come across them maybe at Target or in other Halloween sections. Here are a few online options.

Leg Avenue Women’s Nylon Striped Tights: Around $8 on Amazon but this is the brand you’ll find pretty much everywhere.

ToBeInStyle Women’s Wide Horizontal Contrast Stripe Tights Opaque Hosiery: These are between $10-15 on Amazon. They have plus size listed as an option but be sure to read the reviews to see how accurate that is.

Shoes:

She keeps it simple with what’s basically red Converse. But you could use any red shoe really! I went on Poshmark and found a pair of red Converse to use. I was able to score a good deal because I didn’t feel like paying $50 for shoes. I almost bought a pair of red wedge sneakers on Amazon but they were obviously trying to be a weird Converse knock off and I felt weird about it.

Wigs:

Mavis has a pretty simple hair style. It’s basically black with a flip and some fun bangs. What wig you buy will really depend on your own skills. You could easily buy just a basic black wig from any cosplay store and cut/style the wig how you like. I’ll list a few of those along with some pre-styled Mavis wigs.

Black Curly Vampire Mavis Cosplay Wig: This is the wig I bought. It’s actually pretty good for $18 but I don’t think the bangs are accurate. But it does have the flip and works for now.

OneDor Women’s Short Black Straight Hair 50s Cosplay Flip Wigs with Flat Bangs: Not a Mavis promoted wig but it’s pretty easy to make work. It again has the flip and the bangs could easily be trimmed. In the reviews someone said they easily used it for Mavis.

Aura: This is a wig from Epic Cosplay but that could be styled to work for Mavis. It already has a small flip and would just need the bangs styled.

Now, if you already have black hair, or hair that can easily be styled but you don’t have bangs I have a simple solution for you! Clip in bangs. I thought about going with that option myself but my hair is a bit of a mess right now and stuck with the wig. But it’s a simple way to make your own natural hair work for you.

* * * * *

See how simple it is! Sometimes she wears a cape and you can find those everywhere. If you want something accurate though, Spirit Halloween sells a Mavis cape online only. The same goes for fangs. It’s not something you “have” to do but you can find various types of fangs everywhere from Amazon to Halloween shops. Once conventions become a thing again I plan on wearing her to one. It’s such a comfortable costume and would be perfect for walking around all day. What are your plans for Halloween?

5 Fandom Friday: Disney Cosplays/Cosplayers

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It’s been a bit quiet around here but it’s Friday. I can always count on 5 Fandom Friday to help break it up and get the creative juices floating. This time around we’re talking about cosplay! I’m going to lump Star Wars/Marvel into Disney as well. I don’t follow a ton of Disney only cosplayers but I follow a ton that mix it up! This list is in no order. Everyone here is fantastic and number one in my book.

1. Angi Viper


I’ve been following Angi Viper for years. Whenever I think about Elsa, I think about her! I think she was one of the first cosplayers to jump into the Elsa frenzy. She’s always working on updating or creating a new version. She cosplays a ton of different characters though like Anastasia, Phoenix, and various DC & Anime characters. Be sure to give her a follow!

2. Bettie Bloodshed


I’ve been friends with her for years and she’s always working on improving her costumes! I love that she crossplays too and just always looks amazing. You can tell she puts a lot of time and love into her characters. Her Hux is outstanding but she does other characters too like Mysterio (which is hilarious), Captain Marvel, and Lady Loki.

3. Katrina


Katrina doesn’t just cosplay for fun, but to help children who are dealing with some pretty heavy things. She’s part of Critical Care Comics, a nonprofit organization that delivers comic books to kids in Vegas area hospitals and medical facilities while dressed as super heroes! How amazing is that? She’s probably best know for her various Black Widow looks but mixes it up with some Spider-Gwen and non-Marvel cosplays like Harley Quinn!

4. Cheyenne Wise


She popped up on my radar thanks to Katrina! Don’t challenge her to cosplay someone because she’ll do it and she’ll kill it. Everything she does is fire and the amount of looks she pulls off is simply mind blowing. A few of her cosplays include Miles Morales, Shuri, Mary Jane and non-Disney characters like Black Canary, Starfire, and Jessica Rabbit!

5. Leo Camcho


You might now know the name but you probably recognize him! He was all over Buzzfeed for a hot second because he legit looks like a Disney Prince! He doesn’t cosplay as much anymore but when he does, it’s always dead on. A few of his cosplays include Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, and Price Eric.

Tada! There’s my list! I hope you came across someone new here and give everyone a follow. You won’t regret it.

Fiona Glenanne Cosplay Updates!

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Guys, things escalated quickly. Something that should have been a simple “closet cosplay,” using things I already own, has turned into a monster. I made the mistake of looking up her wardrobe which is super easy to do thanks to the internet. The main source I’ve been using is Pradux. It’s basically a website where people have ID’d clothing used in shows and movies and what not. This is where everything went to hell. If you take this and combine it with Ebay or Poshmark, it’s very easy to fall down the rabbit hole and try and fine screen accurate items. Now, I don’t know if what I’ve found was used in the episode/look I’m going with, but I know they were used on the show. That’s enough for me. Now let’s see what I’ve managed to get my hands on already!

Happy Cow Hip Bag (Ebay): $74.28 (including shipping)
Hudson Beth Baby Bootcut Jeans (Poshmark): $22.69 (including shipping) // These jeans are normally $200! Are they real? I assume they are but I honestly don’t even care at this point! They fit perfectly expect for the fact I’ll need to cut 5 feet off of the bottoms.
UGG Callia Wedge (Poshmark): $31.80 (Free Shipping) // I know these are real and normally around $130. Sure, they’re used but are actually in pretty decent shape!
D&G Sunglasses (Ebay): $72.04 (including International shipping) // Believe it or not, these were hard to track down because I needed brown, not black. Luckily I came across an International seller on Ebay that had exactly what I needed. Normally these are around $110 I think.
Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet (Ebay): $37.10 (Free Shipping) // This was easy to track down but finding a deal was the hard part. These bracelets are normally in the $200 range and even the listings I came across on Poshmark or Ebay were still higher than I wanted to pay. I must have checked at the right time because when I saw this deal, I jumped on it!

As you can see I’ve already spent around $237 on this thing and I haven’t even bought a wig yet. At the same time though, I’ve saved a lot on these name brands. Let’s be real, I couldn’t get “normal” jeans for $15 unless I waited for a kick ass sale at Target or Old Navy. The hip bag I knew was going to be a cost but I did save a few bucks by going with Ebay plus I think on the Happy Cow website some of the colors were back ordered. I knew the sunglasses were probably going to be a little expensive. I could have just went with a random pair but I got sucked into the hunt. I almost gave up on the bracelet because of the high prices but I guess it pays to stalk Ebay! The only thing left is a wig and I’ve found the perfect one I think. It’s a steal too at around $15. The last piece of the puzzle is the tee which will be done on a super budget. Basically just using a basic white tee and an iron on transfer.

Putting Together a Fiona Glenanne Cosplay

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Remember how I mentioned I was rewatching “Burn Notice?” Well, I started a 2nd rewatch and I’m not sorry. While watching the show the idea of putting together a Fiona cosplay popped into my head. I’m not sure it’s one people will “get” but who cares. It’s something that’s honestly very easy to put together and will be comfy as hell. I do think it would be more recognizable in a group, adding a Sam and Michael but you have to work with what you have. I’ve started a Pinterest board with some ideas and looks from the show. I’m leaning towards one that features jeans because it’ll cover my tattoos and when I think of Fi, I pretty much picture jeans, wedges, a white top, giant sunglasses, and her famous hip bag.

Lucky for me, the hip bag is actually easily available from Happy Cow but I was able to find one a little cheaper on Ebay. Fun Fact, I actually had one back in the day but have no idea what I did with it. I’ve been able to find different websites that list her outfits and where to find them buuuuuuut, everything is obviously sold out or no longer available. That’s no big deal as I think I have a work around to recreate the top in the photo above. It’s a little hard to tell but there’s a design/doodle that you can see a little better here

Then I just need a brown wig, a blow pop, some sunglasses, and I’m all set. I’m really curious to see where this will fall budget wise. The most expensive piece is actually the bag, even with finding it on Ebay. But I don’t have a problem with that seeing how it’s functional and I’ll use it on a pretty regular basis. My plan is to have this together by C2E2. I might add some props like a gun, yogurt, or maybe a Most Wanted poster featuring Michael. Just a few little things that might make this look jog someone’s memory of the show. If all goes well, I plan on bringing it to SDCC as well!

Cosplay Photographers I’ve Worked With

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I haven’t worked with many photographers but I’ve really enjoyed the few I’ve picked! I know how hard it can be to find a photographer you like. Are they easy to get along with? What style do they shoot in? What do their packages include? You put a lot of time and effort into your cosplay, and your photos should help show that. There’s nothing worse then getting back crappy photos.

Depth of Light Photography

Sam is a DC/VA/MD based photographer. She was the first cosplay photographer that I paid for a shoot! We worked together years ago when I cosplayed Elektra from “Daredevil” during Baltimore Comic-Con. She was a dream to work with. She was great with helping me pose, finding locations around the convention center that gave off the right vibe, and her editing was fantastic. She was on time and I didn’t have to wait long for my photos. Her rates are different these days than what I paid but she’s 100% worth it. I’d love to work with her again, I just need to get around to doing it! She loves shooting anime cosplays and attends a lot of conventions including Otakon, AnimeNEXT, Nekocon, just to name a few. Be sure to visit her Facebook page to stay updated on where she’ll be next, rates, and special discounts!

Butter Half Cosplay Photography

I’ve worked with Abby twice and would love to work with her a third time. She’s shot my Catwoman at the past two C2E2’s in Chicago. She’s another photographer who’s great with finding the right pose and location. She always checks to make sure you’re comfortable with her touching you with is always appreciated. She does her research as well. She knew my cosplay included a whip. Before our shoot she got online to figure out the best way to photograph it! I was really impressed with the extra mile she went. Abby is easy to work with as well. She’s super laid back and just fun to be around. In my opinion, that’s really important with shooting something like cosplay. She’s Midwest based and attends a few conventions out that way.

Justin Evangelista‎

I came across Justin and his work via a Facebook group for C2E2 cosplay. His style really stood out as something different and fun. The way he uses light and color is what grabbed my attention and I knew I needed to shoot something with him. He was easy to book with and offered a few different packages. It can be a little nerve wracking to work with someone new but Justin was fantastic. He knew exactly what he wanted to shoot and had a vision he wanted to get across. I really hope to work with him again. He’s based in Chicago and does more than just cosplay photography! If you’re looking for photos that stand out, he’s your guy. You can find most of his work in his Instagram.

I’ve shot with a few friends before but I wanted to include people who I’ve paid for photos. Like I said before, it can be a bit stressful to weed through all the posts offering packages. If you’re not sure about a photographer, ask a friend what they think! I sent a few links to my BFF Manda to get her opinion and input when I was searching for someone to work with during C2E2. If they have a Facebook page, check to see if they have any reviews or feedback. If they’re posting in a convention group, check to see if anyone is leaving comments about working with them before. In the end, trust your gut. If something feels off or just not right, move onto the next option!

If anyone has any questions about trying to pick someone, let me know! I’ll try my best to answer them.