#(since i last made a “real” costume and not a mockup.)

[lacomandante]

So far, in about a month, I have managed to make:

Chemise and drawstring casing

Bodiced petticoat with casing

Redid chemise casing bc it was too stiff

Altered a pattern and made a dress mockup

Completely removed said petticoat bodice bc of bulk, attached waistband with straps instead

(More or less) Finished actual dress, will have to redo some gathers

Hopefully complete spencer mockup tonight

Hopefully complete actual spencer with train this weekend, god willing. I've never worked with silk rayon...

And if there's time, make a red version of the spencer with points and no train that I always imagine Teresa would wear pre-war.

I haven't sewn this much in my life and quite frankly, I can't wait to be done. I wish I had another month but if I stick to my schedule I can be finished and never rush this much again. I can do hand sewing on the plane and in Spain. GAH!

[mysewingadventures]

Making the ✨Lioncourt Gown✨ (Part 1/4)

Shoot, it's been like two years since I last posted, apologies! I’ve been incredibly busy with uni and life in general, taking care of my mental health, it’s just been a very stressful time lately. I haven't really worked on anything worthy of posting in the meantime, only minor things and one dress I rushed and it didn't turn out well anyway. But, since Halloween is coming up and I don’t feel like wearing the same thing for the third time in a row, I thought it was the perfect excuse to try and make something new and the other day at 2am I fell down a rabbit hole and came up with an idea I’m completely obsessed with.

So recently, (in case you couldn't tell by the title haha) I’ve been really into Interview with the Vampire (the TV show), and there’s this one costume that’s so iconic it immediately caught my attention: This Lestat outfit.

I feel like since this blog isn't fandom related I need to explain myself to those of you who are just semi-familiar with IWTV. Maybe you know Lestat as essentially the villain of the story and are wondering why on earth I'd want to make an outfit inspired by him. The answer is quite simple and not actually deep at all: I just thought it'd be a fun project. I'm very well aware of his personality and would not want to be in the same room as him in real life haha. But he's such an interesting character to watch on screen (they all are, in my opinion). Anyways-

This outfit is from a scene that takes place in the 1790s and now, I’m unfortunately not too versed in men’s fashion so I can’t quite comment on its historical accuracy (and also it’s worn in the context of a theater performance so it’s bound to be more flashy than what people would have worn on the streets), but the way the lapel is shaped just screams redingote to me, and since I've always wanted to make a redingote I'm going to make a redingote version of the costume!

For reference, here's what a c. 1790 redingote looks like:

This one has a normal button closure but redingotes were also often double-breasted (which is what I'm going for), taking inspiration from men's fashion. These were often worn to ride in - hence the name, redingote - riding coat.

Maybe this is the point where I should mention that I'm not going for perfect historical accuracy for this project. It really is just a fun project to try to approximate something as seen on a show to an actual historical piece of clothing.

Here’s a super quick sketch I drew to check if the colors looked good together, and I have to say, I’m sold 1000%.

I am so excited to wear this when it’s done, but also a bit anxious because for starters, I’ve never made a redingote before, and the dresses that I have made all have issues with the sleeves because apparently, I can’t sew sleeves correctly. So this time, I really want to make sure it all fits properly before I sew it and take my time with it to make sure it ends up being something that I love as much as I love the idea of it.

This time, I tried something a little different with my mockup - usually, I’ll draft a pattern on paper, then cut out my mockup and sew it, but this time I decided to make the mockup by draping the fabric directly on the mannequin that I dressed in my stays and a bumroll, making sure I had the correct measurments, and it was a complete gamechanger. It fit right away with minimal adjustments, and I was also immediately able to check how the fabric falls, if it needed to be on the bias or not, etc. I ended up doing everything on straight grain which is technically not 100% correct as the front piece needs to be on a slight bias but it seems to work for this piece so let’s hope the fabric doesn’t wrinkle! I’ll also be adding boning so I’m hoping that’ll additionally keep it all straight and even in the front.

Once the mockup was completed, I went on the search for the right fabrics and got these (the skirt fabric, the buttons and the tape I ordered online and they've yet to arrive!):

The black base fabric and the blue one are cotton, as will be the skirt. The details are satin! I spent a long time at the fabric store trying to think of the best way to do this and it does look like the details on Lestat's outfit are maybe velvet, but I was afraid it would look a little too costume-y and cheap, so I ended up going with satin in the end.

I pinned the fabric mock-up onto the lining fabric (just a white Ikea bedsheet), added 1,5cm seam allowances where needed cut out the lining first, then placed the lining onto the black base fabric and cut that out as well.

I needed to lay the pieces down this way because I bought 2,5 meters, and I'll need 2m for the outer skirt alone so there's not a lot of space left, as I'll also have to cut out the sleeves from that fabric. I then sewed everything together.

And then I noticed I'd made a mistake - the lining for the front panel was supposed to be blue. Welp, now it's white, and I also realized I didn't have enough blue fabric to do the collar AND the lining, so I went for a fake lining for which I cut out two blue triangles to be slightly bigger than the lapel

and stitched them to the lining layer so the seams wouldn't be visible on the black outer layer. This was the result:

Pretty happy with it! Next up, even though I don't have the beige tape yet, I decided to cut out the color panels in the front and already pin them down. After some trial and error, I decided to go for 15x4,5cm triangles and calculated the size needed for the shorter ones (9x7,5cm), cut them out of the satin (which, let me tell you, was so finicky it ended up being the most difficult part of it all) laid them down and fastened with pins.

This is what I have so far:

Looking at it in the picture, I'm worried that the color panels take up too much space in the front. It looks like that in the original picture, but in my sketch I made everything a little narrower. But I was also scared of pulling on it too much because the panels are just pinned to the fabric. Some parts are sticking out over the black base layer which maybe also makes it look wider than it really is, I'll cut it to shape once I have the tape and have a better visual understanding of what it's going to look like.

Next up will be the collar/yoke and the dreaded sleeves and possibly the boning. I should do the boning before I attach the beige tape. I am realizing as I’m writing this that I should’ve done the boning before pinning down the colored panels as they’re supposed to cover it. Oh well. It’s fine. Either way, I think it already looks super cool and I can't wait to see the finished product!

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4|

[msfcatlover]

Moonbeam Cass (Reverse Robins)

As Duke's successor, Cass will of course be iterating on his design. Normally, this would've taken a lot longer to put together (as you've probably noticed, they tend to be multi-day designing marathons.) However, I had a stroke of inspiration last night that I absolutely love, and everything else came together very quickly after that, so let's start the ball rolling with Moonbeam's new helmet...

...a gold-mesh saber mask! Cass wraps the top in cream-colored fabric, so that it's an off-white helmet with a gold mesh bubble in front of her face. She also wears a white neck gaiter under it to further conceal her identity, even when the light does hit the mesh just right for someone to see through it.

I feel like Cass would go back to the demi-cuirass, but she'd change it up; now it's a cream-colored leather piece worn over the brassy/golden chainmail tunic, which obviously goes very well with the new mesh mask.

(This, but in off-white & without the tie. Its job is a little extra protection and displaying Moonbeam's symbol. On a meta level, it also helps visually break things up & keep them interesting.)

The Moonbeam symbol is still an iridescent white circle, but Cass's version is definitely ringed in gold.

The chainmail tunic hangs just past her knees, but splits into multiple panels (3-6, though I'm sure some people would draw it as individual strands, which while not practical, is a hell of a look that I absolutely support!) at the tops of her thighs.

Cass actually wears 2 utility belts, in that complete-fantasy way where they hang at a diagonal to form an X at hip-height. You know, the kind that would just fall off if anyone really tried to wear them that way, but looks so cool in character design?

(I'm so annoyed that I can't find a reference image for this, so here's a super-quick mockup thrown together in GIMP. Thanks to the base maker for saving me here.)

The undersuit Cass wears is white, but is only really visible on her legs; the chainmail is full-sleeve (fitted, rather than hanging loose.) It looks like she's wearing lightly padded white leggings, though they are, of course, made of the most flexible stab- & tear-resistant fabric Bruce could get his hands on.

Continuing down, Cass wears sturdy brown motorcycle boots, probably with a little pocket or two, under the same greaves she briefly wore in Red Robin (2009), but the greaves are the same golden as her mask.

(These boots but maybe a little taller, an example of pockets, and the awesome costume she wore for all of one single issue and then we never saw it again.)

Bouncing back up real quick, I'd give Cass her Orphan pauldrons, specifically this iteration of them where it looks like they have a little gold moon on them, but with a cream background instead of black.

(I want to say she has tiny matching elbow pads worn over the chainmail sleeves, though that's another detail I feel would disappear fast if anyone actually had to draw this costume for a comic. Possibly for good reason, I worry they might be just a little bit too much.)

Finally, Cass's costume is topped off with a pair of gauntlets; the metal is once again that creamy-white (this time with gold edging) and the leather base matches her boots perfectly.

(Source 1, Source 2. You'd be surprised how long I looked to find a style I actually liked for this costume.)

The Moonbeam circle that Duke wore on the back of his hand is now inlaid at the center of Cass's palm, and is rigged to actually work as a flash-weapon if she needs it to. This helps her pretend that Moonbeam still has Duke's powers, acts as a last-resort surprise in a pinch, and I'd like you to imagine her holding out her hand to help someone with a shimmering, inviting glow lighting up her palm.

(I also want you to imagine her standing next to Shadow!Steph, since they're basically a matched set. I was not actively working to have their costumes compliment eachother, since that wasn't the in-universe plan when Cass took up the mantle, but I think they'd compliment eachother nicely.)

That's all for this one. Thank you for your time.

[ooops-i-arted]

Collecting my research here for easy access. As I did when I was a young hobbit spending hours on dial-up for any scrap of LotR costume info, I heavily relied on Alleycatscratch and Costumers' Guide. I will be using the names they use to refer to the costumes.

This outfit was cut from TTT (it originally appeared when Eowyn was fighting orcs in Helm's Deep to allow her people to escape) but was made using components of others: the blue gown is from the Refugee outfit she wears after leaving Edoras onward (sometimes covered by the brown riding coat) and the corset is the same as the white/brown Shieldmaiden dress she wears in RotK and in many of promo images. I am planning to make the Shieldmaiden dress for War of the Rohirrim so I may as well kill two orcs with one stone!

I was doubting if the skirt was split because of the looks in the first and last images, but on my desktop I can see the split more clearly on the gif and you can also see it much clearer here:

Of course given that the split appears to be two different lengths in the images above, there could be two versions of the dress. We know the LotR costumers made multiple versions of everything for sizing reasonings so it's not out of the realm of possibility (afaik Eowyn never had a size double, but perhaps there was one for her scenes with Gimli). It could also just be the corset affecting the way the dress falls, which seems more likely.

For a bit I debated if I wanted the skirt split for looks, but since it's clearly there I'm going to make it split for accuracy, even though I am not going for 100% accuracy in this costume. I am also not going to be accurate with the seams for the collar/neck piece as seen in the dress-only pic above, though I am going to draft my own pattern for the dress because none of the ones I have suit what I want. I am going to do princess seams to make it a bit more fitted (kind of like the Cara top I drafted) but want the skirt to be fuller with only front/back/side seams. I should have a skirt or two I can use as reference for how full I want to make it. The actual fabric is also threaded with gold throughout but I will settle for a blue-grey and not worry about that. The bodice on the pattern I finally found previously (Simplicity 4940, which I bought originally for my Arwen cosplay) looks good for except for some minor tweaks like the neckline and probably lengthening it, but I want to make the dress mockup first so I can fit it over. The real bodice is actually two pieces (bodice and corset) but since this costume is "due" by the end of March I'm going to make the bodice first, hopefully with trim and quilting details to look like the full piece, and add the corset if I had time or in the future when I make my Shieldmaiden costume. (War of the Rohirrim release date is December 2024 rn so I should have time along with the Eowyn as Dernhelm costume I promised my sister.)

The plan thus far:

Create dress pattern and mockup

Create bodice mockup

Make dress

Make bodice

Purchase brown leggings for underneath, possibly wear boots already owned

If time - make corset

If time - boot covers so I can wear tennis shoes with supports because the boots I am eyeing pinch my feet

[aurorajay]

I love making costumes but I always feel bad about my skill level being far below everyone else’s. Even though I love making costumes they never look good quality. Any advice?

It's easier to answer specific questions about a project vs. a general "how to be good”, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.

First off, go easy on yourself, you're learning! I know I'm still learning. Hell, the seasoned pro of 3 decades is still learning! Every fuck up and mediocrity is a step of improvement. I won't tell you that practice makes perfect, because it doesn't. It will make you better, great even. But it won't make you perfect. No one ever achieves perfection. And that's okay! Literally every single piece I've ever made has multiples elements I would change if i could. Even the ones that look good, like the now-popular moth cape. I will do lots of things differently when i make my next one.

Also, I know from experience how hard it is to avoid comparing yourself to others, especially online. So when we (inevitably) do, I think it's important to remember that there can be a BIG difference between in person and photos. That cool looking cosplay armour? Upon closer inspection it might be held together by hot glue. That pretty formal gown? It might have a real shitty fraying seam down the back. All we see is a carefully curated version of reality.

It's hard offering practical tips without more info to go on, but hopefully some of this will help. I think what makes a good looking costume can be broken down into 4 basic elements, so here’s what I think are the most important things to consider

Design: This is the part that people seem to have the easiest time with, and I can help the least with. Coming up with the idea. And when you’re costuming just for the pure enjoyment of it, there are no bad ideas! Now everyone approaches this differently, whether it's sketches, moodboards, or diagrams. Unless someone else is executing the concept, it doesn't even need to look remotely good! As long as you understand what the design is supposed to be, it works.

I will say to design with practical considerations in mind though. Think about where, how, and why it will be worn. Plan for things like zippers and buttons to get in and out, the weather where it will be worn, how much movement will be required, etc. You don’t want to end up sweaty and stuck in a polyester bodysuit that can only be opened with the help of two assistants in say, an outdoor summer event in LA.

Materials: This can be tricky, because it’s dependant on your resources. Materials are expensive, and quality ones even more so. But researching options and picking the best fit for your project is important. Making a historical piece? Stick to natural fibers. Cosplaying a superhero? You're gonna need spandex.

If you're short on funds, going through second hand stores can be real handy. Bigger ones will sometimes have actual yardage, but you can find sheets, curtains, saris, and all sorts of things to take apart and use. Get familiar with the properties and names of different textiles. You'll eventually develop a skill for spotting the nice stuff.

More specialized tools/materials like say fosshape or sewing machine attachments are harder to stumble across, but there will be online sales. If i find something good for cheap I buy it and hang onto it for later projects. If possible, take advantage of sales and rare finds while you can. You're a dragon and materials are your hoard!

Construction: Obviously you want your costume to be well-made, but this means knowing and mastering different techniques. It's a slow process, but one everyone is capable of undetaking! Firstly, you need to familiarize yourself with technical terms to make finding the actual tutorials easier. One of my go-to resources for this is The Sewing Book, by Reader's Digest. (There’s also a newer version available, I’ll include it below). It covers a wide variety of techniques, materials, etc. and has fantastic diagrams. Can’t recommend it enough

Companies that sell specialized stuff like thermoplastics or casting resin often have tutorials on their websites which can be indispensable to learning to use them properly. As well as very important safety precautions. They will also sometimes list external how-to sources or sell instructional books.

Take a close look at clothes and costumes you own to understand how they are put together. Figure out what techniques are appropriate to use where. A flat fell seam is great for jeans and french seam is perfect for chiffon, but try the reverse and it will be a pain. Take pictures and make sketches of interesting details that catch your eye. You can come back to them for ideas later.

I try and incorporate at least 1 new technique into every project I make, that way I'm always learning. But don't jump straight to trying it out on the final piece! Always make a sample (or several) beforehand. And keep the samples for later reference! I'm trying to amass a big scrapbook-style binder of samples, which is sooo so handy to come back to when it's been a while since you've done something.

Fit: This is the final, and possibly most difficult element of costuming. No matter how cool the design, how fancy the materials, and how good the construction, if something doesn’t fit right it’s going to look and feel wrong. Most of us here are making costumes for ourselves, which means you're going to need help. Measuring and fitting clothes on yourself is a nightmare, so enlist a friend or family member to give you a hand.

The other thing you can do it is to get a dress form/mannequin. These are pricey, and will probably need to be customized with padding and such anyways, so I recommend you DIY it. Again, you will need a helper, because the easiest way to get a custom dress form it to just straight up duct tape yourself into a crappy old shirt, cut it off, then stuff it. There’s tons of tutorials online for this, it’s a tried and true cheap method.

I highly recommend learning some basic pattern drafting, and that’s honestly the hardest part. You can rely on store bought patterns, but they are extremely variable in quality, and unless you’re in the rare minority who are a sample size, it will need some altering to fit you right. They can be a good starting point, but ultimately I think pattern drafting from scratch is much faster and more adaptable, if you're able to learn it. This is where you will need some good books or video instructions. I don’t have one single resource to recommend for this, but I will list some books at the end. If you personally know ANYONE with this skill, try and get them to teach you everything they know, because they are worth their weight on gold.

It’s important to note that some pattern drafting is easier than others, Stretch fabrics are MUCH more forgiving in this area, and that’s how i got started. Because the fabric will accommodate your form, the pattern requires fewer parts and darts, and there’s more leeway for mistakes. The one downside is that stretches can be more difficult to sew. Personally, I feel like they more than make up for it by being simplicity of drafting. The resources I’ve linked are geared toward drafting for non-stretch, but if you’re not following a similar tutorial i recommend stretch.

One last thing in regards to fit. ALWAYS MAKE A MOCKUP. You can work out so many fit issues just by making your costume in crappy material first, taking note of the fit issues, and adjusting them with pins, marking them with a sharpie, etc. Then you can change your pattern accordingly. Whether it’s a breastplate made of cardstock or a dress done in old sheets, you should always make a mockup. Sometimes several! The material doesn’t matter as long as it behaves roughly like the good stuff you plan on using. Don’t use a heavy blanket for if your costume is going to be a gauzy nymph robe, for example. But it doesn’t have to look nice. It just has to be wearable.

Resources:

*These are mostly tailored towards women’s garments. A lot of the same principles apply, but making men’s costumes will have some separate considerations not covered here. Just something to keep in mind if you want to draft for guys. These are all just starting points anyhow. There’s tons more out there

https://www.amazon.ca/Sewing-Book-Alison-Smith-2014-02-03/dp/B01JXQQ9Y2

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sewing-Step-Step/dp/1606522086

https://www.handimania.com/diy/your-own-shape-sewing-mannequin.html

https://www.fearlessmakers.com/measurements-for-pattern-making/

https://opensourcestitches.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/pattern-drafting-101-drafting-the-basic-bodice-block/

https://opensourcestitches.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/pattern-drafting-101-the-mens-shirt-block/

http://isntthatsew.org/pattern-making-101/

https://sewing.wonderhowto.com/how-to/draft-basic-pant-pattern-0126850/

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/063206501X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[imagine-loki]

Giftless

TITLE: Giftless CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 37/50

AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE: 

Imagine that you are Stark’s niece and you secretly share a strong relationship with Loki since he entered the crew. One day you get hurt so bad during a mission that you are about to die.  Loki knows a spell that will save you and share his immortality with you but you and he will be linked forever sharing thoughts, pain, emotions…

RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS:  Also on AO3 click here

It was three days before Loki and Tony would let you go farther than your bathroom. On the fourth day, you threatened to set them both on fire if they didn’t stop smothering you. Not that you could control setting them on fire, but you’d figure out how as you were going stir crazy.  It still took until Loki saw that the wound was healed before he’d believe you.  It had scarred, but at least you were alive. Loki didn’t seem pleased, but wouldn’t tell you what was bothering him.

“Come on, Loki, we can at least watch TV downstairs. I can’t stay cooped up in my room anymore,” you told him, getting out of the bed and trying to keep the whine out of your voice. You were still winded easily, and weren’t nearly fully healed, but you were better enough to at least see the rest of your adopted family of supers. “Stop worrying so much,” you told him when he stayed brooding and grumpy. He still didn’t move, so you went over to him. “What’s wrong?” you asked him gently. Something was obviously wrong.

“I promised my family that we would come visit once you were healed,” he explained softly, though that really wasn’t an explanation. You didn’t mind going to see Asgard again.  “I cannot postpone the trip much longer and there is still quite a bit of preparations before we can go,” he added.  Ok, preparations could be a problem.

“What kind of preparations?” you asked, assuming that was the real problem and the real thing bothering you. You grabbed his hands and pulled him to his feet. He was coming to dinner with you  downstairs. He sighed. “Loki, you have to tell me,” you reminded him.  You would outstubborn him.

“They will want to have a full ceremony and celebration for the soulbond,” he finally said. “And you must be presented as a princess of the realm,” he added after another hesitation. You smiled at him.  Neither of those things sounded that bad.  You were used to being a Stark and in the spotlight.

“Stall them for another week and prep me for it then. I learn fast,” you reminded him. “We’ll get through it together,” you tried to keep your voice perky and optimistic.  

“Truly, you would act the charade for me?” he asked, sounding heartbroken at the question.

You looked up at him confused.  “What charade?” you asked. You really loved him and wanted to stand beside him with whatever he needed. 

He chuckled and kissed the top of your head. “How did I ever find someone as perfect as you?” he asked.

You walked hand-in-hand to dinner and all of the supers cheered to see you out of bed. You promised you would watch a movie with them. Loki didn’t look pleased by that either, but he let it slide. Since you were injured, you got dibs on the loveseat of honor in front of the good TV. You watched a couple movies with your family, both knowing it was your last night of peace for awhile.

Since you were nearly healed, you had light training with Fury on your powers every day. It still went super poorly, since your mind hadn’t healed. Every use of your powers hurt, besides the powers that you had gained through the bond with Loki. Loki was also prepping you on the details of the ceremony you would have to go through when you returned to Asgard.  You also had to memorize the speech for it. 

There were a lot of details to learn.

One evening Edna called you down to her domain. You’d never been to her workroom, so you were a bit nervous to go. You were amazed when you got there. The whole place was filled with costume mockups and fabrics. “You are a true super now. You get a costume, yes?” she asked in her heavy accent. You nodded meekly. She was tiny, but intimidating, though she had no powers of her own. “No masks and no capes,”

“Don’t all the supers have masks?” you asked her. You didn’t care about the lack of capes. That wasn’t important. 

“Not you. Not Loki. No masks. It is stupid to risk hindering your sight when your identity is already known. Come, darling,” she led you deeper into her realm. “Your costume is made already. I outdid myself this time.” She handed you a bundle of fabric and shoved you behind a screen. “Put it on. I know it fit.” You sighed and used one of the simple spells you’d learned from Loki to put the costume on. It was black and blue and seemed to be made of some kind of protective kevlar material.  It looked like something Lady Sif wore in the Thor movies.  The costume was completed with combat boots. It also was obviously for protection and not to show off your body, for which you were grateful. You would be able to move and fight in it too. You stepped out from behind the screen to show Edna. “Yes. Perfect. It is fireproof, of course, can withstand any magic, bulletproof, and you can fight in it. Go. Show the others,” she ordered, seeming pleased with herself. 

“Thank you, Edna,” you told her politely and went to go show the rest of the supers. You got more cheers from them when they saw your costume. 

Tony gave you a hug. “Welcome to the team, imp,” he told you,  grinning. He was pleased that you were finally a real super.  

“We’re celebrating tonight!” Nat called. Cheers came from the crowd. She glared at them. “Girls only!” she yelled at them. “Go change and we’re heading out!” The girls all ran upstairs to get changed. You rolled your eyes and went to where Loki was waiting on the couch.

“So, a girl’s night?” he asked, sounding amused.   

“Apparently. They mean well. I’ll try to get us home at a reasonable hour,” you told him and gave him a kiss.

“Have fun, darling,” he replied. You took a step back and changed your own clothes with magic to a sparkly black dress that only went down to your kneels and strappy black heels. Loki gave you an appraising look. “You look ravishing, my dear,” he told you as he stood. He pulled you into his arms and kissed you deeply.

Hands attached to giggling girls grabbed your arms and pulled you away from Loki. You kept your lips attached to his until the last possible moment. They all giggled and you let them drag you away. 

You ended up at a local dance club. Most of the supers frequented the place, so they weren’t surprised at your presence, and let you in even though you were under 21. Nat promised them that you were under her care and she would take responsibility. You was surprised that worked on them, but they didn’t seem to mind bending the rules in order to keep the supers who protect the city happy. At long as your group didn’t cause trouble. Which you wouldn’t.

It was a lot of fun dancing with the girls and drinking fruity drinks, even if your didn’t have any alcohol in them. 

The whole evening was going wonderfully, until you walked out of the ladies’ room and straight into a damp cloth that smelled like chemicals over your nose and mouth.

[attract-mode-collective]

Not An April Fools Gag; That’s A Game Boy Advance With A GameCube Stick Affixed For Reals

What you're seeing is a modded GBA that I spotted on eBay. It's a real thing! Though it doesn't magically grant analogue control to all the digital input only games on the system, which is all of them for the record (sorry). Then again, it could be argued that the controls in WarioWare Twisted is technically analogue...

That aside aside, welcome to yet another recap of stuff posted over at the Attract Mode Twitter! Though this time it's gonna be a bit on the short side, relatively speaking; even I know covering two entire whole weeks has led to hard to handle Tumblr posts, so I'm going to try concentrating on just one week at a time/attempt weekly updates.

Let's see how well that goes...

Hey, it's SF2 IRL thanks to ARKit (via prostheticknowledge)...

At the time, when I first tweeted about it, there were only three left of Amanda Visell’s Player One Mario; no idea how many there are now...

When you can make a decision regarding lunch (via @Mechazawa)....

If you appreciate both the ease of slip-on sneakers and the taste of ghosts, then Games Glorious has something for you (via miki800.com)...

As a connoisseur of video games on the printed page, it is my goal to one day own a copy of Namco's newsletter that was distributed in game centers during the 80s & 90s, NG (via miki800)...

Remember that time Namco got someone from Yellow Magic Orchestra to hawk their wares (via namcomuseum)...

Both in print and on TV…

The YMO member in question, Haruomi Hosono, also did a Xevious remix album, which longtime readers of the blog will hopefully recall.

Sticking with Namco CMs, there’s a pair of longtime faves that I could have sworn I’ve already posted as well, yet cannot find. Though as noted, many times already, the search functionality here is broken.

So here’s a boy playing with his Famicom in the middle of the woods...

And here’s a girl playing with his Famicom in the middle of the woods...

Back to the subject of print, can’t seem to find any info on the Futabasha Fantasy Novel Series, which (I think) was a line of video game novelizations; this one appears to be written by the creator of Xevious himself (via shmups)...

The focus here is supposed to be the Lawson’s reward card with Kirby on it, but I am all about that Space Invaders whatever the heck it is (via miki800)...

Spent MANY hours at Japanese bookstores during my college years, flipping through Sega Saturn Magazine; seeing these VF Kids ads again makes me feel all warm & fuzzy (via thesegasource)...

This (what I believe to be a) farewell image of the face of the Saturn from the very first issue of Dreamcast Magazine, also gives me the feels (via oldgamemags)...

BTW, everyone knows the identity of Saturn's pitchman (Segata Sanshiro), but what about the Mega Drive's? (via yokosuka87)...

Back to the Saturn; I love how Sega want from Segata Sanshiro to Hidekazu Yukawa for the Dreamcast. This launch edition of the console, btw, was spotted at VideoGamesNewYork...

It's also where they Kira Kira Star Night DX for twice the asking price, as @gamespite)...

Speaking of music, to fully enjoy this animated gif of Eggman running…

… you need to have this song playing (via lunaticobscurity).

And to fully enjoy this image of Eggman on the sax…

... you need to have this song playing (via very-territorial-oak).

@ondoruragitan sez: "whoever designed that clown lady in ace attorney is probably the most horny artist to ever exist" (it's funny cuz it's true)...

So the big news these past few weeks, especially among video game folk my age, has been the end of the Toys R Us. Many have been sharing artifacts from the glory days, with my fave example being these old flyers, with the obvious highlight seeing all the original MSRP prices (via retrogamerblog)...

Oh, and don’t forget the gifs (via nintendroid)...

The following are more appropriate for my way, way overdue batch of game culture snapshots, but since we're on the subject of retail anyway; I recently stumbled across Nintendo's collab with Bloomingdale's that I had no idea even existed...

Took a bunch of pics, but unfortunately, due to the harsh lighting at the SoHo store, it was impossible to capture the women’s section, hence the abundance of men’s wear...

These women's sweatshirts are the best example of the line's overall design sensibilities, or lack thereof; it’s just a bunch of random Nintendo sprites on attire that is available at Bloomingdale's, period. That's all it aspires to be, nothing more...

... And that's a real shame, cuz aside from the quality of the clothing itself being high, some of the ho-hum looking designs could be really engaging with a few minor tweaks, like this b&w women's jacket with a very random assortment of b&w Super Mario World sprites...

In addition to clothing, you had accessories, like iPhone cases...

Plus sunglasses, which revealed Super Mario World playing on what appears to the naked eye to be a blank, white screen....

Speaking of Super Mario World, here's a hamster enjoying the game (via @kousuke_teppei)...

The lil guy also owns an original Famicom, and here we is playing Solomon's Key (thanks to @Topherocious for helping me to identify the game)...

Being that friend who is REALLY into video games means I'm asked a wide variety of questions from folks who are not, like why @beesmygod  is "freaking out" over a Sonic & Garfield two pack for the PC...

... I'll be honest, I don't really understand why either.

Here we have a mockup for an ad blocker that replaces banners with GBA screenshots, which I really want to see happen (via @tinycartridge)...

I also really want to see this happen too (via @truongasm)...

Back to Tiny Cart; that's where I found out that you no longer have to play emulated Tiger handheld games sans backgrounds...

Nothing beats a pic of a dimly lit arcade, especially when it's shot on ACTUAL film (via mendelpalace)...

As for this particular arcade show, @kappuru theorizes "it looks like cinestill film, or a filter designed to mimic it." (via parkerwoods)...

"WHO IS THIS NUN?! WHY DOES SHE LOOK SO SINISTER?" is a great KOF related question (via vice-s-assistant)...

And "BOWL BEFORE ME" is a great KOF related gag (via brondeef)...

"this is the best cosplay i’ve ever seen" is a a great costume play related observation made by lunaticobscurity...

"how to get away with playing super mario odyssey in class" is the caption given by retrogamerblog...

"Stardew Valley gave me 500 characters to use as my farm name, so I put down an entire 1-star amazon review for an Independence Day DVD" is the explanation given by @NoahHafford...

Hey, you never know, maybe one day a homebrew dev might make “Shinjuku-Nichome Gay District Serial Murders” a reality? (via mendelpalace)

When you’ve got one copy of Melee with two boxes, and one copy of Air Ride with zero boxes… just gotta improvise (via stellatuna)...

When you’ve got a killer Game Genie code but no paper to write it down on... and then you discover the code does something totally different (via theassortment)...

And when I asked what this 4koma featuring a Dreamcast VMU was all about, @JonahD was kind enough to explain: "VMUs are playing hide and seek, Black is seeking. One VMU thinks hiding in the controller would be good but it makes a bunch of noise and they’re found immediately" (via posthumanwanderings)...

Whereas I have yet to find out what all these Sonics are doing at a German airport (via sonicthehedgeblog)...

I normally don’t let the weather get to me, yet the constant cold weather in NYC over the past few weeks began taking its toll, to the point that I’m starting to resemble an upside down Super Famicom/European SNES (via sixteen-bit)...

I also really wish I could have checked out Sakura-Con, and not just cuz the weather is so much nicer in Seattle, but to pick up @alexisparade's Monster Factory zine...

I stared at gif illustrating the wacky perspective-related behavior of Super Mario 64’s trees for an entire day, no joke (via suppermariobroth)...

Here we have the rarely seen alternate angle of the internet famous "LAN party gamer duct-taped to the ceiling" photo (via reddit.com)...

Turning the clock back even further, here's yet another kind of party, one that doesn’t involve first person shooters but shoot ‘em ups; it’s the 1986 Hudson Caravan (via videogamesdensetsu)...

Recently, a modded NES Max controller showed up on Kotaku, in which the cycloid nub has been replaced with an analogue stick...

... Which actually appeared the day after I spotted that modded GBA at the very top of this page. I am also willing to admit the disappointment over my tweet not catching on as expected/hoped it would, hence why I'm sharing another pic...

At any rate, I was also reminded of my buddy Nick Santaniello's modded Jaguar controller, which allows for arcade perfect Tempest 2000 controls...

... Which in turned led to me republishing the post from which it hails from originally, my recap of Nick's Shmup Appreciation Night, for Medium (and also sharing additional pics on Twitter)...

BTW, for those wondering, based upon the last round of tweets; the kitchen isn’t just for playing old Mega Drive & PC Engine shmups… you can also play old Naomi fighting games (via internetflexin)...

Guess that's it for now? Sorry, but it finally feels like spring in NYC, and I feel the need to step away from the computer & enjoy weather! Just like Mega Man (via arcadequartermaster)...

[itendswhereitallbegan]

If there is one place on this planet that is sure to make me happy, it’s the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour. I’ve been to Leavesden studios twice before but it’s never lost its magic on me, in fact, with all the new additions, it’s more and more magical each time. The last time I went was before Christmas 2016 for the Hogwarts in the Snow event, but since then they’ve added a new Forbidden Forest feature. This time, I was kindly invited to preview the new Wizarding Wardrobes Exhibition which is open from the 21st July to the 4th September 2017.

Keep on reading to find out more…

The day of the WB Tour preview event, I met up with the lovely Ziba (@zibaartystone) beforehand for some precursory Potter fun. We headed to MinaLima designs in London where you can view all the graphics from the films such as Daily Prophet papers, book covers, the Marauders Map and more! This is completely free so well worth a visit if you’re heading to London for some Harry Potter tourism.

Photo creds: @zibaartystone

Now onto the event…

Ziba and I arrived at the Studio and grabbed a quick bite to eat in the canteen (where I stole a Knight Bus kids takeaway lunch box lol) before heading to the drinks reception for some champers and nibbles. The reception went on for quite a while and then we headed into the tour to see what’s new…

A large part of what made the Harry Potter series so magical is undoubtedly the amazing costumes, props, creatures, scenery etc. Did you know that over 25,000 unique items of clothing were used during their 10 years of filming? It’s facts like these that keep me coming back to the Studio Tour over and over again. An immense amount of effort went into creating the most minute of details in these films and unless if you’ve been to the Studio Tour to witness these objects yourself then you’d just have no idea.

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At the preview event we were lucky enough to witness the world-renowned milliner (hat maker) Philip Treacy quickly whip up the iconic Beauxbatons hat. This was really impressive as he did it in the space of a couple of minutes, right before our eyes! Costume Designer Laurent Guinci was also on hand to talk about how some of the best costumes were designed (and sometimes destroyed!). Rita Skeeter’s costumes, previously unseen at the Studio Tour, were on display and we could see the paper mockups of the designs too. Later, Hair & Make-Up Artists Lisa Tomblin and Amanda Knight demonstrated how Harry’s iconic lightning bolt scar was applied.

My favourite bit had to be trying on Slughorn’s sofa costume! I think you can tell from the pictures just how ecstatic I was to be inside a sofa costume 😂 To get into it, you go up two steps behind it, place your arms inside the arm rests and poke your head out through the hole in the top. Then you step forwards and rise upwards, making the sofa bounce outwards, just like it did in the movies!

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The new Forbidden Forest feature was smaller than I was expecting but also a lot better than I thought it would be. I was completely amazed by the fact that the trees felt like real trees and they have scary features in there like acromantulas falling from the sky. You can see how they created the patronuses in the films and this is a lot simpler than you’d imagine which is a bit of a let down. They actually just put some very bright lights on a dog mannequin, which from far away creates the patronus effect!

Some other new things I hadn’t seen before included this little trick to make you understand how they made Hagrid seem so gigantic compared to Harry and his friends. It’s all a matter of perspective as I actually haven’t moved anything in this picture except for my head!!

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In the outdoor area, you can now go into the Dursley home and see the living room full of Harry’s Hogwarts Acceptance Letters. I only wish I could put my hand out and grab one! What’s more, there is now butter beer ice cream, which is far better than the drink version in my opinion as it tastes like vanilla soft serve with some caramel swirled into it. h e a v e n.

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Some other highlights, though not new, include the Hogwarts Express section where you can take a stroll through the real Hogwarts Express, buy some goodies that would’ve been on sale on the trolley and also sit in one of the compartments for a photo op with your friends!

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All in all, I had another absolutely magical evening at the Studio Tour with Warner Bros and I would thoroughly recommend booking a visit this summer to check out all the new features that have been added in recent months. The Wizarding Wardrobes exhibit is perfect for those who want to find out even more behind the scenes info on the Harry Potter costumes.

Read about my experience at the Hogwarts in the Snow event here.

Read my review of the Studio Tour here.

Thank you WB Studio Tour!

Have you ever been to the Studio Tour? Which part was your favourite?

  Wizarding Wardrobes

21st July – 4th September 

Book now wbstudiotour.co.uk

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WIZARDING WARDROBES EXHIBIT: HARRY POTTER WB TOUR LONDON If there is one place on this planet that is sure to make me happy, it's the…