Day 2

This is MY Cally Costume. I should have more pictures of it on Sunday where you can see the top.

My dad, the one in the kilt- with an ood.

Here are some of the pictures from Day 2.  I was in a really interesting panel that brought up Cosplay does not equal consent and it’s interesting that it has become such a talking point at cons.  Not that the idea is wrong but because it is so right that it shouldn’t have to be stated and because it has to be talked about is sad.    ETouching someone without their permission is illegal in any instance.  There are so many strong female characters to dress up as but so many of them also dress in overly provocitive manors.  I don’t think there’s a problem with dressing like them,but I do think there’s a problem with the way they are created.  It also saddens me that when a company tries to move away from an over sexed character look there is an outcry from the fans to change the character back to looking that way.  Most recently, Power Girl and her lack an then reinsertion of the “boob window.”

Before

After

Tattoos

I can’t believe I haven’t talked about nerdy tattoos yet.  I have mixed feelings about tattoos.  I love them on other people.  I think they are so cool and interesting.  Except face tattoos.  I also hate face cakes, the ones with the edible pictures on them, so maybe it’s just a face thing.  I really want to get one in theory but I’m terrified of needles.  I also know for me I would probably get bored with the design.  When I get a manicure I’ve spent too much money on it to pick it off and change the color but after a certain point that’s all I want to do.  I can’t imagine putting something on my body I can’t change.

 

     

Vinyl Stickers

I love the vinyl stickers you see on people’s laptops and cars.  Right now I have Batman on my computer, I used to have a TARDIS but it was injured in a tragic laptop accident and had to be replaced.  I know I can make them myself and 8 bucks a pop at comic cons are way over priced since they’re less than $3 anywhere else, but when they’re standing there looking so colorful, it can be so inspiring, just thinking about all of the places I can put them.  I am looking for  these stickers now.

They also make them bigger for people to put on their walls.  Nerd fashion isn’t just confined to clothes, everything can be nerded up these days.

Slave Leia

Slave Leia.

It is probably the most over done costume in all of existence.  Jennifer Aniston did it on Friends, Alessandra Torresani (of Caprica fame) did it for the music video Tonight I’m Frakking You,  Kaley Cuoco even did a parody PSA  telling women that there are other hot girl outfits and they don’t have to dress as slave Leia.  Although a joke, it is getting a little sad how over used Slave Leia is whenever a nerd is supposed to be fantasizing about a hot girl.  Nerds have more than one interest.  And have more than one outfit they look great in.  Next time a show is having a nerd fantasize maybe they could use Powergirl.  Bust out of the rut we’re in.

 

Couples Costumes

Couples costumes are some of the best costumes for comic cons.  For last comic con I created a Green Arrow and Black Canary costume for my parents, I’m currently working on a Battlestar Glacatica costume for my boyfriend and me.  My friend and I did a Batgirl and Robin for Halloween a couple of years ago.  Couples don’t have to be a couple , I’ve seen twin brothers and sisters do Luke and Leia.  Fathers and sons can do Batman and Robin, which is awesome.  (RIP Damien Wayne)  Groups of friends can be the crew of Serenity.

I don’t know these kids, I just think it’s one of the cutest cosplays ever.

It’s not that cosplay isn’t fun on your own but if you can have someone doing it with you it gets more fun.  I enjoy going out in costume with my friends and acting as if nothing is different about us.  It’s fun just to be different sometimes.  What are some of the fun things that you and your friends have done?

Nerds and Crafting

From my experience nerds love to craft.  I sew, crochet, knit, bake and am a film maker by profession.  I also dance, play the sax and clarinet, and sing.  In the art world I’m like a pig in slop.  And I’m not the only one.  There is a reason there are blogs like Geek Crafts, Bored and Crafty, Pixelated Mushroom (even if she hasn’t posted in 3 months) and so many more.  I personally eat them up.

But what brings these two groups together?  So many nerds are crafter and crafters are nerds.  I think it has to do with both groups are smart and like to be constantly stimulated.  Imagination is the most important skill for a crafter who wants to create anything beyond exactly what a pattern calls for, even just the first question of what color to make a hat or what is the right picture to take when going out to work on their photography portfolios.

My mom is a cross stitcher, she calls it just paint by numbers but how excited she gets when she’s looking at all the different colors of floss or all the different patters and what to do with the finished product, there is a lot of imagination happening.

I created this costume from clothes I already had in my wardrobe.

Nerds are the same way.  We watch our favorite show and our brains start turning about what way can we bring this into our lives.  I just watched the re-imagined Battlestar Glacatica last month for the first time and by the end of the third season I was already planning on making my own costumes of my favorite couple, Callie and the Chief.  We put stickers on our laptops and Starfleet Academy Alumni window clings on our cars.  That is awesome.

Imagination, that’s what the world really needs more of.  Don’t forget to use yours today.