|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Princess Peach Costume - Part 4
10/2/05: I finished the sleeves of the dress and sewed them on. To make them more exaggerated, I made the sleeves from the size 12 version of the pattern (the rest of the bodice was made using the size 6 version). It looks like I gauged the amount of fabric just about perfectly, because I don't have much left over. With the stiff neckline, the necklace doesn't pull down as much, and everything looks pretty good together. I am essentially finished with the costume. Here's what I still need to do to complete the costume: - Get the hair styled 2 Weeks Before Halloween: After making phone calls all over town to find a salon that does wig styling, I met with very limited success. Many places I called were closed (before 7pm), and most of the places that answered spoke only Spanish. Luckily, I called the local JC Penneys salon and found that they actually do wig styling. I dropped off the blonde wig, so I'll have to wait and see what they come up with. I got the hair styled, but it's a little "thin" (the wig was not actually a full wig, but rather a 3/4 one) - I need to add the other blonde wig underneath to cover my own hair and the wig cap better. I would like to get a full wig and have it styled at some point - the one I have is very thin, especially in the front. I finished painting the earrings, but I'm not really happy with them. They'll do for now, but I'm going to keep an eye open for a nicer set. I hemmed and Fray-checked the skirt. I'll probably just wear sandals with the dress for Halloween, and deal with real shoes for A-Kon. Final Product (Version 1):
Later Revisions and comments (2007 and onward): There were some things about this costume that I just didn't like, especially after wearing it out to a convention (Comic-con 2006). I decided to fix these issues to make a better costume, and overall I've been pleased with the results. Wig: This was the biggest issue. First was the color - it's much too platinum blonde for Peach, and it doesn't suit my skin tone at all. Although the pictures above don't look that bad, the wig was starting to deteriorate quickly. The trip to San Diego had done a number on the curls, which had become limp and loose by the time I reached Comic-con (the 45-minute trolley ride from the hotel to the convention center didn't help either). The wig was uncomfortable and wouldn't stay put due to two layers of wigness - the top wig constantly shifted and flopped in the wind. The 3/4 wig was thin in places, and the bangs looked awful. I tried to salvage it for Comic-con with a lot of hairspray, but it was clear that I needed a new one. I purchased a new wig online from ebay, a long golden-blonde wavy wig with bangs. Reading through some wig-styling tutorials online, I cut the bangs and made the little flipped-out sections at the top using sponge rollers and a hair dryer. I then tossed the wig in the mesh and bag it came in and hoped for the best. The wig stayed styled through A-Kon and fit well. The flipped-out parts are in a much better spot in this new wig, and the hair is much fuller. Best of all, it looks and feels more like real hair than the other wig ever did. This has improved the overall look of the costume a LOT. Dress in Two Pieces: I thought making the top and skirt would be easier than a full dress. Ultimately, this was a mistake. The top kept coming untucked from the skirt when I moved my arms and I was constantly adjusting the dress. I decided to sew both pieces together and it worked out well. The only problem is that the dress is a little shorter off the floor than before, but that's not a big issue. It's much easier to wear now and needs little adjustment. Also, the use of velcro as a closure hasn't worked as well as planned - it tends to come apart if I move too much. If you're following this tutorial, I definitely recommend a zipper in place of velcro! I was a noob at sewing when I made this and couldn't put in zippers yet. Parasol: The ruffle on the parasol wasn't right. The lace may have looked okay, but it didn't resemble the parasol from the game enough for my liking. I carefully seam-ripped the original stitches to take the lace off altogether. I made a new ruffle using the sheer aqua fabric remnant I had remaining from my Crystal Rose outfit (at least that fabric is good for something!) I folded a long strip in half and sewed a basting stitch to make a long tube. Then I gathered the tube and hand-stitched this to the parasol edge. It was time-consuming, but it looks better now. I also used brown spraypaint to color the handle brown. Necklace: The original necklace lasted for a while, but the Sculpey cracked and the whole thing fell apart eventually. I have since found a much better method for Peach's necklace that I've been recommending to cosplayers. Crown: While my crown's held up remarkably well, the original French Bucket that I used has now become an endangered species. You can check secondhand shops to try to find one, but I haven't had much luck. Metal galvanized buckets will work also, but you'll need to spray paint gold after you do your cutting! Final Product (Version 2):
More Princess Peach Costume Photos BACK to Cosplay Princess Peach Princess Toadstool cosplay costume san diego comic-con luigi mario super mario bros. el paso anime convention nintendo power super show princess peach |
TR Rose's Cosplay Journal 
