Cosplay help

[fireheart]

i would really like to make a cosplay this year, even if I don't make it in time for this year's AvCon (Adelaide's anime convention), I'd like to do it for next year. Basically, I was thinking I might go as a Pokemon, particularly this one:



That is a Bellossom folks. Main reasons behind why I wanted to do one:

1. I'm not likely to be labelled a furry since Bellossom is based off of a hula dancer and a plant, not an animal.
2. I won't end up losing things like tails or armpieces because the main element is the skirt.
3. The main elements will likely be: light green t-shirt or leotard, the skirt, something dark underneath, so if I take off the skirt I don't look half-dressed (i.e. leggings or trackies) and probably some ballet flats sprayed a metallic green or a matte yellow.
4. I wanted something that wasn't immediately obvious (i.e. Pikachu or any of the main starters), likely to have me the subject of internet memes (so I herd u liek mudkipz?) or entirely obscure

The skirt is my biggest problem. I'd like to get it so that it looks somewhat flared out and not hanging downwards limply, so it looks more like a bell if possible and less like a grass skirt.

Any suggestions? I want to be able to sit down if I can. The ideas I have so far seem to involve wire in some shape or form to make the "leaves" of the skirt and then attaching the other layers underneath.

[Nyoibo]

Possibly I'd go with a hoop skirt, you might want to try the ACG forum too, the S.A. chapter is fairly large and active now.

[ArcticChicken]

Wear a tutu underneath.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

A simple hoop, like the larger ones you'd get at a craft store for those sewing/embroidery thingies, sewn in or attached to your hips in some hanging fashion, strategic taffeta or that stiff plasticky stuff that they put under confirmation dresses (possibly still taffeta)-- you might want to ask at your fabric store. Tutu would also be really super easy. wire on the leaves for that flarey thing is the ticket... starch'd be a beast.
Also, must have pics, that is an adorable 'mon. o--o

[kpzra]

Tulle fabric, that's what it is made for. You just gather it to the correct fullness, then either sew it into the skirt waist band or make a petticoat of it.

[Seshat]

Seconding the tulle.

You will want something between your skin and the tulle, but the tulle is what will hold the shape for you.

Failing tulle, you could use wire - but I'd be inclined to go with tulle.

[MaggieTheCat]

Also, try searching cosplay sites or even just Google Images for "Bellossom Cosplay." This can give you an idea of what other people have done, how it turns out, if it looks like what you're looking for, etc.

[KiaKat]

Go for tulle, and you can get it in the appropriate colours, so you can layer it to look exactly like the skirt.

Now here's a trick: You want the fullest layer of tulle to start at your knees, not your waist. That will bell out the skirt in exactly the way it looks in the image, without constricting your movement, or causing too much fullness around your thighs. Basically, you want to build it like a wedding dress or princess costume. Layer of cotton, linen, or satin against your skin, layer of crinoline starting at your knees sewn onto the underskirt, then two overskirts - another fullness layer starting at your hips, and the final overskirt with the design.

I think I have that right... it's been a while since I've sewn a Princess costume.

[AdminAssistant]

I know you're mostly concerned with the skirt, but are you planning on painting your face green? If you are, you might want to talk to someone who specializes in stage makeup to help you get the right shade. (They may also be able to help you with doing some highlight/shadow on your face, so that it isn't an amorphous green blob.) Also, don't go cheap on anything that's going to sit on your skin for long periods of time. Baby oil is probably the best stage makeup remover that's out there - and cheap!