Posted in Uncategorized

Outfit of the Day: Wanda Maximoff Style

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If you know me at all, you know I love me some Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch aka the most powerful Avenger.  I mean, she’s a witch AND an Avenger, you don’t get better than that!

One of the things I really love about the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe for you muggles) is that they gave her some amazing uniforms as well as fantastic everyday style.

One of the things I really like to do is wear my Wanda necklaces from my cosplays and incorporate them into everyday wear.

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I got these necklaces from Little Wolf Cosplay on Etsy.  Get your own here.

Wanda has a great everyday gothy style that I just love.  For my outfit, I basically took my cosplay from Captain America Civil War and ditched the wig and switched a jacket for a vest.

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The vest is from Target.  The leggings are from World of Leggings.  The t-shirt is from Forever 21.  The boots are from Torrid.

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If you want to incorporate some Wanda style into your everyday wardrobe, go on Google Images and take a look at some of her outfits.  She loves dress and boot combos.  She also has a lot of great rings and she loves, loves, loves to stack necklaces.  Also, her boot collection must be epic.

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Speaking of epic, how about that Photoshopping?  That is courtesy of my friend, Ava, so I want to give her an epic “Thank You!” for doing that for me.

So, get out there and have some fun with some everyday Avengers style.

Love, Kim and Scout

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Cosplay Shootout #3

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In the local cosplay community in Los Angeles, photographers and cosplayers have been having meet-ups in between cons for the sole purpose of getting photos of our cosplays.  The photographers get to make new contacts with cosplayers to help out their photography businesses as well.  Our buddy, Justin, likes to try out new photography techniques.  I’m a happy guinea pig for sure!

Another advantage to a cosplay shoot-out is that you can Superman it up and change cosplays througout the day.  Scout and I took our new Ghostbusters Kevin and Holtzmann cosplays for a spin as well as two versions of Scarlet Witch for me and Black Panther and Hawkeye for Scout.  All pictures taken by Justin Davidson Photography.  He doesn’t just do cosplay photography, so if you need photos of any kind, book him here.

We may not be able to cosplay much at Comikaze, so it was fun to take these for a spin.

Kevin glasses are sunglasses with the shades popped out, from Target.  Kevin’s shirt and tie also from Target.  Holtzmann goggles from Amazon.  Robe from Etsy.  Screw U necklace also from Etsy.  T-shirt and leggings from Forever 21.  Sneakers by Converse.

Hawkeye cosplay and accessories from Amazon.

Wanda jacket, leggings and shirt from Forever 21.  Necklaces from Etsy.

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Black Panther cosplay from Amazon.  Scarlet Witch cosplay from cosplaysky.com, but I was unhappy with the fit and had to have it altered a lot, even after I sent them current measurements.  So, I would recommend you go to black-leatherjacket.com.  I got my other Wanda cosplay from there and that jacket fits me perfectly.  I thought I would try a different cheaper option, and I ended up spending more money.  Go with what you know!

I hope you enjoy the pictures!  Let us know in the comments.

Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

Posted in Articles, Fashion Alert

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

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Recently I had the opportunity to model some clothes for friends of mine, who also happen to be the designers for one of my favorite clothing companies, Gold Bubble Clothing.  They expanded their size selection and needed a plus size model to get some pictures of their new Star Trek collection for Anovos.

What a major opportunity for me!

What a scary thing for me!

You see, up until a couple of years ago when I began cosplaying, I was so uncomfortable getting my picture taken, it wasn’t even funny.

I mean, who the heck do I think I am anyway?  Getting a picture taken at this size and at my age?  Honestly!  At least, that is the conventional thinking for people that don’t conform to a size or shape dictated by the fashion magazines.  After you turn 30, you really should just go hide away somewhere so that no one has to look at ya, come on!

Then I made friends in the nerdy geeky fashion world.  Not only do they make clothes for ladies like me, but they have them modeled by ladies like me to show other ladies like me what they look like!  They are proud to make clothes in sizes that fit me.  They know that my dollars spend the exact same as skinny dollars.  Whatya know?  True story.

About this same time, I discovered the magic of selfies.  They really build confidence.  More importantly, I scheduled a photo shoot with my buddy, Justin Davidson.  I feature his pictures on this site all the time because he helps me pose, helps me feel more confident in front of the camera.  There are tricks to getting a great picture, and a great photographer is key to helping you figure out what those poses are for you.

So, how do you step out of your comfort zone and realize your dreams?  Find an expert and ask for their help.  Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and guidance!  I was so embarrassed at my first cosplay photo shoot.  I had to confess I had no idea what I was doing.  Justin didn’t blink an eye and showed me what to do.  There is no shame in asking for help or mentoring to reach your goals.  You cannot always do everything yourself.  I know how hard it is.  We’re nerds, so getting made fun of is par for the course, but if you are around fellow nerds, then take that leap!  I know it is scary, but you can do it!

Which brings me back to getting my photos taken and put on a website.  Holy cow!  A dream realized!  Here are some candids that the kiddo took of me at the shoot.

I want to thank Gold Bubble Clothing for letting me take that leap.  I am so appreciative for the opportunity.  Your clothes are beautiful and amazing.

Now, if you want to get your hands on some of these dresses, go here.  If you want to take a look at all of Gold Bubbles offerings, go here.  Happy shopping!

Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

*Lead photo: Anovos.com

*All dresses: Goldbubbleclothing.com

*Images from Star Trek and related intellectual property: TM and © 2016 CBS All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Posted in Fashion Alert

Star Trek Fashion Dress Collection by Gold Bubble Clothing for Anovos

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I recently had the opportunity to model for the first time for friends of mine.  These friends also happen to be the designers of Gold Bubble Clothing.  More on my first modeling experience later, but more importantly, take a look at these great dresses!

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Buy either style of the Beyond dress here.

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Buy the Nebula dress here.

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Buy The City on the Edge of Forever dress here.

And finally, I’m still excited to see me on a website!

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Buy the NCC-1701 dress here.

The dresses go up to 2XL.  I’m wearing a 2XL in the photos of both dresses, and I usually wear a size 18/20 for reference.  In Gold Bubble Clothing, I usually wear their XL, so if you are on the border and can’t decide, then go with the 2XL if you want a longer dress and XL if you want the dress more “skater” style.

All the dresses are made in super stretchy spandex and pass the see-thru test.  I have several Gold Bubble pieces.  Even with constant wear and tear, they look fantastic years after I bought them.

There are links to each dress below the pictures, so happy shopping!

Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

*All photos: anovos.com

Posted in Articles, Fashion Alert

What the Heck is Bounding?

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One of the best ways to express your fandom without straight up cosplaying is bounding.  “What the heck is bounding?” you might ask, and I’m going to tell you!  Like, right now.

Bounding was created a few years ago by Leslie Kay.  She is a hard-core Disney fan and loves to visit the Disney theme parks.  Kay wanted to cosplay at the parks, but as you all probably know, that is against park rules.  Disney has good reason for this.  They have paid costumed characters that work for the company and follow the company’s strict guidelines in dealing with guests and their costumes are 100% screen accurate.  This is a good thing.  Disney has an image to preserve, and they can’t have some Capt. Jack Sparrow cosplayer running around a little “too” in character around kids.  So, bounding was born!

Bounding or Disneybounding is a way to dress as your favorite character using street clothes as an inspiration.  The best way to explain bounding is to show you some examples.

All of these photos are from disneybound.co .  Please visit Kay’s site to view her endless bounding ideas.  Pintrest is another site to visit for inspiration.

Other great bounding outfits can use the uniform dress as a start.  Please visit my piece on uniform dresses here.

I’ve written about Elhoffer Design a lot on this blog, and I’m going to talk about it some more.  Elhoffer Design creates fantastic bounding looks that are size inclusive and beautifully made.  Visit them here to order your own look.  Here are two looks Scout and I have from Elhoffer Design:

Now, you boys can also bound!  Not to leave you guys out at all.  Here are a couple of looks for men from the disneybound.co site:

Like Elhoffer Design, Hero Within has bounding looks for you guys.  Here are some of their designs:

Visit their site here to pre-order these jackets.  They are size inclusive, running up to 2XL.

Bounding is a great way to use your imagination to create great geeky looks for everyday.  Please send us pics of what you come up with!

Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

*Photos of bounding from disneybound.co

*Photos of Hero Within designs from herowithinstore.com

Posted in Fashion Alert

Outfit of the Day: Elhoffer Design Galactic Scavenger Dresses

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Recently, Scout and I scored and Elhoffer Design dress each.  We love to go “twinsies” and this dress was just the ticket!  Scout got the Black Galactic Scavenger Dress and I got the Grey version.

The details on both dresses is so beautiful!  Perfect for Star Wars bounding!  The scuba material is super soft, but holds its shape.  You wash this dress in cold water and hang it up to dry.  Literal wash and wear.  The cut is super flattering, and I love the twirly girly skirt.  Scout has on a small, she’s 10 years old, and I’m wearing a 3XL, I’m a size 18/20 for reference.  Elhoffer Design is size inclusive.  Her sizing is true-to-size, and she designs her clothes to be flattering to everyone.

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And, as with all Elhoffer Design dresses, pockets!!!  It is the easiest way to dress fashionably and comfortably all while celebrating your fandom.

What I really love about this dress is the versatility of it.  You can go everyday cosplay, bounding, dress it up or down, depending on the occasion or your mood. A few of my friends have this dress, and I love to check out how they style theirs.  I get inspired when I see a new post of their dress and how they styled it.

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If you would like one of your own, get the grey version here.  The black version here.

Please post pics of you wearing your favorite Elhoffer Design dresses!  Scout and I would love to see them.

Speaking of bounding, what exactly is that?  Well, stay tuned because in our next post, we will discuss bounding.  Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

Posted in Fashion Alert

Fashion Alert: Ashley Nell Tipton Collection for JC Penney

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“Project Runway” winner, Ashley Nell Tipton, has a new plus-size collection available now at JC Penney.  When I saw this, I went to the site to check it out.  She’s designed some really nice casual and work-ready wear.

I have not road-tested any of the pieces, but from previous experience with JC Penney, the quality is very good for the price.  Their sizing also tends to be true-to-size in the plus size realm as well, which is always welcome.

Here are some of the pieces that really caught my eye:

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I love the look and detailing of this skirt and the length is perfect for work or weekend.

 

Again, these looks work great for work or weekend.  I love the details that she adds to the mix, the laces at the top of the dress.  Also, the length is perfect.  Not too short, which can be a problem for plus-size fashion.

So, check our her collection here.  Send any pics of your new fashions to us.  We love to see them!

Until next time…

Love, Kim and Scout

*All photos: JC Penney

Posted in Fashion Alert

New Captain America Shield

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I have a Captain America shield that was a lucky find at a con for 50 bucks that I love.  I cosplay with it often.  It’s sturdy, but lightweight.  I’ve named her Peg, and when I’m not cosplaying with her, she is proudly on display in the living room.

But, being the Cap fanatic that I am, when I found out about a new Cap shield available from Hasbro in their Legends series, I was very curious.

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As any Cap fan knows, you can get a shield for 40 bucks at a Halloween store, but it is oversized and flimsy plastic.  There are better ways to spend 40 bucks for sure.  The other option is to buy a replica shield for a lot of money, in the hundreds of dollars.  In addition to spending a lot of money, these shields tend to be quite heavy as well.  They are gorgeous, but not very practical for a long day of cosplay.

So, Hasbro’s offering is a cosplayer’s dream come true!  I had been hoping for an option like this one as Scout’s little kid shield is way too small for her now, and she has been wanting an upgrade for future cosplay projects.

The shield is 100 bucks and well worth the money.  The shield is plastic, but heavy duty with a super shiny finish on the shield itself.  The shield looks like it is made from vibranium and it is light like vibranium.

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The inside is silver and has great rivet details on it and sturdy and adjustable leather straps.  There are also leather mounting straps already on it, so if you have a shield harness, you’re all set!

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The shield is a little bit larger than Peg, but only a little bit.  It is a good size for men and women cosplayers.  It is a bit big for smaller kids, but Scout could carry it (she’s 10).  Peg is the perfect size for her, so she has inherited Peg, and I have now adopted this shield and named him, “Carter”.

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Click here to get one of these beauties for yourself, but hurry, because they are selling like crazy!

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Send us some pics with your new shields so we can share them!

Until next time.

Love, Kim and Scout

*Photo of box: Hasbro

 

Posted in Cons, Videos

SDCC Recap: Our First Panel!

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Our last recap of SDCC 2016 is a report on our very first panel, Cosplaying with Your Kid.

Neither Scout nor I had ever done a panel at any con before, so what we were thinking going for the big Kahuna on the first time out, I’m sure I don’t know, but it is kind of how we roll.

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We were joined on our panel by Moderator, Anastasia Washington, who did an amazing job keeping kids and parents focused and on topic.  The kids were fantastic!  I was proud of each and every one of them.  Cosplay Michael and his squad even traveled all the way from Florida to attend.  We were so excited to meet our fellow panelists and made con buddies for life!

Please watch the video of the panel below, courtesy of the Hangin’ With Show (aka Cosplay Michael’s parents)

Following the panel, Cosplay Michael and his squad, Scout, and I had a photo shoot with Justin Davidson Photography.  Here are some of the great shots he got of us:

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As always, if you want some great pictures, please book Justin here.

Thank you to everyone that came out to see our panel.  We hope you left with some good information on getting started cosplaying with your kid(s).  If you do, please send us pictures!  We would love to see what you all are up to!

This panel was a dream come true for us.  Scout and I always thought about it, but never thought that we could make it happen, until we just decided to make it happen.  Living your best life will do that for you, but you can’t do anything without the support of your friends.  We are forever grateful to you all!

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This is only the beginning of our adventures!

Love, Kim and Scout

*All pro photos: Justin Davidson Photography