Blog has a new name, so we got new ducks!
We will be adopting these out at WonderCon, but if you just can’t wait that long, shoot us a comment so we can send one your way!
And as for WonderCon, stay tuned…
Love, Kim and Benji
DIY Saddle Shoes
I’ve talked a lot about these DIY sneakers as of late. It is about time to show you how to make your own.
You will need:
- Shoes
- Fabric Paint
- Paint Brush
First, the shoe. I have arthritis in my right knee, which makes walking a lot difficult. So, I found a great walking shoe from Skechers. Get your own with this link.
Now, the fabric paint. Click on this link to get your own. Lastly, the brush. Click here to get your paint brush.
Now, basically a saddle shoe is just what the name implies. It is a shoe that looks like it has a little saddle on it. You can get any color shoe and any color paint and just go bananas if you want to. There are no rules here. You can match them with your outfit. You can get a very inexpensive shoe if you they are for a one-off costume. You can find very inexpensive sneakers in a variety of colors just about anywhere. I chose my shoe because it was super good for walking all day.
So first thing, you need to chose how big or small you want the saddle to be. Choose a natural line on the shoe to mark it. Like in the pic below:
You can see where the stitching makes a guide line for me to paint.
Then you just put a coat of paint on the shoe, wait a day and do one more and you are all set!
And there is the finished product! They turned out great, and have saved my feet at a number of adventures since.
Happy painting!
Love, Kim and Benji
*Pro photos by Justin Davidson Photography
raisingaheronotavillain is now InPlainSight.style!
We have made a big change to the site, in case you haven’t noticed already!
We didn’t come to the decision to change the name lightly, but because it was so long, Benji is being raised pretty well so far and we wanted to change our focus a bit, we decided to make the leap. We really wanted to focus on everyday living as a nerd.
How to integrate your fandoms into your everyday life. Not with just everyday cosplay, which is fun to wear for sure, but also more subtle ways, bounding, dapper looks, pin-up style and the like.
We hope you like the update! Please share your thoughts with us. We love to hear from you!
Love, Kim and Benji
Wonderful photos by Justin Davidson Photography! Click on the link to book him today!
How-To: Amazon Shopping Tips
The last two posts were about wardrobe solutions. Now, where do you go find these solutions for a good price? You can comb the stores at the mall for what you are looking for, but I’ve found that Amazon has pretty much anything and everything you need for a good price. Also, with Prime you get them in two days!
But, with Amazon shopping, there is a bit of a risk involved. How is the quality? Does it look like the picture? Most importantly, how is the fit? Obviously, with in-person shopping, you can try things on and see for yourself about quality. This situation is where my plus-size status actually puts me at an advantage.
You see, most plus-size items are exclusively online. Even stores like Old Navy and Target, who sell plus sizes, only offer them online for the most part. Again, if you are going to have to order something, why not get it in two days?
OK, so let’s say you need to find a dress. I am going to show you three different t-shirt dresses I got on Amazon and include tips for finding what you want and need without the disappointment.
Step One: The Search
OK, so you go on Amazon and do a general search and a gazillion items show up. My first tip is to narrow your search as much as possible. Definitely limit things to Prime only to start. Now, if you don’t find what you want, then unclick that Prime box, but for now, keep it clicked to keep you wait time and shipping costs to zero.
Tip for Plus-Size, put in an extra big size, like 4xl. Even if you aren’t looking for something in that larger size, you will tend to get more items that come in actual plus sizes that way.
Step Two: The Quality
Next up, you want to check the quality as best as you can. Scroll to the information about the product. This information is below the different color choices for the product. What is it made of? Does it have any stretch? Find out by checking for spandex content. If no spandex is listed, then you can be sure that it does not have any stretch. If the fabric is a cotton t-shirt material, then this isn’t as important, but for something more formal like a pin-up dress, then some give in the fabric is crucial. As you can see from the picture below, there is some spandex in this dress, which was great news! Buy your own here.
Also, check out the photos of the product, lined up on the left side of the main picture. If there is a short video, like there is for the dress above, even better. Look at them, zoom in as much as possible. Watch the video. It is an extra 10 seconds and will show you how the dress moves.
Tip for Plus-Size, look at the model if there is one. Is she a plus-size like the model below? Buy this dress here. If so, then you are on the right track. If not, then take extra care with the next step, which is…
Step Three: The Fit
How on Earth are you going to know if you are getting the right size? Well, first off, see if the actual numerical sizes are listed, like the dress above. Probably not, the sizing is usually XS, S, M, L, XL, 2X and so on. Then you want to take a quick look at the left side and see if this vendor has a size chart posted, like the picture below.
This is crucial. Do not go by the Amazon size guide! It is almost never accurate. I am not sure why they even have it posted, to be honest. Go by the vendor’s size guide or the numerical size listed, if applicable. Here is a close-up of the vendor’s size chart for the dress above. Buy your own here.
If not, then last option is to look at reviews at the bottom of the page about accuracy of sizing. Almost everything on Amazon runs very, very small. Do not be surprised if you end up ordering 3 sizes bigger than usual. This is pretty normal. If the item you want just does not have the size you need, then look at the bottom of the page for some similar items. I do recommend you start down that rabbit hole. You can almost always find what you are looking for in the size and color you need.
One last note about sizing, take a look at these three dresses, all from Amazon and their pages are in this post.
Dress on top left is a size 22W. The one under it is a 4xl. The one on the right is a 2xl. They all fit me perfectly. These pictures were taken in the same month, so my size did not change. I wear these dresses all the time. So, you cannot get held-up on the size on the tag. You’ll miss out on some great finds.
Links for each dress are in the post, so Happy Shopping!
Love, Kim and Benji
Wardrobe Solutions: The Crop Top and Shrug
For our next wardrob solution, I’m going to take a look at the crop top and shrug. I will also be looking at cardigans. I know what you’re thinking, “Does she really expect me to wear a crop top?!” The short answer is yes, but as you will see, I’m not talking about a 90’s era Britney Spears crop top.
As you can see from the pic above, this shrug evokes a very pin-up or dapper look for my Star Lord bound. Shrug is from Amazon. Click on link to buy.
This piece can be in your team build as The Leader, The Brick or The Exotic. For more information and to use the team build checklist, click here to download and print your own.
This piece is very versatile. The cropped shrug is very 50’s. It can also add a pop of color to an outfit, and help you cover your arms for more confidence if you need that boost, which is what I did in the picture above. Crop tee from Amazon. Click on link to buy. If you find that the arm openings are too big, the crop top adds some modesty coverage for you. Lastly, if you have a sleeveless dress or shirt, the shrug can make the piece wearable year-round.
This dress is ridiculously cute, but without coverage, wearing a bra with it would be impossible. A bra is essential with this dress as it has no support built-in, so the cardi comes in real handy. I paired it with a long sleeved one in this picture since it was a bit chilly that day. Click on this link to buy from Amazon.
This tie-front shrug from Amazon covers too-big arm openings in this dress. Click on link to buy. It also has the added benefit of breaking up the pattern of the dress so it isn’t too-too much.
Another way to wear the crop top is under a piece to create insta-sleeves, like I did in the picture above. Click on link to buy on Amazon.
Happy shopping!
Love, Kim and Scout
Team Build Checklist
Please feel free to download and print this Team Build Checklist here.
Happy Building!
Love, Kim and Benji
Wardrobe Solutions: T-Shirt Dress
I’ve made a great discovery while exploring new ways to everyday cosplay, bound and dapper mash-up my cosplays- the t-shirt dress.
This type of dress is a great pick for The Brick on your cosplay team. For details on The Brick and building any cosplay or bound, please download this checklist.
Besides being super comfy, the t-shirt dress comes in an endless variety of colors, prints and cuts. There are bodycon dresses, skaters and swing dresses. Obviously, with all the dapper mash-ups that I do, the swing dress is my go-to.
Here are some pics of various bounds that I’ve done with a t-shirt dress. Links to buy these are below. All links are size-inclusive. I’m wearing a 2xl or a 3xl in these pictures. I wear a size 20 usually. Please use the vendor-specific size charts, which you can find in the pictures section on the left-hand side of each item’s page.
T-Shirt dresses on Amazon (all are swing style):
Solids and prints with V-Neckline
More solids and prints with V-Neckline
Happy Shopping!
Love, Kim and Scout
