Shopping #01

cheap finds: black fake Louboutins for cosplay,
silver sandals for every day
and maybe cosplay, bag for every day.

Here I'm starting a #shopping hashtag, mostly because sometimes I buy random things that may be useful for cosplay, cheap shoes, underwear, fabrics, trinkets, without a specific costume in mind, or good for several costumes.

Last Sunday I was at my dad's, and fellow cosplayer Leonor Grácias, posted on Instagram that Loja Maria, a huge Chinese store, selling cheap shoes and clothing (I go there mostly for the shoes), was moving and having a big closing bargain sale. My dad's place is nearby, in fact, the shop is on my way home, so I decided to drop by, to see I could find anything worthwhile. I was aiming for some flats, to customizer as boots, for my Hokuto Umbrella dress, but there were none at all. Nothing problematic, I can find cheap flats almost anywhere. I bought the fake Louboutin mary-janes, to replace my patent heels that need repair, useful for many Yuuko cosplays. Yuuko doesn't really wear mary-janes, but the heels are a nice comfortable height and they look fancy enough for Yuuko to wear them. Plus, they were very cheap, around €7. I also bought the silver sandals for every day wear, although I may wear them, as the comfortable version, for my Maya Blue Dress, from Space: 1999, if they survive long enough until I make the costume (not in my most immediate plans). The bag is for daily use, but I may eventually take it to Cons, to carry my personal belongings.

Both shoes were one of a kind, no other sizes, and I managed to find the pairs in the middle of the shoe heap on the floor. Right, the store just had a heap of shoes left in the middle of the floor, and we had to go through them to find anything. The bags were in shelves, and I wasn't in the mood to go through the clothing area, in a separate room.

One thing I've learned about cheap Chinese shoes, they won't last long, but they are very well built and usually have nice designs. All I have bought so far, are very comfortable, and I can wear most straight away, or after a few days taming them at home. This combination is perfect for cosplay, as they have many models, both off and online, and are cheap enough to be customised for costumes.

And the shop gave me a 60% off coupon, and moved to a street nearby!

+ the shoes were very cheap, especially with extra 40% off, and are quite comfortable. 

- I wish I had found the flats and dance shoes I'm currently searching for. But the first I can buy almost anywhere, and the latter I already found online.

THE CUNNING PLAN 

Tame the shoes at home, as my right foot is much bigger and they hurt a bit because of that.

Intermission

my beaten up Elna Lotus SP ♡

Or... End of Intermission. Sort of... MY BABY IS BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL! My dear sewing machine, an Elna Lotus SP, which used to be my mom's, and has been my faithful companion since I started sewing, at 15 years old, stopped working around January last year. I vouched when I got the pay from my last job, I'd take it to the sewing machine hospital.

I've lived here over 20 years. When I moved, I noticed the sewing machine parts and repair shop, but, strangely enough, I never went in. Then, the place where I usually took my sewing machine to be repaired at, closed (it's a Hostel now - most likely a tiny one, the shop had a tiny area), and they didn't do a good job the last time I took her in. It was also partially my fault. About 10 years ago, I had a job at a costume department, and a seamstress there, gave me a "great" bottle of sewing machine oil. In my mom's hands, and then in mine, this machine seldom needed much more more than some fine tuning. It's a robust machine, mostly made out of metal, motor included. Only after I started using this "great" oil, she broke down twice in a period of about 5 years, both times with the same problem, the motor was stuck. I asked at the repair shop, and yes, it was the oil. The technician said it looked like car oil! My poor machine! So, I bought a new bottle of sewing machine oil, some new bobbin spools (I'm always loosing them), and a ruffle foot. Yeah, no more ultra boring hand gathered ruffles!

I loved the shop's service, the ladies were very nice, and they managed to have my machine repaired in two days! They were going to close on a 2 week holiday. So now I can go back to sewing, and I'm excited! But, before cosplay, I'm going to sew two dresses for myself, a sixties mod dress, with my "Sewing Woes" fabric, and a black long parka style dress, with metal zippers. I may make a post about those, we'll see.

Meanwhile, I sort of got my sewing mojo back, I'm making a face mask to wear with my Yuuko Sakura Robe, from scraps, which I'll probably wear at the first event since the pandemic started, Cine-Play, in Setúbal, in September. ComicCon was also announced, in December, at Parque das Nações, but IberAnime was postponed until Spring. I think Lisbon's Game Week was also announced, but I'm not sure, as I've never attended (I'm not a gamer).

Pecicostura (fb)

+ I got my sewing machine back in working condition and a nearby reliable repair shop.

- it still was an expense to my poor budget. But I'm an optimist!

THE CUNNING PLAN

Finish hand sewing the face mask. Make both planned dresses for now (there are more). Go back to my Mad Hatter costume, and finish the sleeves.