Hokuto Sumeragi - Mad Hatter #81

Cosplay Photoshoot 2022
photo: Josué/Associação de Cosplay

Saturday, February 26th, was the long awaited Cosplay Photoshoot. It was the last cosplay related event, before the pandemic broke, in 2020, and it became the first cosplay related event, when things started to become normal again, in 2022. Full circle. A 2 year gap. This costume was also planned to be worn in 2020, but ended up being my pandemic cosplay project. And its not yet 100% done, as the pandemic isn't over yet either.

How I didn't miss getting ready for cosplay!!

My cosplay routine

I usually start to get ready 2 hours before leaving home. If it's not a morning event, like the Photoshoot, scheduled at 3 p.m., I don't wake up too early. I take my shower first, and then, while moisturising my face, I take a breakfast break. Onto the make-up. These are the steps for Hokuto, which don't differ much from all the others:

1. I put my hair into a hair net, pinned it, while adding hairspray to the hairline, to tame all the flimsy hairs that tend to like to escape. 
2. I prime my face with the NYX Face Primer, and let it set.
3. I apply the Nivea BB Cream, in light, with a brush. For cosplay, I usually add a second layer.
4. I apply Catrice Liquid Corrector, in 010, to my eye bags, and Catrice Corrector, in 010, to any blemishes.
5. I powder my face with Catrice Face Powder, in 010. I should have used the Smashbox Photofinish Translucent Powder, which is much nicer and longer lasting, but I forgot.
6. I apply Urban Decay Primer Potion to my eyelids.
7. I did my eyebrows with PS Eyebrow (...), in (...).
8. Added the Too Faced (...) blush to the top of my cheeks. Should have added a stronger blush, this one is too light and natural.
9. Added a bit of highlight, Too Faced (...), and contouring, NYX Taupe blush, with a fan brush.
10. Set my face with NYX Setting Spray, in Dewy.
11. Primed my eyelids with Catrice (...) cream eyeshadow, in (...).
12. Added Too Faced (...), to the outer part of the eyes, and (...), to the whole lid, eyeshadows, from the (...) palette. 
13. Finished with a thick eyeliner, using NYX Liquid Liner in black. (the early CLAMP eyes, full of eyeliner)
14. Put the glue on my PS (...) fake lashes, and waited a minute before applying them.
15. Added a bit of PS (...) mascara to the upper and lower lashes. Managed to apply some to my left eye, which then bled out on my way to the meet.
16. I grabbed my wig, and put it on, adding a few pins to the sideburns and nape of the hair.

Next time, I will go for more nude eyes, with just a little bit of glitter eyeshadow. Add eye bags highlight, and white pencil to the bottom inner lid. Set the foundation with the smash ox powder and add a stronger blush.

The costume

1. Put Hokuto's shirt on, but didn't button it all the way up.
2. Put the socks on, and added a stripe of stick glue to my legs, where the elastic would stay. These socks, although good quality and very pretty, are also very old, and the elastic has become loose, this way, the Harajuku girls' glue trick, they did stay on several hours, only getting loose late in the evening, while I was returning home.
3. Put the jacket on, and closed it. Then I grabbed my boots, so they stay up, in an 18th century fashion. Only after, did I button the shirt up and adjusted it.
4. Put the skirt, petticoat and bloomers on, and this is where things started to go downhill...

So, I should have put all the white layers on, before the jacket. The jacket limits my movements and it was a saga to put all the lower layers on, even the skirt. I wasn't even able to tie the bloomer ties! Mental note: next time, START WITH THE WHITE LAYERS!

Anyway, I was ready, grabbed my MUJI kinchaku, the hat and my round sunglasses, and went to the Photoshoot.

As usual, I go early, catch the subway and grab some lunch at Burger King (Bean Burger). I met some cosplay acquaintances, Bibi and Nexi (sisters) and a friend of theirs, and had lunch with them.

By the Pavilhão Atlântico (now Altice Arena), I met many other fellow cosplayers, and Steampunk friends. Carol came as Tiimo, from the film Metropolis, Afonso as (...) from Over the Garden Wall, and Marta as (...), from (...). The photo part is always very boring, and I find it more boring every time.

After that was done, I went with Carol, her boyfriend and Zé Gato, her photographer, to take photos for the Cosmo e-zine competition.

Then we grabbed some beers and chatted for a while. They had to leave early, but there were a few fellow cosplayers nearby, which whom I hung out with, and had dinner later.

I don't like to come home early on cosplay event days, because I don't want to cross paths with my awful next door neighbours, while wearing cosplay.

Damage assessment

Wearing the shirt and bloomers directly on my skin was the worst! Seemed like I was inside a plastic bag all day. The bloomers climbed up up bunched up between my thighs all day, which is rather unpleasant. Even if it's hot, I need to wear a t-shirt and shorts underneath. The shirt also became really dirty, mostly foundation, on the collar, and I couldn't take it out with a wet wipe. The jacket's shoulders were always slipping down, there is zero grab between the satin and the taffeta. The false closures were sewn a bit too tight and stretched. The jacket's skirt is too long at the front, even though I made it shorter than the back. This will have to be corrected. Even though I can't feel it through the wig, the hat does stay on fairly well, but I can't put my belongings inside, they unbalance it. The petticoat does hold the jacket's weight nicely, there is no need to make a crinoline. Unfortunately, I made a hole in one of my pretty socks. I haven't checked the shoes yet, but they seem to have held on nicely.

To do

• I already machine washed the shirt, I bought a washing net bag to do so, and the shirt came out nice and clean.
• I need to buy a white cotton undershirt and white leggings. I won't have time to go shopping until the Anisama event, so I'll have to make do with stuff I already have.
• Sew small hooks to the jacket's shoulders, and corresponding thread loops to the shirt. Unpick the false jacket's closures, and resew them with a bit of give. Unpick all the front bias tape and appliqués, cut the bottom, resew the appliqués and bias tape.
• Add some hair combs to the hat, and ribbon ties.
• Add the buckles to the shoes and cuffs.
• Mend the socks.
• Iron the white taffeta garments.
• Finish the gloves
• Finish drafting the teacup+saucer in Onshape. Have them 3D printed.