Friday, December 19, 2014

One Last Time


First off, a heartfelt thank you to all of you who took the time to leave such encouraging and helpful words on my last blog post. It's good to hear from so many of you that things get better -- if so many of you are saying so, it must be true -- and I'm grateful to all of you who encouraged me both here and on IG to go ahead and dress up for BotFA. I don't think I would have made the effort to figure out logistics and deal with the aftermath (modified bedtime routine! engorgement and potential for a clogged duct! pumping! a lot less sleep!) otherwise. It was so nice to not be a mom for an evening and get all dressed up and be goofy with my sister, and even if the movie itself was goofily excessive, it felt right to put on a costume one last time to round out four years* of Tolkien/PJ movies.



I'd been wanting to do a Smaug costume since oh, about two hours after seeing DoS last year, but once I found out that I was pregnant and would have a three-month-old for BotFA, I knew I would have to scale my grand plans waaaay back. Forget making a whole leather Smaug headdress/mask, or a scaled corset, or huge wire wings, or clawed gloves...I wasn't even sure what shape I would be or if I'd be able to go, so whatever I did had to be fairly low-commitment, adjustable in size, and low on the time investment. So I settled on a horned headband and purchased eye mask, craft foam bracers, and reusing old costume components. I figured I could repurpose my MuLoki cape as a suggestion of wings, and since Smaug's signature line is "I am fire, I am death," I could wear my Girl on Fire dress, which is definitely adjustable, seeing as how the waist definition is all based on an elastic belt.

Heeeey Thorin, I've got your Arkenstone! Nyah nyah nyah!

My sister Emily, who is my cosplay buddy, decided that a fitting companion to Smaug would be his treasure hoard. Thanks to Bayfair Mall's ghetto fabulous stores, we had a plethora of cheap be-sequinned dresses and huge fake gold jewelry to choose from; she also hot-glued plastic coins to her leggings and shirt to complete the pile o' gold look. Her costume ended up being a huge hit and everyone wanted pictures with her!

Thorin is filled with lust for gold!
There was a much more serious Thranduil there than my last year's version
The whole group of dressed up people. I didn't know any of them before the movie, but found out about the group thanks to TORn's line party page. 

While it was fun seeing the movie with other dressed up people, I am sad that I didn't get to see it with Elaine. We've seen every Tolkien/PJ movie together (and some multiple times) since first squeeing over the FotR trailer as freshmen in college, and now that the last one is really over (as opposed to fake over, like with RotK), it definitely feels like the last goodbye. Even though I know I'll still cosplay and be goofy in the future, it's just such a huge contrast with my entry into this magical, beautiful world with FotR. Back then, we were still students with no responsibilities; now,we're both married, I'm a mother and a teacher and Elaine has her Ph.D and is helping people get their lives back together. It almost feels like saying goodbye to being a kid and stepping fully into adulthood.

Holding onto my carefree former life pile o' gold for dear life?

And in case any of you are wondering, I do intend on writing a how-I-made-it post for the bracers and headdress, so stay tuned!


*I didn't know about dressing up to see movies when I first saw FotR and TTT, so RotK was my first time dressing up for a midnight premiere.

21 comments:

  1. So glad you managed to dress up for the movie!! Even though you're a mom now, that doesn't mean you can't be silly and goofy for a night. Believe me, when your little one is older he'll probably get a kick out of seeing mom's old photos of being goofy! Kids are always shocked that there was a life before their existence. Love the costumes!

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    1. Thanks for the voice of experience! Now that I think about it, one of my favorite things to do when I was little was to look at old photo albums of my parents pre-kids. It was always fascinating to imagine them without me!

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  2. You look so cool! it would be so much fun to see a movie with fellow geeks all dressed in costumes. Your sister's costume is clever and funny and perfect.

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    1. Seeing a movie with a like-minded audience always enhances the whole experience!

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  3. I'm very, very pleased that you got out and had such a wonderful time. Your photos look so fun! You look marvelous and your sister is a hoot, both costumes are so, so clever! I haven't seen the movie and may not for a few days yet; as long as I haven't seen it it's not over, right?

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    1. Hmmm, by that reasoning, I should never ever see it so it can't end!

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  4. You both look FABULOUS! So glad to hear you made it out and survived the night (ah, yes, well do I remember the joys of adjustable breast size....) Also, Smaug + his hoard? FABULOUS idea!

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    1. Thanks! All credit for the idea goes to my sister; all I did was announce that I would be Smaug and she decided to go as the loot!

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  5. Give it a couple of years and you will be cosplaying with your kid. (Me: Dalek suit, Son: Tardis coat. Only problem; he won't allow photos). Or just sewing stuff for/with. When that stuff ends, that's the day I will really break down and cry. Brilliant costumes, and great group shots!

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    1. I can't wait until SHB gets old enough to understand what costumes are for and develops some fandoms of his own! Too bad your kid won't do pictures; that costume combination sounds awesome.

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  6. I totally had the same thoughts during the end credits -- it's corny, but it really felt like a transition away from being crazy teens to having adult responsibilities. This despite the fact that I've been seeing clients for years now, but there we are. End of an era. However, this does mean that we need to have a marathon weekend for all 6 movies, with a sleepover or two. One of these years...

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    1. I keep listening to The Last Goodbye on repeat and getting sad! And yes, you've been responsible before this (as have I with students, I guess), but this really feels real now! I think by the time we are in the same place and have time to do a marathon, we'll be too tired...

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  7. Awesome! Love the costumes together.

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  8. I love how you turned the Hunger Games dress into Smaug, it looks like you sewed it up for Smaug with the fire motif, its so so perfect!

    It's so sweet seeing you being goofy with your sister. That's what sisters are for <3

    And your bracers are awesome! I think I'm just going to start wearing quilted leather bracers around the house, it makes life feel cooler. And cloaks. Especially short little humans in cloaks... I'm going to start putting my kids in the clothes I want to see them in all day, before they know better than to resist.

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    1. Sisters are just the best, aren't they?

      I totally want to make up the bracers in fabric so that I have a more durable version. And I like your idea of hacking your kids' fashion sense!

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  9. Yippee! Your pics make me happy. I'm glad you dressed up and had fun. Cheers to your sister and husband for supporting you and sending you off to have fun. You deserve a break sometimes, mama!

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    1. Awww, you're so sweet Gillian! I'm really glad that people pushed me to go do this; it was well worth it!

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  10. Cute costumes! I love seeing people dressed up for movies! I'm glad you were able to get a night away and feel like a human being again. (As opposed to a zombie bot that feeds baby non-stop. =D )

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    1. Heh, I definitely felt like a zombie the day after...late nights don't agree with me anymore! I love seeing movies dressed up because it feels like a mini-party, and I think it makes things more fun for other audience members (I hope!).

      I just realized (after finally having the time to follow your screen name link) that I've been admiring your work for ages! I'm so honored that you read my blog. It's definitely encouraging to see how you've been able to maintain your costuming endeavors even with two little ones.

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  11. Aww, that's so sad! Sound of Music is such a fun musical and I think the costumes are easier to put together than most costume pieces...

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