alter ego: Lady Loki

After lurking about the alternative curves FB page, I am finally joining in the blog hop! (May and June's themes were right up my alley, but as you may have noticed from my lack of updates here during those months, I just didn't have time). July is alter ego, and it seemed to me that Lady Loki would be a perfect fit! Those who know me know I have a deep love for Loki. Both Marvel canon and Norse mythology.
I've had the great pleasure of getting to portray Lady Loki in burlesques show across Southern California. And before anyone gets persnickety with "waaaah- don't gender-bend in cosplay... blah blah blah. You aren't a real nerd. blah blah blah", I'd like to let you know Lady Loki is comic book canon. So there. I recently got to do a photo shoot with the lovely Sharon Kelly (who is a dear friend, and my Thor). There were quite a few amazing shots that came out of this shoot, but my all time favorite this one. I was lucky enough to be the 97th Peepshow Menagerie pinup for their Marvel's of Burlesque show (one of my favorites!). Producer Chris Beyond used some of his graphic designer magic to make the faux comic cover pin up. I just love it! 

I made the costume myself, including the slightly wonky horns. I hope to be upgrading them shortly. But I must say, they aren't so bad for being made out of a .99cent store pool floaty! 

I also recently got the chance to model for Titmouse in Hollywood. Look at this amazing drawing by Joey McInnis. I was just blown away by his work. Check out more of it here. 

Photo by Jason Kamimura at last year's Marvels of Burlesque show. 

blue for you, Mr. Holmes

I've had this maxi dress for nearly 8 years. It was an incredible vintage find for super cheap at Value Village in Seattle. The zipper broke in it about 3 years ago, and I JUST replaced it like a month ago. So glad to have this piece back in rotation! The crop top I am wearing actually has my beloved Britney Spears on the front, but I forgot to turn it right side out after working the muggle job. My boss is a super patient man, but he has his limits. I won't get into to much detail in this post, but I am a HUGE Sherlock Holmes fan. Like all of it. The original stories, movies, american and of course BBC adaptations. I got this amazing tote (as well as a matching tea mug) when I was in London two months ago. I may have (ok- fine, I did) planned my trip around the fact that the Museum of London had a Sherlock Holmes exhibit during that time. It was glorious! 

Dress: Sears- Country Store Loungewear (Vintage)

Croptop: Britney Spears concert, years ago

Tote bag: Museum of London

Headbands: clothing swap

Photos by my favorite human, Lexi Lutter

Pink Lady

I promise I own more than one t-shirt. 

Shirt: Target clearance

Skirt: handmade by moi

Rhinestone necklace: Icing clearance

Shoes: H&M clearance 

Photo by Holly Go Darkly 

    One of my favorite pastimes is sewing. Both my great Aunt and Grandmother were professional seamstresses. When I was eight I spent a week with my Aunt so she could teach me the ins and outs of sewing. I was a casual seamstress through my early twenties. I could make something from scratch, but mostly I just altered things that I had purchased at thrift stores. It wasn't until I moved down to Los Angeles 3 years ago I have really gotten serious about the craft. Perhaps its because I live a short metro ride away from the downtown garment district (a costume makers dream).

    Anyways. I got a Miss Hussy pencil skirt (black, pictured below) in a clothing swap about a year and a half ago. It fit like a glove and I wore in multiple times a week. When the back seam ripped, I fixed it and kept on going. It got to the point that I had to fix it before every wearing. Finally there was nothing left to stitch. I was worried I was going to be riding the train and suddenly feel a draft. 

    Unable to just give my favorite skirt up, I added it to the sewing pile. Mostly I create garments from store bought patterns. I knew, theoretically, that you could take apart something to make a pattern, but I had always been to afraid to try it. Turns out I was just being a scaredy-cat. 

Original skirt on left: Miss Hussy

Skirt on right: Made by Moi

    I've had this pink denim fabric for years! (I actually got it when my great Aunt passed away. By the looks of it, its from the late 70's early 80's). It has moved up and down the west coast more than once with me. I knew that someday I would find the right project for it. I said one final farewell to my beloved black pencil skirt before I took my trusty seam ripper, and ripped every last seam. I then laid the pieces face up on the right side of the fabric. I cut 'em out, and used the original seam lines as a guide where to sew the new ones. And voila! All in all it took about 4-5 hours to complete. I can't wait to make it again. 

Main skirt pieces. Not pictured, skirt waist band