#katsucon 2019

[cosplayamaradolce]

"Yo, what's up? You wanna join Team Skull?"

I love everything about Team Skull's aesthetic, but my garter kept falling down and the pointed edges of the shorts kept flipping up, so it may be a while before I wear this again.

[burlesque-brigade]

“Pretty things should be enjoyed!”

Here’s mine and @woodsmokeandwords “comfy” cosplays from the sunday of #katsucon ! I’ve been wanting to cosplay Jo March from Little Women 2019 since the film came out. I adore Jo’s wardrobe. Its a lot of things I wear, like long skirts with boots, and I will be incorporating these pieces into my everyday wardrobe now that I’ve worn them for con. The hat was made by @woodsmokeandwords as a Christmas present in preparation for this cosplay and I already wear it most days on my walks to the subway 💕 I love how it mostly goes uncommented on that all of the waistcoats Jo wears, and some accessories, she stole from Laurie. Its a great bit of storytelling through costume!

I was able to find an almost identical ring to the one Jo gives Laurie. It was made from a Victorian wax seal with the image of a train that says QUICK, “A gentle reminder that time goes fast, so cherish each day”. Thank you Tilda for being my handsome Teddy and partner in cosplay crimes 💕 I love spending time and cosplaying with you and I’m glad we got to do this con together!

Me as Jo March (hat by @woodsmokeandwords)

@woodsmokeandwords as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence

First photo by @/reiukos (ig)

[batbushka]

Throwback to Sailor Neptune from Katsucon 2019.

[shopwitchvamp]

hello!! i was wondering if you’ve ever sold work at any conventions in the midwest? i saw your recent post about discounted wares and realized i own a few of those exact pins! but i’ve never ordered online from you (unfortunately, bc ur stuff slaps) and can’t remember where i got them, so i was curious! thanks :)

Yeah! Back in the day when I did a lot of cons (2013-2019 or so) I went all over the place. Lots in Texas because that's where I am, but also Kansas when I lived there for a while, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, Washington DC, Colorado, Illinois, and possibly some other states I'm forgetting about. If you bought some of those currently discounted pins from a table that had crocheted plushies, pins, prints, some skirts, zipper bags, lanyards, joggers, and shirts- that was me under the name "Syppah's Cute Creations". Example table from 2016 Katsucon:

If it was a big booth with a lot of clothes & accessories in all sorts of styles, then it was probably from Fresh Hot Flavors (when I was 1 of 4 artists in that group). Example from FHF at RTX 2018:

Either way, I'm glad you've found me again :] thanks for supporting me back then!!

[cosplayinamerica]

Jollibee from Jollibee (fast food restaurant) /Cosplayer : @ADRI.NYAN / Photo:@climacam

People kept asking if there was real food in the bucket/peach mango pie container! I told them “No, don’t you think it’d be soggy by now?” I feel like as a Filipino it’s a little bit sacrilegious to eat soggy Jollibee. It’s best to eat it as fresh as possible. Other reactions I got were hilarious, but I especially liked hearing “I have to show my mom/family”. I think seeing Filipinos thrive and enjoy the representation in this silly costume I did is inspiring for me. If anybody reading this hasn’t yet, please try out Jollibee if you’re close to one. If not the chicken then at least the peach mango pie. It’s delightful.

I actually found a video from a doll makeover YouTuber named Hextian, who is also Filipino. He made a Jollibee doll and I actually said to my friends I wanted to cosplay her. That was around 2019. I’ve been ruminating on the idea for three and a half years. But at the time, I was still in college with no money and no means of creating something like that. Flash forward to 2022, when planning for Katsucon 2023, I was thinking about what to do in terms of a cosplay for Katsucon. That’s when I said, “Okay, Jollibee cosplays are really rare, especially SEXY Jollibee, why don’t I just try doing it?”

My older cousins got me into anime and they used to go to Otakon back in the day. I remember begging my mom to let me go and eventually I was allowed to in 2012. That’s when my oldest kuya (male cousin in Tagalog) asked me “Who will you be cosplaying?” And I said, “Oh, is it required?” He said, “No, but it’s a lot of fun. You should try it out.” So I debated and finally caved in after looking at so many pictures online. I was 14 years old when I got my dad to buy my first cosplay as a birthday gift and it was Maka from Soul Eater. I was hooked since then!

[lostlegendaerie]

Sunday blues under the cut

I'm going through my Google docs and my favorite (recs) AO3 bookmarks and like. there's something about the nostalgia here that's making me really sad for some reason and maybe it's because I've been so much less engaged with fandom stuff since I left Twitter.

Like I still read constantly and comment when I can, but maybe it's because of the culture that tends to softly discourage reblogs with comments (as opposed to Twitters endless streams of little public discussions, at least back in like 2019-2021) that I feel extremely disconnected.

I've got my little pockets of two or three friends here and there but a group? A fandom? A place where I felt like part of a community of likeminded people?

I don't know. I think I'm just back on that same old "I want to write something that matters to to someone" train and the only thing I've written with that level of plot and teeth is the fucking Genshin fic and I'm just. I wish I didn't care so much about making friends! I wish I didn't have to fight so hard to feel like I belonged! But Katsucon put into sharp relief that I don't have nearly the amount of IRL support that I need to be okay. I'm the mom friend to 80% of the people I know, and the other 3 individuals cannot be expected to keep helping me out of every crisis I have.

I don't know what happened to me in the past few years. I know some things have gotten better. But I miss so, so much just having a group of people to get EXCITED about creative projects with - or even just being able to hang out in person and not worry about how many annoying stupid things I've done in the past hour. God. GOD.

I know that I'm still talented. There's still something worth keeping in this body. But I feel like I've lost my ability to showcase it or share it in a way that isn't just Laurel (whom I love) doggedly trying to keep my sense of worth above water.

The only thing I feel like people like me for is my credit card. And it's something. It helps the people I love. But. God, I wish I could be something else.

[drsteggy]

I had a really fun Katsucon, and there were a ton of Zelda cosplayers who were very excited to see other Zelda cosplayers and nerd out.

When I first started doing this, back in the fall of 2019- I went and followed anyone with a Zelda cosplay. If they were local, I tried to be friends. And then 2020 happened and I started trying too hard to be friends and in some cases I alienated people. So I had to tell myself to back off and sometimes I was okay at that and sometimes not. Anyway, there is a local guy who was doing an incredible Twilight Princess Link and I wanted to be like him so bad it was incredible but I think I kinda freaked him out and he was always polite but distant. So I respected that and eventually did find people to yell with, even if their preferred fandom was Metroid.

A month ago I was at a con and an Astarian cosplayer crosses my path as I’m rolling in Link and he smiled and greets me as he passes and I was like I think that’s TP Link and that was cool.

Saturday night of this con, I go to chat a Link in the frostbite set and he is talking to that same Astarian and it is, indeed, this local TP Link. And he goes “HEY I follow your Instagram and your stuff is so good!”

And I almost fell on the floor but I managed to keep myself together long enough to reply “Omg, when I started doing this, your Link was one I aspired to.”

“Oh stop!” He says. “You’re better at this than me. Can we get a photo together?”

So we did and I managed to keep my shit together just long enough to not have a whole Senpai noticed me moment in front of anyone.

Like damn, that was so cool, and definitely a high point.

[ladycels]

Next on the road to Katsu and my second Witch costume is Umbreon.

I made her in 2019 and planned to have her at Katsucon 2020. But then, on the last day, I ended up having a medical emergency and had to leave the con early 🥲

So, it's time for take two!

Photography by enomiyama

Umbreon Design by @taigakunnartandcosplay

[roses-cosplay]

it was your home. doesn’t it ever feel strange not to be there?

Photo by crabkingphoto, taken at Katsucon 2019

[gluevah]

Going to Katsucon over the weekend, I'm so excited! First con I've been to since 2019! Jeremy and I are heading down to the Gaylord tomorrow (first time staying at the Gaylord and not the cheaper hotel across the street, I can't wait to see how nice the rooms are!) to get badges, and we're going to go to the Build-A-Bear in the area. I haven't been to a BaB store in awhile, since the one at Tysons Corner closed 😭 Hoping they have the new pastel cow! And I recently was able to get the Busch Gardens highland cow from a pickup, so I'm gonna get him stuffed too c: And we're gonna get Quiznos at least once during the con, because there just isn't one near us but there is one that delivers to the hotel 👀 Prime rib peppercorn, my beloved.

Most of all, I'm really looking forward to just being around that convention vibe where everyone is excited and we're all cringe but happy about it lmao. And I'm excited to go on a trip (even though it's not a very far trip lol) with Jeremy!

Anyone else going to Katsucon? :D

[vulpesarctica]

Hello! I asked like in 2019 or something about cosplaying your art of padme Amidala (the all white suit fashion piece you did) and was wondering if that was still okay?? I was planning on making it for this Upcoming KatsuCon, but I wanted to check with you first. All credit will be given, of course, and I’ll post it here so you can get tagged and credit as well! If not, I totally understand and have a backup planned! Thank you very much!

Hi, yes please do!!! I'd love to see it.

Full disclaimer - I shamelessly ripped off that suit from a Fausto Sarli design I found on Pinterest, just so nobody thinks I came up with it myself. 😅

[rubbish78]

He’s a video of me drunk af at Katsucon 2019

[inkface-fahz]

Silly I guess, but posting those Yukine cosplay photos makes me nostalgic for Katsucon 2019. Only a year and change into regular HRT doses, and 2.5 months after top surgery.  I felt really emotional over this aspect of this costume being a death and rebirth of myself in a sense. The idea of transmasc yukine gives a dimension to the background of his bastard dad and that stort of struck me: if yukine has these scars. He would have survived past puberty. Trans yukine in early puberty brings an additional level to the "souls that wanted to keep living" angle of Regalia. Yato seeing hes a teenage boy would be affirming but the trauma of “living” forever on the edge of the wrong puberty is horribly tragic. I know this is literally just me projecting my life experiences on Yukine, no canon text, but this was a really meaningful costume to express myself with. 

[capskat26]

On May 15, my dear friend Megan (@gothicdancer) passed away after a long hard fight with brain cancer. It’s taken me over a week and a half to publicly speak about her death because... how do you find a way to talk about someone who has touched your life in so many ways in a reasonable amount of words??

Megan and I met in 2004 on the site “FanArt Central” due to a shared love for the anime “One Piece” and a mutual admiration for each other’s fan fiction/art for the series. Soon enough, our stories became part of the same fanfic universe, and our characters (based off of ourselves) became friends as well! She was the first friend I ever made through a fandom.

Our correspondence continued through our teenage years, with many a Skype conversation about anime and our OCs and life in general. We traded countless amounts of art on DeviantArt and shared jubilations upon being accepted to our colleges of choice. It was Megan’s postcards my freshman year of college that helped eased my nerves and stresses of moving away from home for the first time and dealing with long days in the studio.

Her original tale “Princess Records”, was the inspiration behind my submission “Blossom Lion” for the 1001 Knights anthology (with her blessing), with the main characters based on her creation, Princess Yakune, and her protector Smadar, a character I had created as part of a contest she ran for Princess Records on DeviantArt a decade prior.

After all those years of online friendship, we finally, FINALLY got to meet in person in 2018 at Katsucon that year. That weekend and the following year at Katsucon 2019 were truly not enough time to spend together, but I'm so thankful for the memories made during those two long weekends.

I will always see Megan in so many things – in the characters Zoro and Rock Lee and Moira O’Deorain and every original character we shared. When my Caps hit the ice against her Bruins. In looking through every letter and drawing and cosplay selfie and silly facebook message. 

This memorium is only a fraction of 18 years of memories, but in closing – Megan, I am so thankful and lucky to have been your friend. You were a kind soul and a wonderful person taken from this world way too young and I am going to miss you so, so, so much. ❤️

[65oh7]

I just went down a massive cosplay rabbit hole

So, if you've ever wondered about the International Costumers' Guild (ICG) like I have, it sounds like a great idea right? Like, it's not just one kind of costuming, it's cosplay, OCs, historical, furry, literally anything is supposed to be accepted. I find it talked about in the Cosplay: A History (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cosplay-A-History/Andrew-Liptak/9781534455825) and Adam Savage even attended Costume-Con 41. So of course I'm excited to find out that the DC region is where the GCFGC, the founding group, who that they made the pronounciation of GCFGC "Founders". I'm like all gung-ho to look into how to join and I... where the heck are all the websites? The ICG website doesn't even list the GCFGC, someone from the GCFGC is *on* the board for the ICG. The last time the GCFGC website (hosted at some guy's website?) was updated was 2019. The facebook groups chain via one last post into some Maryland Costuming and Cosplayers public chat. Doing digging, I'm finding... maybe the ICG is trying to keep from falling apart? Like, this report from the president isn't looking so hot. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSFSD2hyS33tF4iPW5y3j0tDiheNJEy2JGdT_Wtb6aGs_tqWjhP50TiNVPL03IB0s39Zfvo8-Sto2sp/pub) Did the ICG... have to disband it's founding group? Do they need help? Like, you're telling the group is next to Awesomecon, MAGFest, Katsucon, and can't like... find members? I mean, besides the exclusive membership requirements of having two sponsors. (Yeah, I get it keeps people out for vetting but even the Masons only require one sponsor.) You could totally recruit some fresh blood.

I'm just kinda lost - I'm someone who wants to costume, cosplay, fursuit, just all that stuff and... the club that looks like it's closest to my interests just kinda... poofed. So here I am - like I guess I'll email... someone from the Founders and see if they're still meeting. Like, it's just kinda wild to me. Almost smelly - maybe I'm just sticking my nose in politics I'm not aware of but I expect the Founding chapter to be the most likely to exist. Anyway... /rant

[cosplayinamerica]

Motion Capture Suit from CATS Cosplayer: @loganarei  (IG)

Well my wife and I love cats the Broadway musical. And we had a pretty decent sized group for a cats cosplay group for Katsucon 2020. Right before the pandemic. I had an actual cosplay of Old Deuteronomy and my wife was Etcetera. There were maybe around 10 of us in the group.

 I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be hilarious if someone just went in a mocap suit and said they were a random cat from the terrible 2019 movie. So I decided when I got sick of being old Deuteronomy (it was large and very very hot), I could be that cat. I just bought a zenti suit and some ping pong balls. Wasn’t sure if I was even going to end up doing it. But I decided to while I was at katsu. I put it together in the hotel. My wife made a sign. I went out on the floor and people laughed. I love it. I love walking by and hearing it click in people and they start laughing.