#we don’t need to buy decora stuff just yet

[justapalspal]

I need a wig cap but after that I think I’m just. Gonna do a no buy (or as close to a no buy as I can) (low buy??) February and invest my time into the hobbies I already have instead of collecting resources for new hobbies that may or may not stick around after the dopamine hit is up. this goes for fashion as well me @ my brain

[cora-maria-blog1]

DECORA FASHION COSPLAY CONCEPT FOR NORA VALKYRIE! (read below to understand what this is)

Or as I like to call it, my Denora cosplay that I will hopefully wear to RTX Sydney next year. (I apologise for the blurry picture btw) Please note that this labelled drawing probably makes way more sense to me than you, and is not an accurate indication of the final cosplay.

For those from the RWBY fandom that don’t know, Decora fashion is a street style from the Harajuku district in Tokyo. It mostly involves wearing as many accessories as possible, hence the abundance of bracelets, broaches, necklaces, clips, rings, stickers, and more.

Here’s a short documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WblNctc3ys0&t=68s

And here’s a video featuring many Decora looks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1RC3KSLf-k

Please note that Decora fashion is not a costume by default. I have been wearing this style for a year as a creative outlet and form of self expression. In this case, I intend for this Denora outfit to be a costume as I will be pretending to be Nora Valkyrie and adapting the style to her personal aesthetic as opposed to mine.

But why cosplay a Decora version of Nora?

I’m not great at sewing, and I don’t know a thing about making props, but what I do know is jewellery making. It was a hobby I had a few years ago, but a few months ago I threw out my supplies because I didn’t do it anymore. I just didn’t have any projects to be passionate about. I regret that decision now, and I’m slowly restocking on supplies. I can make necklaces, bracelets, broaches, bag charms, and hair clips that are personal to Nora easily.

Japanese fashion is my lifestyle. I wear it almost every day. I’ve done a few cosplays before, and I’d love to get back into it again, but both j-fashion and cosplay can be time-consuming and expensive. The solution? Smash them together! I own many components to this outfit already, and anything else I make or buy can be used outside this cosplay. I also find the idea of accurately portraying a character to be stressful, and I want to use this cosplay to revive yet another one of my tween hobbies.

I became interested in fashion designing around the same time I got into jewellery-making. Back then, I had no idea what Harajuku fashion was, but I always felt this need, this compulsion, to dress differently. I guess that compelled me to design stuff that fit my tastes at the time. Now-a-days, I work with what I have and what I find, but now I would like to design something of my own and, for the first time try to bring it to life. Now, this is more about creating a full outfit rather than clothes from scratch. I already own many of the components in the picture, and I intend to buy the petticoat and white shirt, but I will also modify the shirt to fit the design as labelled (if you can see it).

Nora has a lot of symbols that we associate with her: pancakes, hammers, hearts, lightning, sloths, crowns, castles, Boop, and so much more. I made a comprehensive list of things associated with her that I could in-cooperate into the clothes, accessories, make-up, and props. I’ll have letter-bead bracelets with some of her best quotes. I’ll have individual broaches arranged to create an image, like a hammer descending upon a foot. Each accessory I make will have a meaning or reference behind it pertaining to Nora’s character.

What does this mean for my cosplay future?

Potentially a lot. I also have plans to cosplay a Lolita version of Pyrrha Nikos on the second day of RTX, using a red and gold dress and some accessories I already happen to own. I just need to buy and make a few accessories to complete the look.

I’ve also gotten ideas for other alternative fashion inspired cosplays. Creepy-cute decora Yandere-chan (already started designing for this one). Rockabilly Weiss. Otome kei Zelda. Visual kei Midna. Cult party kei/Minori-style Shironuri Luna Lovegood. The possibilities are endless!

Follow me for updates as I work on this cosplay!