Screwed Up Screw U

A week or two ago, I placed an order for a 3D printed replica of Holtzmann's amusingly insulting (or not, depending on who's reading it) 'Screw U' pendant.

Well, it arrived in the mail yesterday....yeah, the size is a little off.

Seriously babes, it's like the Flava Flav version...

Here's the pendant after I painted it, and next to my work phone (iPhone 5). I also left a kind note about it with the folks producing these. It's not insanely big, but it's leaning toward Toon Town proportions. I'll still be using it for another top secret-for-now project ;)

I've contacted someone about making me a real one from metal, in a truer size to the original.
I'll keep you guys posted XOXO

The Making Of A Ghostbuster (Cosplay) Continued

FYI, I love gloves.
I happen to have a rather large collection that has grown to somewhat frightening proportions, filling many of my little drawers that could probably be used for better things.
Actually, no. Gloves win.

Since I was old enough to put a ballet tutu on my head and say, "Mom. Mom. Mommy...mommy, mooooom. MOM LOOK!... I'm a lion", I've taken dress-up pretty seriously. By age 10, I considered myself a professional dress-up artist of sorts.
Nothing beat my Gunnie Sax/square dance petticoat bustle combo *with lime green 1960s evening gloves*.
Gloves are serious business, and thanks to a family member with an antique shop during my formative years, I got ALL the awesome estate sale, auction, thrift and garage sale dress-up wardrobe scores to fuel my theatrical comedy antics.
As always, there were random pairs of gloves included. Some quite nice and still residing in my collection today. Unfortunately for the lime green evening gloves, they met their demise at the hands of the neighbor boy and a full glass of grape juice. I think fire was involved, too...it was the 1980s.

In more recent years, when attempting to find the proper gloves to finish an ensemble, I've been able to turn to this vast collection of mine.
But, oh Ghostbusters; why must you thwart my laziness?!!
Thanks to a bit of Googling and digging over at GBfans.com, I was able to nail down exactly the type and brand of gloves worn by these ass-kicking ladies.
They are made by 4th Element, and they are the 3mm Neoprene Dive Gloves.
Changes were made to them for the film; obviously they were clipped into finger-less gloves, and a custom made wrist guard was added. That's at least what I know for now, and better quality images are coming soon to get better details on changes made to them.
No fire, grape juice, or neighbor boys will be utilized...this time.

These dive gloves can be found at http://www.diverightinscuba.com, but also on Amazon.com for a slightly lower price if you do a search there. Though I will warn that they are going fast on Amazon, and are in limited sizes and quantities.
Also; you know when something currently being produced is in high 'cosplay demand', when Ebay turns up zero results. This also happened with a specific style of work gloves that were used with the flight suits in the newer TV series, Battlestar Galactica. I'm glad I snagged a few pairs, those suckers are GONE.

On average these 4th Element dive gloves run about $55 to $65 US per pair currently.
When I get a pair I'll let you guys know how they fit. Going by their size chart, I figure the small will work for me. It's what they had left via Amazon (at the lower price) nearest my size, otherwise I would have gone with X-small. I have about a 7.5" palm circumference, so I fall right in between the two sizes, and they recommend sizing up.

XOXOX!

It's Spelled Holtzmann...

Yup, I apologize for the typos in earlier posts regarding my new favorite Ghostbuster, Dr. Jillian Holtzmann.
When I first began this journey, I only ever saw it spelled with one 'n'. I should have followed my gut and added the extra 'n'.

Anyways...a few updates to share so far; I'm planning on one of two things...
1. Buy 2 of the Red Kap fisher herringbone twill coveralls (#CC16), and bleach the crap out of both to redye them the correct khaki shade. Then I'd use one for parts to build the correct pockets and front neck closure extensions.
2. Buy some herringbone weave cotton twill, dye it, and make the coveralls myself.
I'm leaning toward the bleaching....but we'll see. I CAN sew them from scratch, but do I WANT or NEED to? Hmmmm...

I found even more accurate wire safety glasses...and by more accurate, I mean 99% the EXACT SAME model as Holtzmann's (1% difference is just the green lenses, at left) . They are Cesco 22s and in better condition than a previous pair I found (at right).
The green lenses will get replaced with yellow lenses instead of the found glasses mentioned in previous posts. So, I may have a banged-up-but-a-fun-project pair to sell because of this, and they are also the accurate Cesco 22 model used in the film. Keep an eye on this blog for any future links to auctions or Etsy.
(The lenses on those are clear, there is a bit of rust, the mesh sides are a bit bent and mis-matched slightly).

The 'Screw U' pendant. It's a thing of beautiful science humor that, I think, is lost on many.
Here is my theory: In classic Holtzmann style, it's a reference to the uranium element, with her added random bit of humor. Not only because uranium can indeed screw you, but because she's an awesome weirdo, who takes functional (albeit dangerous) things and makes them altogether better. Or in this case; science made into an honestly amusing statement to the world.
;-)
Anyways...the pendant is available to be 3D printed, and you can have these folks even print it in metal. As a cost-saver for now, I went with the black plastic that I can buff smooth and paint with metallics, until I can get the nicer version made in steel or silver.

And finally, this last one cracks me up realizing the lengths to which I go for costuming/cosplay/tribute projects. I'm still not sure if it's by chance that I stumble onto these things (as if I have a magic cosplay supply-finding magnet somewhere in my body), or if I just like a good treasure hunt, but...
I found Holtzmann's socks.
Her SOCKS, for cryin' out loud. Yes, I'm weird.
The exact pattern and brand, but they're cute!
So, as shameless as it may seem, I actually needed new socks. Seriously; my toes make a break for it in nearly every pair I currently own.
They are made by the brand 'B.ella', the style name is called 'Pamela' and you can get the sage and green polka-dot style here!
Trying to remember if she had on mis-matched socks in this scene, but it's hard to tell. It seems very Holtzmann, and I mix and match daily myself.
***Edited to add; yes she does have different socks on. I only saw it when I finally got to see the below picture in a better resolution. The other is a stripey grey pattern**
With that said; check it out, my Droogies...

P.S. I'm totally buying more of these in the various color combos they are available in.
<3 <3 <3
P.P.S. Because a few of you inquired over at this post; here is a photo of me wearing the same model of glasses Holtzmann wears in the epic battle. They are made by American Optical, and are the AO Safety Eyeglasses, size 48. I purchased them here.
***Be mindful of sizing.*** A 46 is good for smaller faces, while a 50 is good for larger/wider faces. I went with the size 48, and I have about an average width oval shape face.
I'll try to add more/better photos in the coming weeks, of the various styles I'll be working with.

Bowie Tribute Cosplay Part III: Fun With Makeup

Four things I realized while testing out options for Bowie tribute cosplay makeup options last night:
1. I need an actual contouring kit. The bronzer, various pale concealers and neutral eye shadows aren't going to cut it. I don't need darker shades, just better more bendable textures.
2. The 'Golden disc' look (not fully drawn on in photo) also needs the red 'rabbit' cheeks and gold lips(?). Must also find a new true red blush like Manic Panic used to make.
3. Not quite done with the wig trimming (it's a smidgen high on top).
4. covering eyebrows, even already medium blond ones, is a 'queen bitch'. I'll likely be bleaching my eyebrows anyway for Dragon Con because of another cosplay, so that will make things easier.
More practice with that glue stick; I'm not going as far as David did and shaving them off!
XOXO