Designing a 'wuxia' heroine costume

[JamesG]

I think the shoe soles are actually made of layers of cotton folded and stitched. I've seen shoes made that way.

The nearest thing I've been able to find is Peking Opera footwear. But the boots have big platform soles, which I don't like, and they're also awfully ornate. http://www.stylishcn.com/Chinese-bei...sho-p-398.html

I can easily obtain some of the cotton canvas slippers with the layered soles. In fact, I've had a pair of those for years. But I've never seen them in any color other than black. And they're not boots.
http://www.mandarintouch.com/index.php?cPath=52

Actually I did find the multiple cloth layered shoes mentioned on a couple of sites about ancient Chinese footwear. They go way back in historical times but the pictures don;t look like the series ones.

[HuangYushi]

Thanks for the suggestions.

You're welcome.

Now my husband has decided he wants some rush sandals to wear with his monk costume. That's going to be more of a challenge to find than my boots. I think I may try to talk him into wearing cotton canvas slippers instead. I know where to get those easily and they'd probably be more comfortable for him than the sandals.

You might want to try/consider the following:
Get a pair of white canvas shoes without any embellishments/designs. Use black fabric paint and colour them so that they'd look like the black-and-white shoes that you see monks wear in series. Wear them with real long white socks (inside), plus a pair of white fabric mock-socks that have elastic or a tie around the top (over the real socks; then wear the shoes). If you tuck the monk's pants into the mock-socks, it'll look pretty authentic for photos, plus the real socks and shoes will be comfortable for walking/standing in.

Rush sandals can be quite stiff and uncomfortable, and it won't be fun if your husband gets blisters shortly after putting them on.

[sniffles]

those black shoes are great and so are the kung fu socks. how did you manage to find them?

I was searching for hanfu costumes and noticed that site also had footwear.

You might want to try/consider the following:
Get a pair of white canvas shoes without any embellishments/designs. Use black fabric paint and colour them so that they'd look like the black-and-white shoes that you see monks wear in series. Wear them with real long white socks (inside), plus a pair of white fabric mock-socks that have elastic or a tie around the top (over the real socks; then wear the shoes). If you tuck the monk's pants into the mock-socks, it'll look pretty authentic for photos, plus the real socks and shoes will be comfortable for walking/standing in.

That sounds like a much better option than the rush sandals. But I'm afraid my husband will have to try the sandals before he'll believe me. He's really stuck on the rush sandals.

[jiang bao]

Maybe a futuristic look...

[Radken]

Maybe a futuristic look...

Ah! Kill it with fire!

[remember_Cedric]

Maybe a futuristic look...

Not bad at all. At least I can still recognise that it's Daredevil impersonating Elektra.

[jiang bao]

Yes, we shall call it "impersonating..."

[sniffles]

I think I've found some acceptable footwear: http://tinyurl.com/6a4fy9

The price is good, they're cotton canvas, and if I remove the buckle strap across the instep they should work pretty well if they fit okay. I just ordered a pair.

[JamesG]

Gonna sling a sword across your back or carry an iron fan?

[sniffles]

Gonna sling a sword across your back or carry an iron fan?

If I knew where to find an iron fan....

Actually, I purchased a taiji sword. It looks almost identical to this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jian_(sword).jpg

I don't have any way to carry it on my back, but since the heroes in most tv shows walk around holding their swords in their hands, that's what I plan to do also.

[xianzai]

If I knew where to find an iron fan....

http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Pr...ng_Fu_Fan.aspx

But it might be best just to carry a regular fan.

[Suet Seung]

If I knew where to find an iron fan....

Actually, I purchased a taiji sword. It looks almost identical to this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jian_(sword).jpg

I don't have any way to carry it on my back, but since the heroes in most tv shows walk around holding their swords in their hands, that's what I plan to do also.

You can take a thin (in width) strip of fabric or rope and tie it around the scabbard and then tie it around yourself from shoulder to waist diagonally with the hilt showing from your shoulder. That's how they do in most wuxia tv serials.

Check out this cosplay of Saiunkoku Monogatari: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...onogatari.html

Dynasty Warriors: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...y-warrior.html

Shi Seiren from Saiunkoku Monogatari ( I think its a girl crossdressing as a male character):
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http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Pr...ng_Fu_Fan.aspx

But it might be best just to carry a regular fan.

That looks like a overtly price fan.

[wuyuejin]

Life in the US seems to be very cool. If only there was such a cosplay convention in the city where I live. Haha my head is clean-shaven and Im slightly fat so Ive always wanted to dress myself as Bujie (No Commandment) Monk or Mi-le Buddha

[S Beaver]

You can take a thin (in width) strip of fabric or rope and tie it around the scabbard and then tie it around yourself from shoulder to waist diagonally with the hilt showing from your shoulder. That's how they do in most wuxia tv serials.

Check out this cosplay of Saiunkoku Monogatari: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...onogatari.html

Dynasty Warriors: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...y-warrior.html

these people have WAY too much time

[JamesG]

If I knew where to find an iron fan....

Actually, I purchased a taiji sword. It looks almost identical to this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jian_(sword).jpg

I don't have any way to carry it on my back, but since the heroes in most tv shows walk around holding their swords in their hands, that's what I plan to do also.

Yoi've got to post a bunch of pictures including one with a drawn sword in a defensive posture.

[xJadedx]

these people have WAY too much time

But they do a pretty good job compared to people who cosplay but do it half-assedly.
I'd rather see people put some effort into it and look nice, so that cosplay can even be viewed as an art, rather than silly fooling around.
This is still one of the best cosplay I've seen:
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I need to get started working on my costume.

[HuangYushi]

Check out this cosplay of Saiunkoku Monogatari: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...onogatari.html

Dynasty Warriors: http://letscosplay.blogspot.com/2008...y-warrior.html

Shi Seiren from Saiunkoku Monogatari ( I think its a girl crossdressing as a male character):
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Wah! These people are really really serious about cosplaying!
Their efforts really show in their costumes, props and poses.

[sniffles]

these people have WAY too much time

I say that all the time, too, but I also admire and envy them. They have way too much talent in design and construction as well.

Life in the US seems to be very cool. If only there was such a cosplay convention in the city where I live. Haha my head is clean-shaven and Im slightly fat so Ive always wanted to dress myself as Bujie (No Commandment) Monk or Mi-le Buddha

wuyuejin, there have surely got to be sci-fi and fantasy cons in your area. I'm sure there are anime cons too. Portland OR isn't an enormous city, but it has an annual F/SF con and an anime con.

Yoi've got to post a bunch of pictures including one with a drawn sword in a defensive posture.

I plan to!!

[xJadedx]

How did your costume turn out, sniffles? Pictures?

[sniffles]

How did your costume turn out, sniffles? Pictures?

It hasn't even begun yet! All I've done is buy the fabric. I've got to get together with my friend soon and have measurements taken. I'm not expecting to wear it until April, so it will be a while until it's finished.

Those cosplay people make me feel so inadequate. I wonder how much money and time they spend on those costumes. The wigs alone must cost a fortune!