When I heard that Dangerous Ladies and KameraNinja would be doing another Blood Pool shoot in a month, I decided now was the time to make that spooky mermaid costume I'd been planning (and collecting materials) for years. I managed to get her done just in time!
The top of the dress is built as a bodysuit in light lavender stretch mesh, with airbrushed details, iridescent fabric scales, distressed purple large-hole mesh, and rhinestones. The skirt is a ruffled semi-sheer spandex with iridescent edging that looks like seaweed; it's appliquéd onto the bodysuit in a jagged and naturalistic fashion and lined with a dark blue underskirt. I made the barnacles using a lightweight air-dry clay, and glued them to separate pieces of the purple mesh so that they could be removed and replaced if needed.
I wanted the wig really long but also wanted the fibers to be as tangle-resistant as possible, so I bought a long Arda Silky wig and then added even longer Silky wefts. I then gradient dyed the top of the wig, braided it, and set it in mermaid-y waves. I also made fake kelp by layering iridescent organzas and topstitching in a variety of plain and metallic threads.
The headdress is built on a Worbla base with Surebonder Cosplay Stiks in black for detailing, and a halo of rainbow and gold quartz crystals. The jewellery is a mix of beads, chains, drilled metal 'pirate coins', and hand-sculpted fingerbones made from Worbla's Pearly Art.
After the shoot I added invisible zippers to the wrist seams so that I could actually use my hands while in the costume.
The shoot was super fun, although as soon as I got out of the water I was COLD. If you do a shoot like this, bring warm clothes and heat packs!
Photos by KameraNinja.
Awards won: Best Costume, Ripley's Aquarium Dark Waters Event
The top of the dress is built as a bodysuit in light lavender stretch mesh, with airbrushed details, iridescent fabric scales, distressed purple large-hole mesh, and rhinestones. The skirt is a ruffled semi-sheer spandex with iridescent edging that looks like seaweed; it's appliquéd onto the bodysuit in a jagged and naturalistic fashion and lined with a dark blue underskirt. I made the barnacles using a lightweight air-dry clay, and glued them to separate pieces of the purple mesh so that they could be removed and replaced if needed.
I wanted the wig really long but also wanted the fibers to be as tangle-resistant as possible, so I bought a long Arda Silky wig and then added even longer Silky wefts. I then gradient dyed the top of the wig, braided it, and set it in mermaid-y waves. I also made fake kelp by layering iridescent organzas and topstitching in a variety of plain and metallic threads.
The headdress is built on a Worbla base with Surebonder Cosplay Stiks in black for detailing, and a halo of rainbow and gold quartz crystals. The jewellery is a mix of beads, chains, drilled metal 'pirate coins', and hand-sculpted fingerbones made from Worbla's Pearly Art.
After the shoot I added invisible zippers to the wrist seams so that I could actually use my hands while in the costume.
The shoot was super fun, although as soon as I got out of the water I was COLD. If you do a shoot like this, bring warm clothes and heat packs!
Photos by KameraNinja.
Awards won: Best Costume, Ripley's Aquarium Dark Waters Event