Product Review: Living Dead Clothing - Long Torso Swimsuit

It's no secret that I love Living Dead Clothing. I've already posted reviews/style guides for their Sailor Scout skater dresses. When I heard they were releasing Long Torso swimsuits, I was incredibly excited. I've always had curves, and while I'm okay with them, having an hourglass figure can make it difficult to buy clothes. You end up with tops that are constantly creeping up, showing your tummy, or you buy swimmers, only to have to keep pulling them up to avoid 'wardrobe malfunctions'.

As this was a trial release, there were only fifty swimsuits available. I think we were all a bit nervous when we sat down to place our orders. I went straight for the Chibi Zelda design, then hesitated and added a Sailor Venus skater to my cart (don't judge me, I'm collecting the whole set!). Sadly, by the time I got to the checkout, my swimsuit was gone. Gah!

I decided to try for my second favourite design, Muz Man. Success! Honestly, I would have been happy with any of the designs, as I was more concerned with being able to review the material and cut of the swimsuit.

Upon unwrapping my LDC care package, I was immediately inspired by the Muz Man print. It's far too cold to go swimming in Australia, but that doesn't mean I can't wear my swimsuit.

Flatlay featuring Muz Man LT Swim and RockStar Wigs Rainbow Bob.
All accessories are offbrand.

And so the time came to try on my new nylon treasure. Although I've been losing a lot of weight during my recovery, I'm still not quite back to the size I used to be, so I bought a large. I found it a little bit too tight around the thighs, and I wasn't one hundred per cent comfortable taking a photo in my swimsuit. Thankfully, my fellow Deadites came to my rescue.

Deadite, Bayah, showing us a comparison between her Zombie Oz Swim (Top)
and her Muz Reunion LT Swim (Bottom).

Having purchased one of the original LDC swimsuits, Bayah was able to give the most accurate review of the LT version.

"I find my Zombie Oz swimsuit a little on the small side. I have trouble keeping my boobs covered when I wear it," she says.

"The LT swimsuit is amazing. It gives me perfect boob coverage, so I don't have to keep pulling it up all the time."

Deadite, Yvette, looking lovely in her Mushroom LT Swim.

Boob coverage - while it sounds funny, it's super important. Sure, we might be body confident, but that doesn't mean we want to go around flashing our lady parts to the world. I mean, imagine if you're at the beach, or a theme park, surrounded by kids. The consensus seems to be that the LT swims offer a good amount of coverage, but allow for a small amount of cleavage. Hey, it's okay to look hot.

Deadite, Jessica, showing off her Space Invaders LT Swim.

So, what do we do while we wait for the weather to warm up? Bayah and Jess seem to have had the same idea as me. Although, I wouldn't recommend wearing too many layers, unless you're prepared for some awkward toilet time. Remember, it's not a bodysuit.

Look at me, trying to be a model.
The sun and I have a love/hate relationship.

Featured Cosplayer: Cospole

Scrolling through your Facebook news feed can become incredibly repetitive and boring, especially when everyone you know is at work all day and you're stuck at home sick. So it came as a nice surprise when this image showed up on my screen:

Cospolers Beck and Kat, with guest Cospoler, Casey
Get their dresses here.

Okay, so I'm a little biased. I see Living Dead Clothing and I see Sailor Moon and I go gaga. But there's more to it than that. Before all the crappy illnesses that landed me in the sick bay, I was a dancer. I learned ballet and jazz from age five, and only gave up when I left Sydney to move to the Gold Coast. I've always had a deep respect for dancers because, while they make their craft look easy, it can take its toll on your body.

I knew I had to find out more about these amazing ladies, so I went to their Facebook page. Turns out Beck (23), Kat (26) and Caitlin (22) are all cosplayers. I went from interested to seriously interested very quickly.

The three began practicing pole fitness just over twelve months ago. As self confessed nerds, it wasn't long before they decided to combine their love of aerial arts with their other love, cosplay.

Full time illustrator, Kat, began cosplaying in 2011, but has always loved dressing up and having fun.

"When I moved to Melbourne, I realised that conventions existed and I could stop wishing Halloween was a big deal in Australia," she says.

"I was in a Steampunk Sailor Moon group at Manifest and we got completely swarmed for the three days. It took us two hours to walk back to our car - which was only about ten metres away from the entrance - because we were stopping for so many photos."

It's an amazing and addictive feeling that myself and my fellow cosplayers will relate to. Seeing people enjoy the work that you've put into a cosplay is incredibly rewarding.

Fellow Cospoler, Beck, had just been introduced to Anime, when she learned that people dressed up at conventions. She loved Mio Akiyama (from K-ON!) so much, that she decided to give cosplay a go.

"As soon as I walked through the gates of the Melbourne Showgrounds, a guy ran up to me and hugged me, screaming, 'Oh my God, Mio!' - I haven't looked back since," she says.

While all three ladies love cosplay, they are also very open and honest about some of the more negative aspects of the increasingly popular hobby.

I always ask my Featured Cosplayers if they are okay with store bought costumes, or if they prefer to make everything themselves. I was surprised, but also impressed with Beck's answer.

"I feel this question is hard on those who are newer to the cosplay world. I mainly buy and adapt pieces to create costumes, as I do not currently possess the skills to make my own. I am working on these skills and to have people criticise me for buying my costume is unfair and exclusive," she says.

"I dislike the whole view that you're not a real cosplayer if you buy your costume. If I waited until I could sew well enough to make the lycra suit for Kitty Pryde, I'd never be able to cosplay her."

Beck as Kitty Pryde with Lockheed

The girls agree that cosplay is for everyone, no matter who you you are, what you're into, or even your body type.

"It's so upsetting when a cosplayer - man or woman - is simply trying to enjoy themselves by bringing a character they love to life, only to have a handful of people criticise them because they're not buff enough or not skinny enough to play the character," Caitlin says.

"People are allowed to cosplay who they want, how they want, even if their body doesn't fit your view of the character," Kat says.

"I also really dislike the attitude towards female cosplayers. Slut-shaming and saying 'she's a fake geek girl' just because she's attractive is completely disgusting."

Those of you who read my blog regularly will remember my early post about my first experience with cosplay. When you immerse yourself so completely in a subculture, it's easy to get caught up in the elitism of it all, especially if you have self esteem issues. You see a cosplay that isn't quite as good as your own, or you see a girl in what could be considered 'sexy cosplay' and the claws come out. I'm certainly guilty of convention bitchiness, and I'm sure I will probably be guilty in the future. But it doesn't really make you feel better. It doesn't fix your own insecurities. Since I began this blog, I've learned so much about my fellow cosplayers and I find myself questioning my own behaviour at times. "Oh look, she didn't sew her own skirt, she must be a terrible cosplayer." Or, she could be time poor. This might be her first cosplay. Maybe she is still learning to sew. Do you really need to make that bitchy comment? No, you don't.

Kat as Tank Girl

While I enjoy tackling some of the more serious issues that affect cosplayers, it's also nice to focus on the positives. You may not agree with me, but I consider cosplay an art form. As such, like any other art form, the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a cosplay is one of the best feelings you can experience.

"The satisfaction of actually completing a costume is a great feeling for me, since I'm prone to procrastination," Caitlin says.

"Having the chance to temporarily become a character at a convention or photo shoot, that's just the icing on the cake."

We all face obstacles as cosplayers, but these ladies have the added challenge of incorporating their costumes into their aerial routines.

"I like the challenge of coming up with a trick appropriate for the character, then actually doing the trick in costume," Kat says.

"Sometimes you realise the costume doesn't allow for a really awesome trick and it's a shame. It's a bit of a balancing act between costume and trick."

I'd love to tell you what the girls have planned for the near future, but I received the same answer from all three of them:

Needless to say, I'll be keeping a close eye on them.

Product Review: Living Dead Clothing - Sailor Scout Skater Dresses (Part 2)

Two episodes in and I'm absolutely loving the animation for Sailor Moon Crystal. My only issue is with Usagi's transformation sequence - her limbs look like spaghetti. Still, her hair and facial features are stunning, and Ami/Sailor Mercury is adorable.

I'm also watching the original series every Monday on Hulu. While it was nice to have some extra episodes in between the main story arc, as an adult I can see that most of it was pointless filler.

I'm still going to watch it though!

As promised, I have once again enlisted the help of my fellow Deadites, this time to show off some of the Outer Senshi skater dresses that were released earlier this month.

Gold Coast girl Rhian Alyssa chose Chibi Moon as her first skater, having cosplayed the character before.

"I was excited to have an outfit that I could wear whenever I want, and not just at conventions," she says.

For her first look, she pairs her Chibi Moon skater with pink platforms and black cat tights (to represent Luna P). These particular tights came from a market, but you can find several variations online.

Here are some of my favourites:

• Hello Kitty
• Cat Love
• Bear (I have several pairs of Pamela Mann tights and they are of exceptional quality.)

Rhian was kind enough to create a flat-lay for when the weather warms up. The Lolita shoes can be found at My Lolita Dress. The floral hair pieces are her own creations. While she's working on getting her store up and running, you can contact her through her Facebook page.

Las Vegas lass Emily chose Sailor Pluto as her first skater because she relates to the character's solitude and independence.

"I was so excited to finally get one of these dresses. The colours stand out and they compliment each other beautifully," she says.

"Fashion for me is self expression. I have always adored cosplay and I'm working on collecting more accessories and a sewing machine so I can make my own outfits."

Emily pairs her Pluto skater with simple, dark make up and her Infinity bracelet, which represents reincarnation and continuity.

Lastly (at least for now), I chose to purchase the Sailor Neptune skater this time around. Unlike Mars, who I kind of accidentally fell in love with (see my previous review), I chose Neptune for deeper reasons. I love her relationship with fellow Scout Haruka/Uranus. I think it's a shame that many countries chose to cover up or downplay their relationship in order to avoid controversy. (I might rant about that at a later date though.)

There was almost dissent in the ranks when the first images of the Outer Senshi dresses were released. A few Deadites (myself included) were concerned that the colours used for the Neptune skater were not entirely accurate. However, after a bit of discussion and a quick Google search, I was satisfied that the colours were correct. I think the problem is that there is so much fan art online, it's easy to confuse a copy for the real thing.

I wanted to stick with the ocean theme, so I chose to wear a few pearl bracelets and a matching necklace. I also wanted to incorporate my Inventoria Designs octopus brooch, but I couldn't bring myself to pin it on the dress. Instead, I attached it to a spare ball chain I had lying around. I wasn't entirely happy with the way it looked, so I'll probably wear it properly next time. I'm sure if I pin it carefully, it'll be okay.

The wig is Gothic Lolita Wigs' Baby Dollight in chocolate brown, minus the ponytails. I wanted a hairstyle that matched Michiru's, without having to order a green wig. I like the challenge of styling these dresses without turning them into cosplays.

I took these photos down by the pond (swamp) near my complex. I didn't notice it when I wore my Mars skater, but the fabric looks amazing when it moves in the breeze.

I've ordered a Sailor Venus skater (along with a long torso swimsuit, which I can hopefully convince my Deadite family to help me review in a couple of weeks) so I will add a style guide to part one of my review once it arrives.

In the meantime, I'm working on a Queen Beryl cosplay and a Tuxedo Mask cosplay for Gold Coast Supanova next year. I'm also working on a Biker Gang Sailor Venus for Brisbane Supanova in November. Sometimes I wish my brain would be quiet and let me rest. :) xo

*** UPDATE ***

Deadite Jaycee received her LDC care package a little bit later than everyone else, but every Deadite is important to the family, so I just had to add her to the article.

Her Crescent Moon Wand necklace is available here.

Eevee Inspired Make Up: Vaporeon

Each time I create an Eevee inspired outfit I think, "Gosh, this is my favourite." Maybe it's because I'm constantly working to improve. At some point in the future, I would like to revisit them. Part of the reason I started this blog was because I had to leave my job. No job means no income. No income means I've had to put together a lot of my outfits using items I already had. That's not such a bad thing. How many times have you looked in your closet and thought, "Gee, I own way too much stuff"? Okay, if you're anything like me, probably never. But having no income gives you a new appreciation for the things you own. You can't just replace something if you ruin it. I'll always be proud of the outfits I've done, but I can only imagine what I'll be able to achieve when I can get back to work and master a few new skills.

My Vaporeon outfit has taken over the top spot on my list of favourites. For starters, I got to wear my Living Dead mermaid leggings. I'm planning on writing up another style guide (like the one I did for the Sailor Scout skater dresses), so I won't say too much here. However, you can find the LDC mermaid products here and here. Don't fret if they're sold out. They are incredibly popular and (with the exception of a few special designs) are constantly restocked.

I have a beautiful Infinity Edge pool in my complex and I really wanted to incorporate it into the Vaporeon shoot. The one catch? It's the middle of winter in Australia. Luckily the day I chose to do the shoot was lovely and sunny. I was a bit apprehensive about climbing into the water in my leggings, until I remembered that LDC also do swimwear. Duh. No glitter was harmed during the process.

The leggings were okay in the water, but I wouldn't recommend wetting your wigs. While it's perfectly fine to shampoo and condition them in cold to warm water, I'm not sure the pool chemicals would be good for the synthetic hair. However, if there's anyone out there who knows, please share!

I spent a lot of time with my eyes closed during this photo shoot. I tried so hard to keep them open, but it was sunset and there is a lake directly opposite my swimming pool (that makes it sound decadent, I know, but trust me, it's really more of a swamp). I also had a lot of water from the fountain hitting me in the face. Total respect goes out to models who have to pose for hours in ridiculous conditions. I have much to learn.

While I'm not too happy with all the closed eye shots, I am really happy with the way my crown turned out. As you can see, Vaporeon has a cute little frill around its neck. Originally I wanted to replicate this, but because of the long wig, I figured it would look awkward. Instead, I bought a headband, some white lycra and some florist's wire from Spotlight and tried to kind of stretch the fabric over the wire.

It didn't work.

Plan B, while nothing like my original idea, worked beautifully. I drew the shape I wanted on some aluminium, cut it out and covered it with the white lycra. To jazz it up a bit, I pulled apart some old necklaces and glued little pearls, stars and seashells to the crown. As a cosplayer, I tend to keep a lot of jewellery and accessories, even if they're broken or I don't wear them anymore. I'm not saying you should end up on an episode of Hoarders, but keep a tidy box full of things that can be reused. The seashells came from an old necklace I found while rummaging through a bunch of clothes an old friend was going to throw out.

Although I'm only a beginner in the world of cosplay, I hope that I can still inspire people to come up with new and interesting ways to approach their projects. It's important to remember that cosplay is for everyone, whether you have all the time and money in the world, or you have to make do with recycled materials.

Featured Cosplayer: Emily Burgess

The first thing that struck me when I was working on this article was how wonderfully Emily writes. For convenience, I send my questions by email, and never have I received such beautifully worded answers. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. When you meet her in person, Emily is just as charming and eloquent as her writing would suggest.

While my first couple of Featured Cosplayers have only been in the game for a short time, Emily began her cosplay journey thirteen years ago.

"Initially, I saw cosplaying as a delightful way to share my appreciation for nostalgia and puppetry," she says.


"I find that I am most recognised for my Mr. Squiggle puppet. There is so much love for this character."

Emily with Mr. Squiggle

I first saw Emily at Gold Coast Supanova in 2012. My partner was absolutely amazed by Mr. Squiggle and Blackboard, and he stopped her for a photo. I didn't see her again until November last year. She was manning her own booth in Artist Alley, accompanied by a very cheeky looking Minion (Despicable Me). I decided to take a look at her paintings and I found myself absorbed in an exquisite miniature world.

A sample of Emily's artwork

"Perhaps it is a tad cliche to say, but I always put a lot of love into my artwork. My greatest joy comes from sharing my art and generating smiles."

"I am always extremely grateful, surprised and overwhelmed by the support and appreciation from others."



One of Emily's biggest supporters is her partner Charlie. She says she has been lucky enough to find love and friendship with someone who shares her passion for creativity and cosplay.

"My overall experience with cosplay has been enhanced since finding love and a perfect cosplay partner. Cosplaying as a couple with Charlie has been nothing short of amazing."

"It is comforting to know someone has my back and will support me through the entire creative, productive and reflective process."

Emily and Charlie at Abbey Medieval Festival in Brisbane
James Niland Photography

If you're a regular con-goer in Queensland, you've probably seen Emily and Charlie roaming around in their amazing steampunk outfits. Like myself and many of my fellow fashion lovers, Emily has found herself seduced by the amazing possibilities offered by the movement.

"I find it astonishingly beautiful and clever. I have particularly enjoyed having the freedom to develop a unique character and costume of my own design."

Charlie and Emily at Gold Coast Supanova 2014

Looking at some of her photos, you would be forgiven for thinking that Emily bares a striking resemblance to Phryne Fisher (as portrayed by Essie Davis in the television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries). Her friends have encouraged her to tackle a Miss Fisher cosplay at some point.




"I'm currently working on Morticia and Gomez Addams. Also, Sam Sparks and Flint Lockwood from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Steve the Monkey and Strawberry puppets included."

"My puppets are more than just props. When I am cosplaying with a puppet, it is the focus and I am more of an assistant to that character. It's not about me, but I will always make an outfit or a novelty dress to support the puppet and give it context."

Emily and Catbug (Bravest Warriors) at Gold Coast Supanova 2014
James Niland Photography

As a petite girl, Emily tends to choose characters that are of a similar build. While there is nothing wrong with portraying a character you don't look exactly like, she believes that playing to your strengths can have its advantages.

"I am petite and I am far too aware that I will never be able to cosplay some of the more voluptuous and strong female characters of pop culture. It doesn't matter, because there are so many beautiful and talented ladies out there already representing them."

"I believe in playing to one's own strengths, being happy and comfortable."

Charlie and Emily at Gold Coast Supanova 2014

With so much talent, charm and kindness, the sky is the limit for someone like Emily. She's chosen to share her knowledge by becoming a primary school teacher.

"Cosplayers use passion and ingenuity to turn fiction into reality. I have great plans for weaving creativity into the classroom."

No fair. My teacher never brought puppets to school!

Product Review: Living Dead Clothing - Sailor Scout Skater Dresses (Part 1)

For the last two months I have been reliving my childhood by watching the syndicated episodes of Sailor Moon on Hulu. I originally discovered the series in 1995, thanks to my three best friends who had moved from Taiwan and Indonesia. They bought me a packet of Sailor Moon playing cards for my ninth birthday, as well as a bunch of the shiny collector cards. Sadly, I no longer have them.

We used to spend our breaks drawing the characters and discussing the show, though my knowledge was limited as the English dubbed version didn't include every episode. Nearly twenty years later, I am enjoying the subtitled Japanese version a lot more.

As if having the original series on demand wasn't enough, Sailor Moon fans are being treated to a rebooted version of the show, which is said to more closely follow the arcs featured in the Manga. I haven't read the Manga, but as soon as I go back to work, I'll make it my mission to do so.

Living Dead Clothing couldn't have picked a better time to release their Sailor Scout skater dresses. With pop-culture inspired nylon quickly becoming a staple in many wardrobes, it was only a matter of time before someone created a Sailor Moon inspired piece. When the original Sailor Moon skater was released earlier this year, I almost danced with joy in anticipation of further Senshi inspired attire.

On June 6, at 8:59am, I sat eagerly at my computer waiting for the minute hand to tick over. As soon as it did, I quickly purchased my Sailor Mars skater, anticipating an immediate sell-out. I wasn't far off. Within minutes, several sizes were down to limited stock. After an hour, some had completely sold out. I had heard my friends talk about Black Milk release dates before, and how things disappeared very quickly, but I had to see it for myself.

Although I've purchased several pairs of LDC mermaid leggings, I had never ordered from the site directly. (You can also find some LDC items here.) My care package arrived the following business day, with two stickers and two wristbands inside. I was almost nervous as I unfolded the dress. I wanted it to be amazing, because I love being able to support local brands like LDC.

I was not disappointed. The design - a simplified version of the actual dresses worn by the Scouts - lends itself to both casual cosplay and everyday fashion. The material is lovely and soft and, being nylon, doesn't require ironing. As I suffer from pretty bad OCD, not having to iron things is wonderful.

Although I plan on collecting the entire set of Sailor Moon skaters, that is a long term project that will require a bit of saving on my part. So, in order to provide you with some tips for styling your own LDC skaters, I have enlisted the help of my fellow Deadites.

First up is Bayah, wearing the original Sailor Moon skater. The locket is based on the design from the original 1992 Anime.

"I haven't purchased the others yet, but I'm happy with Sailor Moon. I love her personality, even if she is a crybaby," Bayah says.

"Fashion wise, my style is a mixture of comfy and quirky. I love leggings, trackies, singlets, band tees, boots and flats."

Here, she's paired her skater with matching Sailor Moon earrings from Ruezats.

"I haven't done a cosplay yet, but I'm hoping to do Sailor Moon or Poison Ivy for Brisbane Supanova in November."

"Sailor Moon has been my favourite Anime character since I was a kid."

(Needless to say, if she does get her cosplay wish, I will be right there taking photos for my blog.)

Next is yours truly donning my Sailor Mars skater at the Brisbane Alternative Expo last month. (I promise to upload the cosplay photos soon. A thousand apologies, regular readers.)

Honestly, I originally chose to cosplay Sailor Mars back in 2011, because her shoes were the easiest to replicate - basic red heels. Later on, a fan art would lead me to do a Sailor Mars/Red Lantern crossover. Now, if there's ever a red or fire-related character, I tend to gravitate towards them.

I decided to add black pantyhose and a black cardigan to my outfit, mostly for comfort, as it's the middle of Winter here in Australia. I didn't want it to look too much like a cosplay, so I wore plain black ballet flats, rather than heels. I did add the red choker, although I would prefer to purchase some more Sailor Scout related accessories for my future skaters.

Moving on to Chelsea, who chose Sailor Jupiter as her first skater, although she intends to purchase more in the future.

"Sailor Jupiter was always my favourite. No particular reason why, I just always liked her the most," Chelsea says.

"I'm only just starting cosplay, but I tend to choose characters by their look. If a new character comes up, and he or she looks really funky, that's what motivates me to dress up as them."

Chelsea shows us that you can wear the dress with very minimal accessories and light make up, and still make a statement. That's something I love about LDC. It doesn't matter what style you're into, because their clothes - especially their leggings - can be dressed up or down.

Lastly, we have Natalia, who used her Sailor Moon skater to create a casual cosplay for Sydney Supanova. If you've been following my Eevee Inspired Outfits, you'll know how much I love casual cosplay. I thinks it's a great way to represent your fandoms without having to go the whole hog and deck yourself out in armour and latex.

I wish I could have shown you a Mercury and a Venus, but sadly no Deadites were able to put an outfit together in time. However, you can find all the Inner Senshi dresses here.

In two weeks I will post part two of my review, featuring the Outer Senshi. I will also update this post if I am able to find a Mercury or a Venus in the meantime.