Due to popular demand, this blog post will be about how I managed to pull off Alois Trancy from Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) so well for my first cosplay and Con.
It really began with the love for Kuroshitsuji, and I knew that I wanted to dress up as someone from the anime. I was going to choose Sebastian, but I think he's a rather hard character to pull off, especially if you're a short girl. But then I decided on Alois Trancy, since not only did I like him but I relate to him so well. I didn't like him at first, because it was like they'd just killed Ciel and were now trying to ease the pain in my chest by introducing a new character. And I didn't like that fact at all. But then I fell in love with his character because I see so much of myself in him and I knew I could pull it off. Perhaps that's the first thing to extreme cosplaying- you have to know the character well and know you can pull them off.
I looked on eBay for the cheapest cosplay I could find, but also for the most accurate cosplay to Alois. I think the clothes were about $190.00. And I was so disappointed when the bow arrived because it was so small and didn't look like Alois's. So I got some black fabric and some insulating mesh and created a large bow that could keep it's shape. I was so proud- that bow was the first sewing project I'd ever done, and then the day before Supanova Melbourne 2015, I wore the bow on a dress and lost it somewhere in the city. So I was forced to use the one supplied, which completely sucked. I was also really disappointed in the bootie shorts that came with it. They were so plain, no pockets, and very unlike Alois's. So I ended up hacking at them the night before Supanova, which is why in some of the photo's you can see it fraying really badly. But since then I have ordered new bootie shorts, so I'm positive that the next time I cosplay as Alois, I will do a much better job.
The clothes also came with over-the knee high socks, but Alois wears thigh-high ones, so I looked through eBay and found a good pair at a really cheep price. The boots were from eBay but I had to send in my measurements so they could custom-make them. I think they were around $70-$90, but they were so worth it. They fit perfectly, were so comfortable...
I bought the contact lenses from eBay (everything was bought on eBay, actually) and I was so pleased with them. They're so blue and look so alien. I remember one guy at Supanova got a selfie with me just so he could remember the contact lenses and buy a pair of his own- I don't think he even knew the character I was cosplaying as. But I think the contacts were cheap quality, because they basically broke. I can't put them in anymore, they just hurt so much. I've been meaning to buy a new pair before I go to Comic-Con Sydney, but who know's if I'll have the time or money. When I originally bought this cosplay I had a full-time job and was earning close to $400.00 a week, which is a lot for my first job and also considering I'm only 18.
The ring was also bought without any trouble. And no gems have fallen off, so I'm happy with that.
When the wig arrived, I opened it, threw it on the bed and laughed. Then I said to myself "Oh my gosh, this is a joke." The wig might look good in photo's, but it is so terrible. It sticks up so high at the top, it doesn't sit right, it's too dark... I looked on youtube how to style and lighten a wig. I cut it here and there, and put baby-powder through it to lighten it a bit, but I still didn't like it. And by then I had run out of time to buy a new wig, so that was really a shame. But alas! A new wig is on it's way to my address!
A few days before I flew to Melbourne, I made the 'Death' playing card that Alois Trancy holds in his mouth in the intervention in the anime. I took a regular card and traced the shape to get the size, took a photo of Alois with the card after I'd paused the anime, and then carefully copied the design onto a piece of paper, colouring in pencil after I'd done the design. After that I cut it out and glued it onto the numbered side of a playing card to get the right thickness. And because it's impossible to hold a card in your mouth so that it is straight (it can be done in anime, but not in real life) I cut a rectangle out of another card and glued it to the back/top of my new Death card in a way so that I could fold it, put that in my mouth, and the card would be straight.
The make-up is what I feel most proud about. I did so many costests for it, trying to perfect it... and in the beginning my make-up was so horrible that I just cringe when I look on old photo's. But I'm glad I had the make-up alright by the time Supanova came.
I looked on youtube for how to to Alois's tongue tattoo, and that was just too easy. I had to buy brown markers to do it, but it really was the easiest thing of the entire cosplay.
I looked on youtube for other Alois Trancy tutorials, looked on google images at the cosplays, got lots of inspiration and basically it bloomed from there. I had begun to order my cosplay 3-4 months prior to Supanova to ensure everything had time to arrive.
I did a lot of full cosplay trials once all of my stuff arrived, and basically got the feel of it. I recorded some videos of myself for future reference so I can look back on them and say I did that right, or I should fix that up etc.
And then 2 months prior I organised flights, accommodation and Supanova tickets before my friend Megan and I flew to Melbourne for the awesome experience. My other friend with the same name as me, Charlotte, was supposed to be going too, but on the night of the flight she didn't show up. Which was a shame- it would've been her first con, too. But nevertheless, we had a really super-fantastic time.
To be honest, when I saw other cosplayers there of Alois Trancy, I called them 'My Greatest Foe' or 'My Worst Enemy' in my head. Maybe because I knew I had put more effort into my cosplay and makeup and in comparison, they sucked. Or maybe because I felt as if I WAS Alois Trancy, and these people were trying to imitate me. Yes, I think it's more the latter.
And of course, improvements can always be made. Next time I do Alois, I will put the purple bows on the boots rather than the socks, I'll have better shorts and a better wig, and I'll be wearing garters despite the fact Alois doesn't wear them. But thigh-high socks just don't stay up without them. Life would be so much easier if it were an anime- a world where long socks never fall down. Wouldn't that just be the greatest thing.
I think soon, I'll post a youtube video on how to do Alois Trancy's makeup, how to make the bow, how to make the tongue tattoo and how I made the Death card. I honestly don't know why I haven't yet.
If you have any questions or anything else to say, feel free to comment!
-C.S Thompson
It really began with the love for Kuroshitsuji, and I knew that I wanted to dress up as someone from the anime. I was going to choose Sebastian, but I think he's a rather hard character to pull off, especially if you're a short girl. But then I decided on Alois Trancy, since not only did I like him but I relate to him so well. I didn't like him at first, because it was like they'd just killed Ciel and were now trying to ease the pain in my chest by introducing a new character. And I didn't like that fact at all. But then I fell in love with his character because I see so much of myself in him and I knew I could pull it off. Perhaps that's the first thing to extreme cosplaying- you have to know the character well and know you can pull them off.
I looked on eBay for the cheapest cosplay I could find, but also for the most accurate cosplay to Alois. I think the clothes were about $190.00. And I was so disappointed when the bow arrived because it was so small and didn't look like Alois's. So I got some black fabric and some insulating mesh and created a large bow that could keep it's shape. I was so proud- that bow was the first sewing project I'd ever done, and then the day before Supanova Melbourne 2015, I wore the bow on a dress and lost it somewhere in the city. So I was forced to use the one supplied, which completely sucked. I was also really disappointed in the bootie shorts that came with it. They were so plain, no pockets, and very unlike Alois's. So I ended up hacking at them the night before Supanova, which is why in some of the photo's you can see it fraying really badly. But since then I have ordered new bootie shorts, so I'm positive that the next time I cosplay as Alois, I will do a much better job.
The clothes also came with over-the knee high socks, but Alois wears thigh-high ones, so I looked through eBay and found a good pair at a really cheep price. The boots were from eBay but I had to send in my measurements so they could custom-make them. I think they were around $70-$90, but they were so worth it. They fit perfectly, were so comfortable...
I bought the contact lenses from eBay (everything was bought on eBay, actually) and I was so pleased with them. They're so blue and look so alien. I remember one guy at Supanova got a selfie with me just so he could remember the contact lenses and buy a pair of his own- I don't think he even knew the character I was cosplaying as. But I think the contacts were cheap quality, because they basically broke. I can't put them in anymore, they just hurt so much. I've been meaning to buy a new pair before I go to Comic-Con Sydney, but who know's if I'll have the time or money. When I originally bought this cosplay I had a full-time job and was earning close to $400.00 a week, which is a lot for my first job and also considering I'm only 18.
The ring was also bought without any trouble. And no gems have fallen off, so I'm happy with that.
When the wig arrived, I opened it, threw it on the bed and laughed. Then I said to myself "Oh my gosh, this is a joke." The wig might look good in photo's, but it is so terrible. It sticks up so high at the top, it doesn't sit right, it's too dark... I looked on youtube how to style and lighten a wig. I cut it here and there, and put baby-powder through it to lighten it a bit, but I still didn't like it. And by then I had run out of time to buy a new wig, so that was really a shame. But alas! A new wig is on it's way to my address!
A few days before I flew to Melbourne, I made the 'Death' playing card that Alois Trancy holds in his mouth in the intervention in the anime. I took a regular card and traced the shape to get the size, took a photo of Alois with the card after I'd paused the anime, and then carefully copied the design onto a piece of paper, colouring in pencil after I'd done the design. After that I cut it out and glued it onto the numbered side of a playing card to get the right thickness. And because it's impossible to hold a card in your mouth so that it is straight (it can be done in anime, but not in real life) I cut a rectangle out of another card and glued it to the back/top of my new Death card in a way so that I could fold it, put that in my mouth, and the card would be straight.
The make-up is what I feel most proud about. I did so many costests for it, trying to perfect it... and in the beginning my make-up was so horrible that I just cringe when I look on old photo's. But I'm glad I had the make-up alright by the time Supanova came.
I looked on youtube for how to to Alois's tongue tattoo, and that was just too easy. I had to buy brown markers to do it, but it really was the easiest thing of the entire cosplay.
I looked on youtube for other Alois Trancy tutorials, looked on google images at the cosplays, got lots of inspiration and basically it bloomed from there. I had begun to order my cosplay 3-4 months prior to Supanova to ensure everything had time to arrive.
I did a lot of full cosplay trials once all of my stuff arrived, and basically got the feel of it. I recorded some videos of myself for future reference so I can look back on them and say I did that right, or I should fix that up etc.
And then 2 months prior I organised flights, accommodation and Supanova tickets before my friend Megan and I flew to Melbourne for the awesome experience. My other friend with the same name as me, Charlotte, was supposed to be going too, but on the night of the flight she didn't show up. Which was a shame- it would've been her first con, too. But nevertheless, we had a really super-fantastic time.
To be honest, when I saw other cosplayers there of Alois Trancy, I called them 'My Greatest Foe' or 'My Worst Enemy' in my head. Maybe because I knew I had put more effort into my cosplay and makeup and in comparison, they sucked. Or maybe because I felt as if I WAS Alois Trancy, and these people were trying to imitate me. Yes, I think it's more the latter.
And of course, improvements can always be made. Next time I do Alois, I will put the purple bows on the boots rather than the socks, I'll have better shorts and a better wig, and I'll be wearing garters despite the fact Alois doesn't wear them. But thigh-high socks just don't stay up without them. Life would be so much easier if it were an anime- a world where long socks never fall down. Wouldn't that just be the greatest thing.
I think soon, I'll post a youtube video on how to do Alois Trancy's makeup, how to make the bow, how to make the tongue tattoo and how I made the Death card. I honestly don't know why I haven't yet.
If you have any questions or anything else to say, feel free to comment!
-C.S Thompson