Cosplay.com - Workshop Photos + Notes for Xigbar

Xigbar

Kingdom Hearts 2

Workshop Photos + Notes for Xigbar

Posted by Yui on 12-08-2008 - 07:02 PM

Some of my in-progress photos can be seen here =
http://flickr.com/photos/ensui/tags/inprogressxigbar/

Materials

Coat = garment vinyl from SyFabrics + two of our giant zippers spliced into one
Hardware = swivel clasp hooks, lightweight chain, wooden mini-spools, chandelier pendulums, metal jewelry caps, elastic cording
Hair = I actually don't have any wig extensions or anything here; this is all my actual hair. ^_^;

Construction Notes

After 2 years of starting a business, developing the giant zips, and being surrounded by dozens of coats for commissions, I *finally* get my own coat. My coat is actually not based off of Saeru's original pattern at all ( which would have helped save some time. ..everyone else had the right idea XD ) although Sae did assist in the final version to help me get it done in time for Ohayo, since we already missed out at Youma and I was sick of re-making my coat over and over due to psycho cats, acts of god and other unforeseen damages. At least I got to use the revised hood pattern and new concept for pulls this time around. While I was excited about our new color gunmetal for the giant zipper, I did end up going with our original "classic" black zip because it photographs quite interestingly (being glossy) and I wanted to match Saeru's already made coat. That, and Xigbar actually does have a black zip in his design. We have, by now, a million little tips and suggestions for making Org coats as our process has evolved. Some of it is mentioned in the big OrgXIII supply thread here on cosplay.com and some of it will be made into a proper tutorial in the future.
Xig's coat is particularly particular, and is one of the most nonsensical variations on the normal default Org theme. I love the weirdness that is partially tight and partially flared, and the stupid stupid shoulders. XD The unfortunate thing here is that because his coat is so distinctive, I will have to make a different coat (or two) for the future to be any other member of the Organization, which I do plan on.
Silly as it is, I did actually make my own eyepatch since regular commercial costume ones are huge. (Mine is -still- a little big.) Also, instead of being a totally flat piece of material, pressed against my eye, I added a ridge along the perimeter to create an interior hollow to allow me to still blink underneath. (I have a weird issue where if I try to keep just one eye shut, the other eye scrunches up all strangely - so the only way to avoid this is to be able to blink them both normally.)
Xigbar does not have black and white hair...he has grey streaks in dark brown hair. (This is especially noticeable when next to Xaldin who actually has deep black hair.) After many attempts to create a convincing hairline on both full and half wigs, I finally caved and went to a salon (I don't do this ever, btw) with a recommended fantasy-fashion stylist, so I trusted her. She double bleached the stripes + dyed the rest of my hair a neutralizing dark brown (like a green-ish #4 brown.) It looked awesome at Ohayo, but the roots had already started coming in by Kawa...the only downfall to this plan is that I have to maintain this everytime I plan to wear Xig. (Although, I don't mind having this be my normal hairstyle.)
The latex ears are hand-shaded with both markers and then make-up on top, and blended into my real ears via Pros-aid. I can't put these on myself. This was all Saeru's wonderul work!
The scar is about 20 different colors of Ben Nye, including some weird ones for shadow areas like fuchsia and green. Also, since Xigbar is especially angular (or "old-looking" as some people like to point out) this is the first time I've tried adding extra guy-like hardness to my cheekbones and under my brow-line with a bronzer.

Version History