Ok, so this happened quite some time ago, but I feel that it is necessary to share this story.

I got my first Koto wig about....hmm....6 months ago? Maybe longer? But regardless, I got it and started styling it, only to find out that it wouldn't cover my ears (which is imperative to the costume). Mildly peeved, I give the wig to my friend for a different costume. I order a new wig (from the eBay seller, cog_marc). It looked like exactly what I needed in the picture. Just some mild styling and it would be ready! When it arrives, it looks nothing like the picture. It's thin, frizzed, and short on top and gappy and thin in the back (like, "see the mesh without having done anything to it" thin).

Angry, I email cog_marc and ask for a refund. They let me pick another wig (which i still had to pay shipping for). It was supposed to be slightly darker and slightly longer. THEY SENT ME THE SAME CRAP WIG AGAIN. Absolutely seething at this point, I have to weft the two crap wigs together to make something only halfway usable

D:< SO MUCH RAGE!!!

This costume was one of the most time intensive costumes I've made. (The other one being Suigintou.) It wasn't a hard costume it just took a lot of time.

First, I made the pants, which honestly wasn't hard. Make long shorts. Add black to the bottom. Make HUEG pockets. The only tedious part was adding the studs to it. I used button covers and they all had to be hand sewn on. There were six on each leg and two on each pocket. (16 total for the pants.) Compared to the rest of the costume, 16 of those things was nothing. The belt alone had 20. D: There must have been an easier way to do this, but I still like the final result.

Anyway, on to the top. Again, the base of it wasn't hard. It was a basic tanktop. But, since I'm stupid and cut things out wrong, I now have a big seam going up the back of the shirt. (Go me.) The collar was a bit challenging and I'm still not fully satisfied with it. I used a super heavy interfacing to get it to keep it's bowl-like shape. And of course, let's not for get about the studs of the top! There were ten on that little strip in the front. The scarf had 18 studs total, though I am planning on going back to the hanging parts of the scarf and adding some to the underside. Just in case they flip over or something. But as it stands now, the top has 28 studs, meaning the entire costume has 64. D:

The shoes were tricky. I couldn't find any with a big enough toe (lol) so I had to modify some boots that I found at Goodwill. (Side note: the boots I found have a two inch heel and that thoroughly displeases me. D: ) I added Crayola Model Magic to the toe to give it its shape. I used Model Magic since it's so lightweight, plus it remains slightly sponge-y and flexibility would be key for shoes. Once the Model Magic dried, I painted it as well as the soles. The top cuffs are made out of fabric and fiber fill. Again, I'm not really happy with it, but it'll work for the time being.

The wig was easy and hard at the same time. The first attempt I did at spiking it was a total failure, so I hung it upside down and tried it again. I was amazed by how well that worked! It was insta-Black Star! Good times.

So for now, I'll be starting on some of Black Star's weapons and waiting for the rest of my group to get their costumes done!~

I think it would be a good (or at least fun) idea to talk about the costumes I have right now, the ones I have in progress right now, and the stuff I am planning for later on.

Inventory:
Arisugawa Juri [Revolutionary Girl Utena] - Made by LadyJade. My first costume.
Gaara ~Second Outfit~ [Naruto] Retired - The first outfit I made by myself. It was entirely handsewn. The side seam ripped, plus I got tired of Naruto so this costume is now retired.
Mai Kujaku ~Battle City Version~ [Yu-Gi-Oh!] - Also handsewn, but I have redone it on the sewing machine.
Tampon Ninja and EGL-Inspired Kankurou [Naruto] Retired - Bad ideas all around. Fun. But bad ideas. Moving on.
Kankurou [Naurto] Retired - I liked my Kankurou outfit, but I would have liked it more if I didn't boil alive every time I tried to wear it. D:
Kurenai Touka [Grenadier] - Ridiculously heavy costume. It was fun to wear in the beginning, but it's beginning to get more and more troublesome. I do love it though.
Ishida Uryuu ~Soul Society Version~ [Bleach] Retired - I don't really like this costume and I have no intentions of redoing it. Though I am wearing it to the dubbed Bleach movie. :3
Chibodee Crocket [Mobile Suit G Gundam] - ...I honestly don't know what to say about this outfit. Except that the wig is very tight and gives me a headache.
Iori Yagami [King of Fighters] - Iori needs more love. I love the jacket to death, but this is another outfit I roast in.
Jing [King of Bandits Jing] - Much love for this outfit <3 It's so much fun, plus it's light-weight and breathable! Also my boots are super comfy.
Euphemia li Britannia ~Euphinator~ [Code Geass] - Hahahahahaha!
Suigintou [Rozen Maiden] - I want to fix up the bodice, but I love how this outfit turned out.
Touya [Yu Yu Hakusho] - After about 3 years, I finished this costume. I need to fix the wig, but the rest I am very proud of.
Suoh Tamaki ~Arabian Version~ [Ouran High School Host Club] - Apparently, this costume must suck since no one knows what I'm supposed to be. ;_; Allow me to go bawww in the corner now.
Chipp Zanuff [Guilty Gear] - FUN FUN FUN! I just wish I was more muscley so I could fit the character better.
Lucy Heartphilia [FairyTail] - Less skanky than Mai. But still makes me a little uncomfortable. But that's quickly forgotten.
Haruki Emishi [GetBackers] - I haven't even worn this outfit yet. ._.

In-Progress:
Lida ~Ai no Uta Version~ [Psycho le Cemu] - 20% What the crap. I have had this costume in progress for 3+ years. I started it then kind of stopped working on it. As a frame of reference, this was the fourth costume I ever started working on. I have all my materials and I had finished the pants (but they got stained). I have the front and back panels done as well as the shoes. Everything else needs to be worked on. ._. Plus I need to get my wig.

Mai Kujaku ~Duelist Kingdom Version~ [Yu-Gi-Oh!] - 90% I honestly just need to make the new corset and the glove and then this costume's done.

Tao Ren ~Anime Casual Outfit~ [Shaman King] - 80% This has been sitting over half finished in my closet for the past few months. The pants are completely done and the shirt is 3/4 of the way done. All I would need is my Oracle bell at this point.

Tao Ren ~Manga Tournament Outfit~ [Shaman King] - 70% Again, sitting over half done, except this time it's under my sewing table. The shirt is done except for the bows on the front. The pants are about halfway done. And again, I need to make my Oracle bell. Plus I want to make his Oversoul, but that will come in time.

Viral ~Pre-Time skip~ [Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann] - 20% Not even halfway done. I have the main section of the shirt and that's it. Though I do have the wig for this one! Haha! Triumph.

Viral ~Space Commander~ [TTGL] - 0~40% I have the main part of the bodysuit done, but the more I look at it, the more I think "...that's not the right color." So I'll probably scrap what I have and start over.

Suoh Tamaki ~Uniform Version~ [Ouran High School Host Club] - 40% I hate making jackets! [/rage] I have to add the sleeves, pockets, and collar. And the patch. I wish this thing would finish itself. D:

Nikaido Akira ~Shadow Form~ [Monochrome Factor] - 30% I started this only a little bit ago, so not nearly as hopeless as the rest. I got all the fabric in one shot (all on sale too!) and I've ordered the wig, so I only need the buckles and red contacts if I can (but I'm not holding my breath). I've already made the black coat/vest thing and the pants are next on my cosplay To-Do list.

Koto [Yu Yu Hakusho] - 70% I need to finish the shirt, ears, and tail. The shorts and buttflap (lolololol!) are done and the boots are on order! Woot for accomplishing stuff!

Black*Star [Soul Eater] - 99.5% I need to put two things on the boots and this costume is done! <3 I'm planning on making another journal solely about the Black Star costume, so I'll leave that there for now.

Upcoming/Planning:
Allelujah Haptism OR Tieria Erde [Mobile Suit Gundam 00] - I really want to cosplay Allelujah, but I'm having so much trouble finding the materials for him! D: On the flip side, I'm having no problem finding the things for Tieria, but I like Allelujah better. Either way, I will be making a gundam pilot outfit from this series.

Kouno Tohru [Princess Princess] - I'm actually planning on making several of the Princess Princess outfits with LadyJade as Yuujirou and Chrissie as Mikoto. These will be a blast! And whether the other girls do it or not, I will crossplay the non-Princess version of Tohru. I'm set on it!

Hisoka [Hunter x Hunter] - Killua was my first choice, but I think I could pull off Hisoka better. Plus who fun would it be to be a gay clown-looking magician?

Faust the VIII [Shaman King] - I kind of got suckered into this one by my friends/cosplay group. ._. It'll be fun, but I'm afraid that it'll be more work than it'll be worth.

Ichimura Tetsunosuke ~Artbook Version~ [Peace Maker Kurogane] - <3 Peacemaker! I had originally planned on cosplaying Suzumu, but I feel in love with the artbook picture of Tetsu the moment I saw it! So I have to do it.

Lynette [Soul Calibur 3] - Cactusmomma and I have a plan. That's all I'm going to say. Though I'm very excited about getting to cosplay a Dancer class! Yay tambourines!

Apsaras [Shin Megami Tensai] - A dream costume of mine. It won't be hard. It'll just take time and effort.

Mukuro [Yu Yu Hakusho] - LadyJade, That_Guy, and I will be the Three Kings some day.