Daenerys Cosplay-House of the Undying

Ah, I'm feeling so bittersweet right now. After a year of planning, printing out screencaps, searching for fabrics and sewing, I've finally completed my House of the Undying Daenerys cosplay. To quote my favorite philosopher, Homer J. Simpson, "WOOHOO!!!!" And yet, after a wonderful season of fun, fantasy and frolicking (eh, not so much frolicking), the New York Renaissance Faire is over. Again, to quote Mr. Simpson, "D'oh!" Oh well, there is always next summer, and the summer after that, and all the summers between now and when the sun explodes. Or when I die, whichever comes first. I don't know, math was never my strongpoint. Nor science, actually…

Anyway, even though I was sad to say goodbye to Sterling Forest for another year, I had a great time debuting my new Daenerys costume last weekend. It was so nice to end the Faire season on a high note, especially since I wasn't sure if I would finish this cosplay on time. Last year, after the 2012 Faire season ended, I started planning my costumes for 2013. On the very top of my list was the outfit Daenerys wears during the final episode in Season Two, when she enters the House of the Undying in search of her stolen dragons. As soon as I saw the images from that episode, I knew I wanted to replicate her outfit, which perfectly combines Dany's feminine sensibilities with her inherent strength. In particular, I was intrigued by the leather collar/breastplate she wears as armor, which looks very Dothraki, but also has a touch of good old Targaryen class about it. Unfortunately, although I've been tackling some small leather projects lately, I don't yet have the skill to make such a complex piece, which is why I ended up commissioning the wonderfully talented Peg from Isil Workshop to make my amour. Please make sure you check out her Etsy store for high-quality leather goods made with care, creativity and craftsmanship.

In addition, the dragon I am posing with in the pictures was custom-made from me by Arend, a truly gifted sculptor who has some jaw-dropping creations. You can find his work both here on DA and at his Etsy store, RavendarkCreations

And thanks to my sewing instructor, I was able to tackle the rest of the cosplay on my own. The split suede skirt was actually upcycled from a solid skirt, and the lilac vest was sewn using a cotton print fabric and an invisible zipper closure. The scalloped trim on the vest was actually the hardest part of this project. I had ordered a nice suede trim online and when I was about to sew it on the day before the Faire, I realized that I had completely miscalculated the yardage. After a few minutes of panic, I dug out the scraps from the suede skirt and we cut them into scallops, which, oddly enough, matched the trim quite well. Whew!!

Of course, the perfectionist in me is not totally "done" with this outfit yet. I'm hoping to refit the neckline of the vest sometime this week to make it match up better with the leather collar, and I'm currently in the process of making faux leather leggings to match Dany's Dothraki riding pants. Updates of this cosplay, and my Astapor cosplay are coming soon, but until then, I hope you enjoy these pics!

Well, here I am. Another Faire season has come and gone. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself until next summer. Oh wait…I can just make more costumes! Yup, sounds like a plan. So stick around, more cosplays are coming and they are coming soon. Here's a sneak preview of what you'll see in the following weeks and months…

A cosplay based on the garb of the Galadhrim from the first LOTR movie.

A femme Loki or Sigyn (still haven't decided which one yet) cosplay.

A cosplay of that feisty Simarillion gal, Aredhel the White.

And, of course, a Tauriel cosplay from the new Hobbit movie due out this December.

Yes, there is the distinct possibility that I've bitten off more than I can chew. Either way, I'd better stop rambling and get to work.

Thanks for stopping by, friends! I'm hoping to update my blog again within the next week or so with more cosplay goodies. See you soon!

Best,

Lee Anne

PS I'd also like to say thanks to everyone who has read, commented on, or faved my new Loki fanfic Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow The next chapter is complete and should be posted tomorrow. No pun intended, of course. ^_^