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Costume Things!
So, so, so, in preparation for Nova Albion, with its "Wild Wild East" theme (yeah, I know, the potential), I asked the Costume Mercenary Jeanette Ng for a custom commission: a magistrate's robe.
This is a diagram of a Han dynasty compass. I’m not sure what the spoon is for. Jeannette showed me this pic to explain where she got the idea for the mandarin square she’s making for me. The idea is a character I was developing at the time, of a lower-ranking official posted to Malaya to take charge of Imperial territories abroad in the Nusantara region. (Yes, I could have done “grubby mechanic” or “Imperial Chinese princess” but we actually did have an actual Imperial Chinese princess and I’m not interested in usurping her, especially when I’m NOT Straits Chinese.) (I bet there are white folk who justify wearing Chinese royal designs by imagining they or some family member married a member of the royal family.) (I’m sorry white ppl but that’s not how respect works.) (Actually I’m not sorry.)
Also, the idea of this character comes from a roleplaying game I’m trying to develope to play at conventions with Ay-Leen the Peacemaker, in which I would accuse and jail her (white) friends for smuggling opium, and players have to run all over trying to find proof that they’re innocent. Along the way, the clues they collect would also educate them about the Opium Wars. This hasn’t happened because I don’t have the first clue about putting together a game, and Ay-Leen and I have kind of been busy!
In our discussions, Jeannette imagines the Imperial Bureaucracy to be depicted as a Great Machine, hence the cogs and wheels. As such, I suggested a mandarin square design that incorporated a compass, since, being in charge of Chinese migrants overseas, my character would have to “point to the right way” and be, essentially, the moral compass of the people she’s leading. Then I thought that sounded like too much and suggested a set of concentric circles of cogs because that sounded easier. But Jeannette found this picture anyway.
If all goes well, I’ll be wearing this costume to Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition (which is themed “Wild Wild East” this year) (I know, I know). It will also take a huge chunk out of my pocket, since Jeannette charges in UK pounds. But I don’t care, because she’s talented, I want to support Asian artisans, and dudes, the amount of work she’s putting into this custom commission for me is unreal. I am so so so psyched.
Originally posted at my Tumblr.
This is a diagram of a Han dynasty compass. I’m not sure what the spoon is for. Jeannette showed me this pic to explain where she got the idea for the mandarin square she’s making for me. The idea is a character I was developing at the time, of a lower-ranking official posted to Malaya to take charge of Imperial territories abroad in the Nusantara region. (Yes, I could have done “grubby mechanic” or “Imperial Chinese princess” but we actually did have an actual Imperial Chinese princess and I’m not interested in usurping her, especially when I’m NOT Straits Chinese.) (I bet there are white folk who justify wearing Chinese royal designs by imagining they or some family member married a member of the royal family.) (I’m sorry white ppl but that’s not how respect works.) (Actually I’m not sorry.)
Also, the idea of this character comes from a roleplaying game I’m trying to develope to play at conventions with Ay-Leen the Peacemaker, in which I would accuse and jail her (white) friends for smuggling opium, and players have to run all over trying to find proof that they’re innocent. Along the way, the clues they collect would also educate them about the Opium Wars. This hasn’t happened because I don’t have the first clue about putting together a game, and Ay-Leen and I have kind of been busy!
In our discussions, Jeannette imagines the Imperial Bureaucracy to be depicted as a Great Machine, hence the cogs and wheels. As such, I suggested a mandarin square design that incorporated a compass, since, being in charge of Chinese migrants overseas, my character would have to “point to the right way” and be, essentially, the moral compass of the people she’s leading. Then I thought that sounded like too much and suggested a set of concentric circles of cogs because that sounded easier. But Jeannette found this picture anyway.
If all goes well, I’ll be wearing this costume to Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition (which is themed “Wild Wild East” this year) (I know, I know). It will also take a huge chunk out of my pocket, since Jeannette charges in UK pounds. But I don’t care, because she’s talented, I want to support Asian artisans, and dudes, the amount of work she’s putting into this custom commission for me is unreal. I am so so so psyched.
Originally posted at my Tumblr.
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This is just exciting. Exciting!
I'm not being as cool & historically accurate as you are being. For NA, I plan to bring one of my assassin outfits, hopefully, a dress that I'm modeling for Festoon Butterfly (http://www.festoonedbutterfly.com/) (Picture here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=10150119206243428&set=a.10150113375708428.315594.177442993427&pid=7770201&id=177442993427) and Steampunk Jubilee from the X-men as a railroad worker. ^_^
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*Still hoping to be better enough to attend, but leaving particularly clever costuming for Some Other Time*
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*Squee*
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