Baltimore Tea Party?

[ladyofthethread]

Went to the cosplay party at the Japan Society yesterday and wore my Count D kimono. It was nice to see some friends and the exhibit of prints was interesting but it seemed a bit dull otherwise and I think the price increase over last year was a bit much. :-/ There were definitely less people than last year; the auditorium was only half to two-thirds full for the costume contest.


And as mentioned last time, here’s the somewhat long story behind my AnimeNext costume plan getting changed from Valentine to Lia…



I was talking to my brother the other week about cons since the only other ones we have planned this year are AnimeNext and NYAF and I’ve been having very little luck finding a good one to add that’s within reasonable distance since I won’t fly. Plus, he doesn’t want to add any cons during his school year so that leaves only summer. And he said why don’t we go to Otakon since he’s never been to that one before and it’s right in the middle of summer so it doesn’t conflict with anything else. Even though I’d been trying to avoid Otakon since it’s so expensive and my least favorite of the large cons I’ve been to. >_>;

So, I checked and surprisingly, there were still a couple of hotels with con rates left (I missed them both times I went before which made things extra expensive). And one of them happened to be the Harbor Court Hotel, where the Costume Con tea party was last year. They had nice lobby areas, including a circular staircase, a library, and old-fashioned paintings, and I was sad my brother wasn’t along to take pictures that time. T_T

So, I booked the room and now, it looks like we’re going to Otakon although I’m more excited about the possibility of taking pictures in the hotel and afternoon tea than anything at the con itself. >_>; And to take advantage of the hotel for photos, my costume plans have completely flip flopped. So, I’m now trying to do Lia’s Russian portrait gown for AnimeNext and Kyoya’s final episode costume for Otakon so I can have both for then. So much for summer appropriate cosplay… >_>;;;

And checking for interest… Is anyone interested in and/or has friends who would be interested in a costume tea party at Otakon? The Costume Con tea last year was one of the highlights of the con for me and I would love to do something like that again. *_* There were around 30 costumers, mostly in historical dresses. I think this would be particularly good for series with period settings like Le Chevalier and Kuroshitsuji, series where the characters often have tea like Ouran and PSOH, gowns and other dressy cosplays, and lolita outfits.

We had the prix-fixe teas so that everyone got tea, a scone, little sandwiches, and pastries. I remember it being around $24 a person but don’t know if it has changed since then since the tea menu doesn’t list prices. The hotel is about 3-4 blocks from the con center and only serves afternoon tea on Fridays and Saturdays so it would have to be one of those afternoons; I assume Friday would be better in case people are in the masquerade.

[Poll #1565132]

Comments

[furubariceball.livejournal.com]

Awww now I wish I was actually going to Otakon this year XDD; The costume tea party sounds like such a good idea and my cosplay for ANEXT this summer would have been perfect XD

I hope it works out though. It's such a cute idea ^^ I can't wait to see pictures of both costumes by the way

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I enjoyed the one at Costume Con last year and I think it would be a nice idea to do one with my cosplay friends. ^_^

[gallifreybebe.livejournal.com]

I wish I could be certain of having Madame de Pompadour done by then! I could try and have my Red Dress Lia done by Otakon, but I'm not sure.

I'd still love to attend a tea party, though! I don't have any sort of dressy costumes planned for Ota but I could most definitely dress up pretty to attend it. ^.^

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're going to do a Lia, too? Cool. :-) Le Chevalier cosplay seems kind of rare. It does take a while to do all the underpinnings and such. If you need more tips on them, you can check out the entries for my Ekaterina costume on ACP or cosplay.com since I put up a pretty detailed description of what I did.

And just dressing nicely would be fine, too. ^_^ Although most who went to the Costume Con tea had historical dresses, there were also a few in regular clothes. I wore one of my D costumes, there were a few steampunk outfits, and one person was in Harry Potter robes. The types of things I suggested were just things that I thought would go particularly well with the tea or hotel as a photo op.

[gallifreybebe.livejournal.com]

I have a dress or two that are nice tea-party sort of fare--a little vintage-y. I could probably do my makeup/hair in a sort of vintage thing. :D

I think it's rare because the show's not too popular (and sooo historically inaccurate, but that's the fun part XD). The costumes are pretty even if they're not period-correct all the time. But yeah, I'm making Lia for Katsu next year (friend is making Marie)--unfortunately making Madame de Pompadour is probably going to eat up my whole fall and whatever's left of summer after Otakon things are done.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the show doesn't seem very popular. :-/

And the history is all over the place! XD Last year, when I was trying to do Ekaterina for the historical masquerade at Costume Con, I was looking up some of the events in the series to try to figure out an approximate year and I never could pin one down. My best guess at the time was 1760s because of the events in Russia, Marie and Pompadour's deaths all being in that decade plus Auguste would have been a child then. I'm not sure where the heck they got the 1742 that's in the blurbs for the show since the year of death on Telliagory's son's tombstone was later than that (1746, if I remember correctly).

[sakuralenayuy.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! I would so love to do a tea party, I'll probably wear some lolita or maybe my Tomoyo-Hime.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. :-) If there's enough interest, I'll check with the hotel a few weeks before the con and post more details then.

[stillvisions.livejournal.com]

I like the idea, but I'm afraid any costumes I have on (and *gasp* I should be cosplaying this Otakon) are probably not ones that fit the setting sadly.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Would be good to see you again since it's been nearly 2 years! And wow, I don't think I've actually seen you cosplaying yet! o_o;

And you're still welcome to come if the tea party happens. :-) Although most who went to the Costume Con tea had historical dresses, there were also a few in regular clothes. I wore one of my D costumes, there were a few steampunk outfits (Sarcasm-Hime wore her steampunk lolita for it), and one person was in Harry Potter robes.

The types of things I suggested were just things that I thought would go particularly well with the tea or hotel as a photo op. I don't mind much if people wear other things as long as they look presentable and don't freak out the hotel employees. (no overly skimpy costumes or large amounts of fake blood or things like that)

[stillvisions.livejournal.com]

Yeah, cosplay is few and far between for me - I forgot my wig for Sandshrew last ANext and I don't think I was sporting that at Ota while I was photographing you. Not sure what my plans are yet for it, but probably nothing that fits the decor. Despite my threats to cosplay Ciel and horrify everyone, that won't be happening [grin].

Might be able to get some shots, though it would have to be minimally intrusive ones given the setting. Something I should be good for, however. And besides, all cons need one quiet and relaxed event amidst that chaos.

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Sure, it would be great to have you along for photos. :-) We didn't have a real photographer along for the Costume Con tea but a lot of the attendees brought cameras along and the hotel staff didn't seem to mind us taking snapshots in the lobby areas before and after the tea. I think we should be able to get some photos as long as we're not in the way or overly loud.

[stillvisions.livejournal.com]

There we go - recent upload of the evidence of me in costume:
http://www.cosplay.com/photo/2553685/