Londo Mollari

Character: Ambassador Londo Mollari
From: Babylon 5
Made: 2008
Awards: Part of a skit that won Judges' Choice in the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con Masquerade

This was definitely not a costume I had ever planned to make, I'll tell you that! My friend Cordelia suggested a skit for the San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Masquerade that involved a bunch of sci-fi characters with big hair. My husband, who's a big Babylon 5 fan, said, "I want to be Londo!", the Centauri ambassador with an impressive sideways mohawk. Video and pictures from the skit are available here.

Anyway, I agreed to make the costume if he handled the wig. (He decided to make the wig bigger than it actually was on the show, to up the silliness factor of the skit.) Londo got a huge cheer from the audience when he first appeared! Still plenty of B5 fans out there. He's also worn the costume without the wig and people still recognized him, which I consider an unqualified success!

San Diego Comic-Con Masquerade 2008

Dragon*Con 2008
(thanks to Maggie and Kathy for the pics!)

Construction

Hairspray Dancer

Character: Backup Dancer ("You Can't Stop the Beat")
From: Hairspray (2007 version)
Made: 2008
Awards: Part of a skit that won Judges' Choice in the 2008 Comic-Con Masquerade

I first saw the movie version of the musical Hairspray in spring 2008, and I absolutely fell in love-- the story, the songs, the costumes, everything was completely awesome. (I mean, giant production numbers. What's not to love?) I especially adored the last number in the show, "You Can't Stop the Beat," and the gorgeous dresses the dancers were wearing. Oh man, did I ever want one of those pretty pastel dresses with their big twirly skirts!

I got my chance when my friend Cordelia suggested a Hairspray-themed skit for the San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Masquerade. (A video of the skit, plus more pictures, are available on that page.) This has become my new favorite party dress-- I've worn it many times since I made it, including to the wedding of a fellow costumer and my work holiday party!

San Diego Comic-Con Masquerade 2008

Dragon*Con 2008 (Yule Ball)
(thanks to Maggie and Kathy for the pictures!)

Construction

Masquerade: Hairspray

Entry Title: Hairspray
Fandoms: Hairspray, plus many others!
Convention: San Diego Comic-Con 2008
Award: Judges' Choice
Producer/Director/Choreographer: Corli
Cast Members: Corli (Corny Collins), Caitlin (Hairspray dancer), Belle (Yeoman Rand), Rogue (Londo Mollari), Breanna (Syndrome), Angie (Bride of Frankenstein)

This one was all Cordelia! I had wanted to do my Disney/Bring It On idea for Comic-Con 2008, but we couldn't get enough people together. So Corli came up with this skit-- a bunch of big-haired characters dancing together to the song "Hairspray" from the musical Hairspray. There were six of us altogether in the skit; two "regular" Hairspray characters (Cordelia as "Corny" and myself) and four sci-fi characters:

Yeoman Rand (Star Trek original series)
Londo Mollari (Babylon 5)
Syndrome (The Incredibles)
Bride of Frankenstein (Bride of Frankenstein)

We had a great time with the skit, got a fantastic audience reaction, and to top it all off, we won Judges' Choice, which we were *not* expecting at all! Pretty awesome Masquerade. :)

Masquerade Photostage
(thanks to howiemuzika and onus for the pics!)