Costumes, Comics, & Cake

crashcomatose asked: I know you must get asked this a fair bit but honestly how do you keep such an hourglass figure, a really toned stomach, and the never vanishing boobs!? Nearly all the fitspo blogs have kind of lead me and my girlfriend to believe it's not really possible but we want to cosplay as something for an upcoming Spartan Run but she is obviously a little conscious about losing her figure. Any reassuring words?

5 POTS OF COFFEE, 7 TABLESPOONS CAYENNE PEPPER, 9000 SIT-UPS, GUACAMOLE, AND RUNNING WITH NO FEWER THAN 3 PUPPIES.

Just kidding. Except for the guac, and I wish I had 3 puppies.

Honestly, I wish there was a magic recipe I could give out, but I’m afraid it comes down to being blessed with an hourglass frame, and (as far as I can tell) luck. When I gain weight, it naturally goes to my thighs, butt, and arms, not so much my waist, and when I lose weight, it comes off my waist first. I love the bicycle crunch, and I do those, the 100, and leg climbs most often. I do cardio (running on the elliptical, kick-boxing, or fast yoga) for 45 minutes, 4-5 times a week, from spring to fall. But I also eat pretty much whatever I want, so that’s why it doesn’t look like I do as much cardio as I do, hah!

I am not safe from breast size fluctuation. It’s just, erm, well, when they’re the size they are, I can lose a cup size without it being too noticeable. I don’t do any chest exercises, so maybe that helps in not losing too much boobage? I can’t say for sure.

Do the Spartan Run. I have so much admiration for people who do any of the Spartan exercises - I just don’t have that tenacity. The truth of it is, she just might lose some curves, so she should be prepared to accept that. But! Being fit is worth it. What you can do is be her unfaltering support. Encourage her, and make sure she knows that you love her regardless of what she loses. Compliment the positive changes. Having good support, and an encouraging workout partner is pretty key.

Good luck!

Anonymous asked: You're costumes are fantastic, how do you come up with the ideas and how do you realize them? Do you have a process?

Thank you!

I read comics, watch movies, and play video games. If a character strikes a power chord in me, I put them on The List.

The List is comprised of fictional women whom I admire. They have a certain pizzazz - be it emotional strength, a tenacious nature, physically admirable (to me), or just plain BA with a great storyline - that lights my eyes up. Unfortunately, not all those I admire can be put on the List due to my own limitations. For example, however much Storm of the X-Men is one of my absolute favorite characters, I’m blindingly white, so she’s not on the List. Similarly, I’m a curvy woman, so I keep towards the hourglass shapes rather than slender figures. Crossplaying is pretty much right out.

From the List, it’s pretty much a whim on who I select to create. Once I peg down what I’ll be making, then comes gathering reference pics from every which angle, making fabric selections, and proceeding to obsess over ways to successfully turn 2D into 3D. I sometimes swear that, especially lately, designers sit there, cackling, and go ‘Let’s see the cosplayers try and make THIS one!’

I’d say the planning process is 80% of it. Then, usually cursing at my machines, I whip out the costume in no time.

wontgrowup7212 asked: Love your work. The quality of your work is amazing. And the fact you are a beautiful woman doesn't hurt either. I have a silly question. Just a stupid curiousity. What color is your hair? Like I said just a stupid curiousity.

Thank you! And it’s not a stupid question - most the pictures people see of me are with wigs on. My hair is auburn and my bangs are white, like Rogue’s. Here’s a pretty recent pic of me, with my real eye color to boot!

Anonymous asked: Hi Bellechere! Do you accept commissions for costuming? I imagine making cstumes for yourself keeps you busy enough, but some of us out here have no skills whatsoever!

I do, I do, I do! Just send me an email (bellechere@hotmail.com) entitled COSTUME COMMISSION REQUEST (or something similar, so I can spot it in the Junk folder if it goes there) with:

• AT LEAST three reference pics of what you’d like made
• the character name and series they’re from (if applicable)
• an idea of your budget

I’d be happy to toss a quote your way. All I ask is that you keep in mind that a custom costume will never, ever be as cheap as what you could buy from overseas. I am very reasonable with my pricing, but I also charge what I’m worth. It is not cheap because I do not make cheap-quality.

gambitgrl asked: You have such a wonderful hourglass figure that really looks fantastic in your cosplays. Do you wear a corset or other specialized garment to get that terrific tiny waist, or are you just naturally gifted that way? I'd love to get a corset to pull in and smooth my waist under my cosplays but have no idea where to start.

Thank you! My natural structure is hourglass - I’d be hard pressed to have my hips ever be more narrow than they are, and I’m fortunate to not lose much boob when I lose weight. But my weight has definitely fluctuated over the years I’ve costumed for. Sometimes I’ve worn a corset to cartoonize my curves (Jessica Rabbit & Fem Deadpool), sometimes it was part of the costume design (all the Dawns!), sometimes it was due to feeling self-conscious from having gained weight (2/5 times I wore Power Girl), and sometimes I’ve utilized a steel-boned bodice to help defy gravity (Maleficent & Ghost).

But a lot of my other costumes have no cinching involved, nor spanx - Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Rogue, Spider-Woman, Ivy Valentine, Anna Mercury, Black Cat…and obviously I’m not cinching for Red Sonja, Goblin Queen, or Lady Death.

If you’re looking for a good underbust waist cincher/corset, I would recommend buying from Meschantes. That’s what I wore under Power Girl and Fem Deadpool, before I created my own corset (it took me four times before I got it right!). Meschantes have sales on eBay for $99, and they’re worth the price.

I’m aiming to get myself as fit as I was for this photoshoot before I take photos of my new Tarot costume:

Anonymous asked: where did you get your jessica rabbit dress from love?

I made it (and all my costumes) myself. :)

Anonymous asked: I've been a fan for a loooong time. And what I admire is your confidence. Where does it come from ?

You ready for this?

I made it up.

After working backstage in the entertainment industry, and witnessing how stars act off-stage, I’m convinced that confidence is created, not found. It’s not something you’re born with, and just because people can act like they’re confident doesn’t mean they truly are. There’s a reason why the term ‘stage-persona’ exists. When I put on Ivy Valentine for the first time in 2008, I was unbelievably nervous and lingered in my hotel room for over an hour in indecision. Was it really worth it to go out there? Surely I’d be criticized. What was I thinking trying to do such a revealing costume? I’m a jeans and t-shirt person - who was I trying to kid? In the end I decided I didn’t care what people thought, I was going to have fun, threw myself out onto the con floor and acted confident. Since then, people see me in photos and believe I’m confident. That right there is what’s given me a sense of true confidence.

If you act confident, people will believe you’re confident, and that’s a big boost in confidence.

Just don’t go too far and get arrogant, Anon. ;)

cryptolero asked: Dumb question: How do you keep your boobs inside a costume like the Goblin Queen's?

Magic.

blackest-night asked: hey, sorry to bother you with another question... what body paint did you use for She Hulk? and did it last all day long of you had to put some again from time to time?

No bother! I think I used a different paint each time I did Shulkie. The best (and most expensive, which is what’s prevented me from using it again) paint was Graftobian airbrush paint, which does require an airbrush set, but it lasted all 8 hours I was at the con with no smudging and only minimal wear.

If you don’t have access to an airbrush, then Mehron cake makeup works just fine, though be sure to use a barrier/setting spray along with it, or it will rub right off. Do a layer of spray on your clean skin, then the makeup, then another layer of spray. Repeat until you’re the shade you want to be, dust with baby power, and you’re good to go!

kclose3 asked: I don't suppose you have any tips on how to make a good Deadpool costume. Yours is fantastic and I'd love to get some ideas on how to make a nice, quality, outfit.

What I did to make my Deadpool was I bought a cheap maroon colored zentai outfit on eBay and I sized it to fit me. Then, while wearing it, with a piece of chalk I drew on the black sections of his outfit. I cut out those sections, and used the cut-outs as patterns for the black lycra. Cut out the black, making sure to add 1/2” around the edges for seam allowance, sew the black in there (I used my serger) and, BAM!, Deadpool. I made my belt buckle out of fimo clay, bought the belt with all the pouches at an army store, and the soles are water shoes sewn in to the feet, though you could just wear black boots too. Hope this helps!

buzzsawbravado asked: What's your all time favorite con experience?

DragonCon. All of it.

Anonymous asked: I dont mind supporting you, but any way other than prints?

Sure, go for it: bellechere.net. Look under Contacts, and you’ll find a Donate button. Bam! Thanks Anon!

arpokydirectoroflulz asked: Where did you come up with the name "BelleChere"? Does it have anything to do with the Music and Arts Festival called Bele Chere?

It does not. I actually only found out about the Asheville festival two years after I assumed the pseudonym. I’ve never been, but it looks like a good time.

It’s a name my SO started calling me. He’s always liked Gambit, I’ve always liked Rogue, and he would call me ‘chere’ and ‘belle’ interchangeably. BelleChere sort of became a pet name, and after people started getting creepy on me when I went by my real name, I started going by the pseudonym. I don’t speak French, but I’m told that proper grammar should make it ‘BelleCherie’. But you can see how much I care.