Nerdy, Sparkly & Gothy! Plus Size & Budget Friendly! Shoppable Links in Posts!
Welcome to NerdySparkleGoth.com!
Starting today, you can pre-order this gorgeous Galactic Knight Dress from Elhoffer Design.
Katie Elhoffer has designed pieces for We Love Fine as well as Her Universe. My favorite pieces in my wardrobe were designed by her, so I know this dress will be fashion-forward, nerdy and most of all, well-made. She also offers her designs in all the sizes!
Pre-order your dress here.
Love, Kim and Scout
Will this solve some of the Hall H craziness? Tune in and find out!
Finally, FINALLY, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter soft opened at Universal Studios Hollywood! As soon as I could, I bought our annual passes and Scout and I were off to see the Wizard, ahem, Hogwarts.
I took so many pictures, that I will have to split this post into two parts. Let’s just say, Scout and I had one of our best days ever!
The Wizarding World is on soft open for now, and will grand open on April 7th. Get your tickets here.
First off, the traditional “going on an adventure” selfie:
We got into the park and made straight for Hogsmeade, but got stopped along the way:
Once we arrived, we were completely mesmerized by how beautiful it was. You quite literally step into Harry’s world.
Our friend, Anne, joined us for some of the fun and we went for the Hogwarts’ Express photo op:
I have some more pictures to share with you of our first of many trips to Hogwarts!
Entrance to Hogsmeade and enjoying a frozen butterbeer:
The Owlery where we enjoyed our Butterbeer (best thing ever!) and the Frog Choir performed:
We ran into this amazing Slytherin poodle skirt cosplay at Olivander’s, Sirius Black is on the loose! and Scout in front of Hogwarts Castle. Amazing!
Next time, the wands choose the witches and the low-down on our cosplay…
Love, Kim and Scout
So many great programs. Take a look at the complete schedule here.
Here are some highlights that Scout and I are looking forward to:
Comic Book Law School
With an ever-growing appetite for new content and rapid-fire advancements in technology, it has never been easier for a creator to get their work in front of an audience (and hopefully in a profitable way). But as traditional barriers to entry tumble, the exponential growth of alternatives (such as digital publishing, social media content distribution models, crowdfunding, and print-on-demand services) also result in an increasing assortment of traps, cons and hazards to navigate. And while it’s true that with great (technological) power comes greater reward, it’s the creators who must be responsible for protecting themselves and their creations from the unscrupulous and the deceitful who are gaining an ever-expanding bag of tools for fleecing the unwary. But luckily, creators have their own Defenders they can turn to-and not just Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock. WonderCon welcomes back noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, to discuss the truths (and debunk some urban legends) of protecting your creative capital. Attendees are invited to participate in an interactive discussion led by Lovitz, concerning the basic rights provided under the U.S. Copyright and Trademark laws; including the basics on the ownership and protection of ideas, a brief overview of copyright & trademark rights and their application to works of authorship, characters, and names. Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. intellectual property systems. (Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. However, the seminar is presented for information and entertainment purposes only, and the information presented and opinions expressed at the seminars do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. This program is approved for one credit of California MCLE).
Hope to see you all there!
Love, Kim and Scout
In addition to a great Con floor, Dallas Comic Con offered up some great cosplay! Scout and I hit the floor on day one with Star Wars cosplay, Scout as Finn and me as Han. Our friend, Troy, was ObiWan. I was so glad we chose to go for a Star Wars day because on the floor was a landspeeder photo op. For a few bucks, we got to get in the speeder and take some pictures with a Storm Trooper. Here is just a sampling of the silliness that ensued:
As you can see, Scout has a lead foot and got us pulled over for speeding. Can’t wait to teach her how to drive!
Day two, Scout and I were Star Lord and Rocket. This is the first cosplay that we came up with completely on our own, so we really love to rerun this cosplay. Troy was Doctor Nemesis. Rocket prevailed…
The Con floor had a nice red carpet area to show off your cosplay as well.
There was one pro booth for cosplay photos. SuperHeroPhotos.com. Click on the link for more info. Here are the pics that we had done:
I love how these turned out! If Super Hero Photos has a booth at your local Con, get some pics done!
As you can see, we had a fantastic time at this Con. This might need to become a regular thing with us. Next up, WonderCon!
Love, Kim and Scout
Tony B. Kim talked about this here blog on Crazy4ComicCon.com today. I’m so excited about this! Besides that, he makes some great points about blogging and how to get started and build an audience. Con season is in full swing, so get bloggin!
Crazy 4 Comic Con posted this fun video today about SDCC. As we are all gearing up for WonderCon, SDCC’s little sister, enjoy these fun facts!
So, here we are, two months into Raisingaheronotavillain.com! Scout and I just wanted to take this time on our two month anniversary to thank each and every one of you for stopping by and reading our posts. We are super grateful for your encouragement and support.
We are just getting started! We have lots planned for future posts. Scout and I have quite a year in geeky adventures to share with you. Coming soon will be the second part of our trip to Dallas Comic Con and our trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Hollywood! After that, WonderCon, where we have two new cosplays to debut and then off to “Nerd Camp” aka SDCC!
So, to recap the first two months of this blog, here are some pics of Outfits of the Day, Articles, Fashion Alerts, etc. Please refer to the Find It Here Guide, which I am constantly updating for links to other great blogs and shopping.
Fashion Alerts:
Disney Store for great t-shirts
Deadpool and PPZ movie fashions
Outfits of the Day:
Articles:
Selfies and Captain America
Please stay tuned for more!
Love, Kim and Scout
Wow, so many geeky lifestyle panels to choose from! Scout and I will have a full schedule for sure! Here is the link to the full preview, but here are some highlights:
The Her Universe Fashion Show Update—For the last two years, Her Universe and Hot Topic have produced The Her Universe “Geek Couture” Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con. Each year two winners were chosen and given the unique professional opportunity to design a fashion collection to be sold in Hot Topic stores. Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein, Cat Carson (SVP of Her Universe), Ed Labay (divisional merchandise manager of music and licensing), and Andrea Lewis (senior brand marketing manager) from Hot Topic and 2015 fashion show winners Kelly Cercone and Leetal Platt take you behind the scenes of the making of their all-new Star Wars: The Force Awakens line for Hot Topic. Learn how these designers went from runway to retail! Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek at this new Star Wars collection and hear details about how to submit your designs for the 2016 Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con!
Cosplay Makeup 101—This panel covers what it takes to perfect your cosplay by having great makeup to go with it. It will cover beauty makeup, appliance application, special fx makeup, sculpting, molding, casting, and wig styling. The panelists includeDawnielle Banks (Makeup By Siryn, Batgirl Spoiled lead makeup designer), Ashley Troub (Ghost Hunters, winning look SDCC Her Universe Fashion Show), Kelton Ching (SDCC 2014 Apocalypse makeup demo, Blizzcon 2015 4th place winner), and Chrissy Lynn (Super Power Beat Down’s Darth Maul, League of Steam’s White Wolf), who have honed their craft in the makeup, film, television, and cosplay photography worlds. They will answer your questions about makeup to match your costuming and cosplay, as well as offer tips and tools of the trade to use. Moderated by cosplayer Mac Beauvais (Monstrous Makeup Manuals 1&2 model, actress in The Gloaming).
Geek Wars: The Star Wars Edition—Fans love to geek out, but they also like engaging in important culture topics. In this Star Warsedition of Geek Wars, professional nerds battle it out over Star Wars trivia while also discussing relevant social topics like stereotyping, feminism, body shaming, and much more. Plus, the panel will speculate about Episode VIII! This will be a lively and enlightening conversation that might challenge your view on the pop culture world. Panelists include Chris Gore (comedian, personality), Amy Ratcliffe (writer), Ivy Doom Kitty (professional cosplayer), and Jennifer Landa (YouTube personality). Hosted by Tony B Kim (blogger).
I’m in the Nerd Business—How do you create and sustain a business that caters to the geek lifestyle without exploiting the very people to whom you provide services? Join this panel of entrepreneurs, whose traditional businesses cater to a predominantly nerdy or geeky clientele. Panelists Matthew Arevalo (Loot Crate), Donna Ricci (Geeky Teas, formerly Clockwork Couture), Janelle Badali (Badali Jewelry), and David Nett (Nerdstrong Gym) discuss how these businesses started, and how they sustain their service to their clientele in the face of mass-market exploitation of geekdom. How do you compete with the giant corporate conglomerates that have suddenly discovered the geek marketplace? How do you sell goods and market services to a community seeking authenticity, without falling into the trap of pandering or gimmicks? Moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions, Shout! Factory).
Jet Set Nerds—Jet Set Nerd Anastasia Washington (Anastationtv, Jet Set Nerds) and jet setters Stephanie Pressman(Fashionably Nerdy), Angelique Toschi (Nerds in La La Land), Stacy Renfroe (Nerds in La La Land), Michelle Chubby Bunny(Geek & Sundry), Yume Lee (Lootcrate), Marlon (Nerd Coolture), and Curious Joi (Curious Joi) chat about packing up your bags and finding Nerd Mecca wherever you go! Moderated by Jennifer Kretchmer (producer).
Geeklings & Parental Units—Explore what it’s like be a geek, working in a geek culture vocation, while raising a geekling. Join panelists for a rousing discussion of modern-day parenting, attending conventions, using devices, cosplaying, online privacy, and using tech to make you a better parent, as well as when is best to introduce kids to the Star Wars movies (and in what order?), and more! Bring your kids and your questions! The panel will have some coloring books to keep kids occupied so you can try to focus! Panelists include Melody Mooney (writer, Geekmom.com), Kendra Moras (Photography by Kendra Jean), Heather Pritchett (technical director, Disney Animation), and Cris Moras (lighter, Disney Feature Animation). Moderated by Theresa Wollenstein (organizer, Geeklings & Parental Units playdate group).
I’m so lucky to know a lot of these great geeks that are going to share their knowledge and expertise with you! They bring so much to the table. Should be a fantastic con!
Scout and I hope to see you there!
Love, Kim and Scout
I decided to make this week Black Widow week! Anytime is a good time to celebrate Natasha Romanoff after all. So, I’m focusing on my everyday cosplay Black Widow dress from Torrid. Here are some shots of it with props for funzies. These were taken by Justin Davidson Photography. Book him here.
This dress was made for Torrid by Her Universe. Shopping guides below. When not running around with prop guns, I accessorize this dress with my trusty tall boots, a short sleeved cardigan, my Widow necklace and a great leather jacket. Here are some shots of everyday wear.
I’m wearing a 1X in this dress. The dress has some stretch to it, which makes it super comfy. The length and subtlety of the design make this a good choice for work as well as weekend wear. Torrid has more of this style dress available for Iron Man and Darth Vader, just to name a couple more. They do have a Cap version, which they have been sold out of forever, but I will eventually get my mitts on one!
Until next time, Happy Shopping!
Love, Kim and Scout
Dress from Torrid
Leather Jacket and cardigan from Old Navy
Boots from Lane Bryant
Necklace from Stella & Dot
Con approved prop guns by Disgruntled Veteran