I’m getting behind on posting here on the blog.. mostly trying to keep up on Instagram, but wanted to get here here before I lost the pics! This year was split 1/2 with my friend Robin, and 1/2 with my youngest. The teenager opted out of going this year:(
I brought old standby classic Wonder Woman, comfy Spider Gwen, my teenager’s Riverdale Veronica, as well as a few new exciting costumes! Lady Death Bunny was my super cool bunny hutch costume, the green Absinthe fairy, the sand snakes from Game of thrones for Robin and I, Margot Tennenbaum, AND …. Eleven from Stranger things and Mary Poppins for the 8 year old!
She did the Masquerade costume contest and although she didn’t win, was inspired to make her own costume for next year and do it again! We packed a lot in, and had more fun than ever this year.
Highlights were hanging with Wonder Woman Artist George Perez and the WW photo shoot, brushing shoulders (almost ) with Peter Capaldi (while waiting to enter his panel), and everyone loving my little Mary Poppins! 
Getting the hotel room for Tuesday/chill out day was a bonus. It’s quite a hard transition back to real life after such a thing like dragoncon!
The parade was pretty awesome to walk in this year… it is super fun to go as a recognizable character that the kids love. Many high fives and hugs going around ❤️ 
My one big panel choice had to be Matt Smith. The 11th Doctor. My favorite!
the girls both wanted to be Suicide Squad Harley Quinn. They had a blast doing the big group shoot and got featured on the scifi channel!
I finally finished this Once Upon a Time costume of bandit Snow White. Not as much fun as I had hoped so this one got sold pretty soon after :/.
and another costume I worked for a long time on and just didn’t really enjoy wearing. Katniss from Hunger Games (Catching Fire chariot dress.). It lit up like fire and fit well so I actually ended up wearing it to a Christmas party later that year 🙂 I skipped the bunny hutch this year because I had the kids with me on Thursday, but am looking forward to next year.
I will probably end up making a new, more screen accurate version of this once I get the hang of some new materials. This is my first attempt made in the summer of 2015 based on the preview shot of her costume. I have worn it several times now, and love that it is so comfortable (for a corset and heels.)
It is made of faux leather, craft foam and modge podge mostly. The leg armor is one piece attached to knee highs and worn over wedge heels. The corset is steel boned with a separate skirt/belt. The sword is just a plastic one I repainted and weathered attached to a leather strap. My hair is brown, just brown 
and doesn’t take color well, so I have given up on trying to dye it black. I don’t really mind… it is more me as Wonder Woman, which I love 🙂
The above photos were from SC Comicon in Greenville April 2016.
Below is a shot of the costume when I first made it..(on my mannequin and showing the sword.) Since then, the skirt has been shortened a bit, but all else the same.
This is one of my favorite shots, taken by my six year old. It shows my other daughter (11) in a rare picture as my professional corset lacer 🙂 The older one is normally my photographer and does an outstanding job!
I originally made this six or seven years ago…post HERE
With new generations falling in love with Star Wars (and old ones rekindling,) I have made over a dozen of these beautiful recreations in the last year or so!
I have learned a lot, changed a little, and even worn my own personal costume several times. My wedding anniversary happened to fall on the premier of “The Force Awakens”, so of course hubby and I had a night on the town fully dressed 🙂 Some Padme/Obi Wan jokes were made, but , hey, we are in love 🙂
I still use the one basic blended mermaid skirt pattern for and faux leather for both the steel boned corset and the gloves. (Yes, I realize my gloves are too short.)
The main thing I am changing is to conform this to Rebel Legion Standards. At first, I thought this meant it needed to be front zip, but after some research, have learned that the back closure is not an issue and just that the front needed a hidden closure flap. Totally doable. 🙂
We were also this Duo for Halloween 2015:
I am going to try to gather up some customer photos to add to this updated post. And as always, have my ebay and esty searches on alert for vintage beads and black lace for this classic 🙂
Close up picture of the Lace I use:
Happy customers love to share photos of themselves with me in their costumes and I love to see them! Here are a few that I have received in the last year or two. If I have missed any credits, please let me know!
Cosplayer Kuno Yuro
Kuno Yuro as Wonder Woman, with Batman 2014
Nicole Stoufflet with her Steve Trevor 2013
MiaLa bustier made with custom molded chest plate and belt. 2013
Two more great shots of Kuno Yuro
This unnamed customer claims her costume was “A LOT of work.” Meh. It wasn’t that hard. Maybe she meant getting in shape to wear what I made was hard 😉
My customer sent me this comic cover image by Brian Bolland as inspiration for a new costume:
She did want it with a little more coverage, boy shorts and shoes and accessories.
I started out with a basic sweetheart neckline corset pattern and extended it to the low hips.
I used 2 layers of liner to make sure where I attached all the leaves to the outer layer would not be uncomfortable. The outer layer was a viney printed green woven cotton. I sewed boning in the seams of the liner, and at the back edges. Next step was attaching ALL the leaves to the outer layer! You can see here that the liner is not attached to the outer layer yet, but I have covered up to about an inch away from the edges of the outer layer in layers of leaves. I started at the top and worked down. This took about 2 huge sprigs of leaves from Michael’s! The ones that are poking out above the raw edge are loose, so I could stick them inside when I sewed it right sides together to the liner. So, next step was to sew the outer to the liner, right sides together, along the side and upper edges (tucking the leaves inside as I went). Leaving the bottom open was an easy way to get it turned right side out without crushing the leaves.
While working on this, I ordered from an awesome site called welovecolors.com. They have 51? colors, I believe and make all kinds of tights, briefs, gloves, etc that match! We ordered boy briefs, tights and opera gloves.
Next step was to topstitch the bottom edge of the corset and stitch on all the leaves around the edges and along the bottom. I added grommets, privacy panel and matching ribbon and the top is done!!
I definitely multitask, so while I was waiting for the we love colors order and finishing the top, I started on the wire necklace. This was twisted wire, rubber clay, paint and fabric flowers.
Once the accessories arrived, ( a perfect match), I cut the fingers off of the gloves (and secured seams), hemmed down to below the elbow, and added as many leaves as I could. These are super stretchy, so the sewing of the leaves proved *challenging* (aka never gonna do THIS again).
After the chore of the gloves, I just had to sew leaves onto thick leather boots, (OMG and OUCH). Here are a couple of shots of the whole costume minus the tights. I wish you could see the hairpiece better. I sewed leaves and white flowers onto twine and attached to a clip. (Disregard the black wig… it was the best I had at the time).
And here is the pretty back, and a closer shot of the hairpiece and gloves(still doesn’t show much, sorry).
I hope to add some customer shots soon, if she is willing to share 🙂
The top is a half corset, fully boned and lined with a lace up back. The sleeves hang off the shoulders for an authentic recreation look.
The pants are harem style but not too baggy with a lace up closure in the back as well. They can be made sheer as in the photo, or lined . Also included are hand sculpted accessories: headband scarf, necklace, and earrings.
Available on Etsy 2011, $285
Based on the Johnny Depp character from Tim Burton’s 2010 movie…in a female version!
Shown on without the tights and makeup that came with it.
On ebay currently (October 2010) and if it does not sell, it will be mine 🙂
This can be custom recreated in any color scheme. Shown with rust high collar cutaway jacket, reversible teal, blue and gold corset, gold stripe skirt, teased wig, mini matching tophat, scarf, and thread belt.
Adjustable size small to medium. Max 36 inch bust.
This was a custom request from a gal who also ordered the Wonder Woman and wanted a slightly sexier, prettier version of Supergirl as well. Normally she wears just a blue leotard, so we decided to pump it up with a corset and cool belt. I love how this turned out and will probably be adding it to my regular costumes for sale next year! It is all satin, with the top fully lined and boned. A leather collared cape is bound in gold ribbon and snaps on. It has an attached belt and laces up the back. Also comes with superhero fingerless gloves! (below). I will add some more photos when I get them from the customer! If you are interested in purchasing this costume, please email me at miala.net at gmail dot com for a custom quote.
I believe this is gonna be one of my favorite creations this year! I have a small collection of vintage lingere and laces and this is made with the most scrumptious peach silk and hand tatted lace. I had made the corset using a thick white brocade lining for stability, then transformed it into this Marie Antoinette style costume. I added accents of black satin, made a matching 3 tiered bustl-y skirt, tie on mask, neck ruffle and SPATS! All with matching antique lace from the 20s/30s. Each layer of the gathered ruffles on the skirt is bound in peach andpink binding, because if you flounce, it shows :). 
I made a pattern for the spats and will try to upload that eventually.
MiaLa costuming blog 