How To: Fashionably Dress for a Convention

This is a question I get asked quite frequently, actually: If you're not cosplaying, how do you dress comfortably AND fashionably for a convention? After nearly 200 conventions under my belt, I've perfected it down to an art form - after a LOT of trial and error.  Here's the things I've learned!

Comfortable Shoes

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Comfortable shoes are the number one most important thing for walking a convention floor. Not only will you probably be walking from the shuttle stop/your hotel to the convention center, but you're going to be spending HOURS on your feet on oftentimes horribly uncomfortable concrete floors. As I am a serial "giant stompy heels" wearer, I sometimes don't take my own advice - and regret it terribly as I lose all feeling in my pinky toe for two weeks straight (yay nerve damage!). I usually save my heels wearing for the after parties or dinners, and stick to trendy yet comfortable shoes for the convention floor. I've found things with big soles really help absorb the pain of being on your feet for 8+ hours. 

Airy, Moveable Dresses

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My go to Convention uniform is usually a dress, comfortable shoes, and a cardigan or light jacket (not anything too heavy, so I can carry it in my bag if I get overheated). I'm not a pants wearer, but I also at times enjoy just a simple long tanktop with some geeky leggings. I like airy, comfortable clothes for geeking out all day in. Above are some of my favorite dress picks!

A Big Huge Bag

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A big huge bag that is comfortable to wear is absolutely CRUCIAL (further down I'll add a bonus checklist of the Convention bag essentials!). Not only do you need your "essentials", you also need something to throw all of the stuff you buy into. I prefer to just have one big bag that does all the work rather than carrying around a bunch from the Vendors (though We Love Fine DOES have the cutest bags ever). I like a big huge side sling purse as it's easily accessible, but a backpack with big straps is also a viable option.

ESSENTIALS

These are THE ESSENTIALS - make sure to always have these with you at a convention! Convention Center food is always ridiculously overpriced ($10 Nachos?! NO THANKS!) so I always carry snacks and water with me. Painkillers, deodorant, travel perfume, lipstick, and concealer also never leave my bag... and of course a camera, sharpies (for getting/giving autographs), and BUSINESS CARDS (cons are the best place to Network EVER!).

What about you guys? What are your convention essentials?

Outfit #55: WHAT? NEW OUTFIT?

Wet Look Leggings: eBay // Long Sweater Duster: Thrifted // Plaid shirt: Thrifted // White t-shirt dress: H&M // Shoes: Zoe by Sam Edelman // Bag: Thrifted

Holy shit an outfit post? It's true: I AM still alive, and I vow to start posting more... again. As you can see in these photos, one of the main hindrances to outfit pics is the RAIN. It's just always so wet in Seattle in the winter time! And considering I live in a shoebox apartment, there's not really any room to take outfit pics inside. Blah!

Anyway, remember how I was pining over these shoes a few months ago? Wonderful Dan got them for me for Christmas, and I LOVE THEM. They're absurdly comfortable and so damn chic. I never want to take them off.

Outfit #49: Bonafide Hustler

Floral Bodycon Dress: H&M (Thrifted) // Fluffy Jacket: Ross // Shoes c/o Ami Club Wear // Cross Necklace: eBay

I had a LOT of fun doing these shots. Dan and I were just kind of frakkin' around, but I decided I looked like a hoochie mama so we went to the abandoned lot next to the apartment and took some grungy photos of me. Definitely way more photoshooty than most of my outfit of the day pics - if I had more time, I'd love to do more like this. After all, I used to model ALL THE TIME, even though I've gained a lot of weight I still like to rock it in front of the lens.

I'm a brave woman for putting my foot on that mattress, even though it was shoe clad. A homeless dude was sleeping on it all summer, and I witnessed him pissing himself on multiple occasions when I checked to make sure he wasn't dead.  I live in a pretty nice, secure neighborhood, but the homeless people here are TERRIFYING. If homeless people in downtown Seattle/capitol hill are goblins, these ones are orcs. Because I live in the 'burbs, there's really not a lot of a reason for them to be here, so it just means that they are here because they are too mentally fuckered up to go anywhere else where the pickings are better. It's a bit sad, really. But I have less sympathy for them when they are screaming in a drug haze for hours at 3am.

My Thanksgiving/holiday weekend was awesome. My darling friend Liz Leo (of OneUpMakeup fame!) invited me to her family's house since I was a Thanksgiving orphan, and I had a great time. We gorged ourselves on food and wine and watched RuPaul's Drag Race.

I slept a LOT this weekend, haha. It was a nice break from constantly doing things.

Thursday I am going to Denver, CO with Daniel to see his mother for the holidays! I'm excited; Colorado is one of the few states I have never visited.

How was everyone's weekends?

Outfit #47: Back to Black

Dress c/o Romwe // Boots c/o Blowfish // Belt: eBay // Raw Stone Necklace c/o RUBY // Rings: eBay // Hat: H&M

There's finally been enough of a break in the weather that I was able to snap a few outfit pics - wahoo! Yesterday the downpour was TORRENTIAL. I honestly have never seen rain like that in my three years in Seattle - I thought the entire city was going to drown. I also learned that apparently it's a common thing for people in Seattle to own pumps, so when it DOES rain like that they can pump off the flooding. The more you know!

Two things that have never wavered from my personal style are black and asymmetric things. The fact that this dress is both had me panting over my keyboard until I was certain it was mine. It also fits amazingly well for a free size dress!

Also, these boots from Blowfish have not left my feet since I got them last week. They are honestly the most comfortable pair of shoes I own - more comfortable than a pair of flat boots. I love them SO. MUCH.

My weekend was absolutely bonkers insane. I cleaned the apartment Saturday, did a bunch of photos for the blog, filmed FOUR videos for OneUpMakeup with the ladies. Then on Sunday Angeline and I had a full day shoot for Hey! Listen!, where we filmed two whole comedy sketches (you'll be seeing them soon!) All in all, it was productive and I feel good about it.

However, I caught a bit of a cold, so tonight I'm making pumpkin pie and playing Kingdoms of Amular until I pass out. I'M SO HARDCORE.

Outfit #41: I Vill Drink Yer Blawd

Dress c/o Crash and Burn Apparel // Boots c/o Naughty Monkey // Jacket: Saguaro (Gift from my Mother) // Hat: H&M // Vampire Ring: eBay // Necklace: Wholesale-Dress.net

I like wearing tie dye because I can spill as much coffee on myself as I want and it's not noticeable. The clumsy girl's fashion best friend, HOORAH! But isn't this dress incredible? I died when I saw it online, but when I opened the package from Crash and Burn Apparel I let out an audible "squee". It's also ridiculously comfortable.

Also obsessed with my new boots, courtesy of Naughty Monkey. However, they are an absolute terror against my tights because I sit in awkward positions and thus keep ripping up my tights with the spikes on the back. OH WELL, FASHION IS PAIN.

This weekend I did a whole lot of productive things - PSHAW. I went antiquing with my dear friend Megan, painted some IKEA shelves I got on Craigslist (and accidentally made myself and Daniel high on spray paint fumes), and managed to drop a shelf on my head as I was attempting to move a giant shelf by myself. Oops.

I've been on an absolute apartment overhaul path lately - I can't stop fixing things up! I keep buying cheap furniture on craigslist and I have moved almost all of the furniture around. I'm also painting EVERYTHING. I may be going slightly dotty - with all the plans I have for the apartment I probably won't be finished until sometime next spring. My reasoning is that Dan and I are staying put until we can afford a house (to rent, not to buy, unless I somehow come into some money) on Capitol Hill again. Until then, we will nest in our tiny two bedroom, and he will tolerate me dropping shelves on my head and ranting about interior design for three days straight.

I've actually found the most challenging thing is trying to display my toys and still make the apartment look "designy". I've started phasing out all of my small toys - Burger King Star Wars and the like - and I'm slowly but surely investing in larger figures and statues. I think they are easier to display and don't look as cheap, or like I'm living in a 12 year old boy's oversized bedroom.

Last night we filmed three new videos for One Up Makeup - so there's four in the pipeline for you guys! I just love working with those fantastic women - we always have such a great time making the videos. I love that we can conglomerate our love of makeup AND geekiness into one happy bundle.

How did you enjoy your weekends, unicorns?

Outfit #38: The Truth is out There

Dress: UXCell.com // Shoes: Forever 21 // Jacket: Thrifted // Bunny Ear ring c/o Rings and Tings

My X-files mania is at an all time high right now. I've been watching about 3 episodes a night and I'm getting so intensely into the mythos. I'm still realizing so many things I never noticed when I was viewing it as a young'un. Also, Frank Spotnitz (writer for the X-files) is doing an AMA on Reddit right now! It's so interesting. 

I look really tired in these photos. Not sure why. STUPID GENETIC BLACK CIRCLES.

This dress is from one of those cheap Asian websites. I got this and one other for about 6 dollars each - both of them are way too short on my super tall stature, but I think if I layer skirts it will be alright. WHY CAN'T I BE BUILT ALL SMALL AND PETITE AND PRETTY?! *sob*

D&D tonight. After three weeks of not being able to play due to player absences, I'm so excited I'm trembling.


And oh, sorry for the lack of iPhone case pictures! I keep forgetting. I will pick back up with that ASAP, I promise! The current case I have on my iPhone is being really stubborn and I can't seem to get it off, but I don't want to break it. Aaargh.

Outfit #36: Stripes and Leopard Print

Skirt: Thrifted // Striped Top: Forever 21 (Thrifted) // Belt: Thrifted // Vest: Yard Sale // Leopard Print Wedges: Make Me Chic // Necklace c/o Jiglys // Hat: H&M // iPhone Case c/o Another Case

Seattle weather is being strange again - freezing at night and warm during the day. The rain is gone again. JUST GIVE ME MY DREARY WEATHER FOREVER, SEATTLE. IS THAT SO HARD.

I have been spending the day plotting how to catch a rabbit. My coworker and dear friend Liz has noticed an obviously scared and lost bunny in her back ally. He's too big, fluffy, and obviously an exotic breed to not be someone's pet that must have escaped. We called animal control, but they won't come catch him since he's not an immediate threat. So we are going to try and put a box over him tonight. Poor bunny!

Outfit #35: The TARDIS Jacket

Dress c/o Stitched and Adorned // Jacket: Thrifted // Shoes: Just Fabulous // Hat: H&M // Sunglasses: Thrifted // Belt: Thrifted

I call this jacket my "TARDIS Jacket", since it's TARDIS blue. It's not really bigger on the inside, though...

I really love the color orange (especially in the fall, obviously) but have a hard time wearing it since my main color palette for clothes is black, grey, more black, pink, and blues.  That's why when Stitched and Adorned asked me to choose a dress, I chose this one! I wanted to challenge myself. I expect you'll see me trying to style it a few different ways in the future, just because I sometimes like pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

I looked in the mirror this morning and realized in pure delight that my real hair is almost down to my shoulders again. I still feel weird without a wig, but I think that once I start figuring out how to style my real hair again it's going to make a re-appearance. I just felt (and still feel) so insecure about it once I chopped it all off on a hot summer day whim... I like having long pretty hair - I have no idea what possessed me to go short. I cried for like a week straight (but not the first day, because Dan told me I would and I was determined to prove him wrong. Ha!)

I'm placing a group order to Wholesale-Dress.net with Meg of Bowties are Cool and a few of my other friends this week - I'm very interested and excited to get it. I've been eyeing this website forever due to its insanely cheap prices, but the shipping has always been outrageous. But since we are ordering so much, we get free shipping - wahoo! I'll make sure to do a haul post once I receive the inevitably massive shipment.

Also I look really skinny in these photos. Hooray for angles?

'Til tomorrow, my lovely unicorns!