Black Butler Diary: The Hapless Butler

So I might or might not have been freaking out about Grell’s shoes for the past few days. Once I saw red oxfords, I really, really wanted to have red shoes for him instead of black and white oxfords or plain black oxfords. The two pairs of red oxfords I found were respectively 1) out of stock and 2) made out of such obviously synthetic materials that they would never fit the late Victorian era.

So with all the enthusiasm of a Facebook stalker, I’ve been checking ModCloth.com’s new stock every day, because that’s how quickly some items can sell out on that website. I came across this pair, which I liked better than the heels I had seen previously because it goes up higher on the foot, has more buckle details, and look more old-fashioned. Except they were in white, not the desired red.

I’ve spent the past two months dyeing stuff for class instead of having a social life. Apart from fabric, you can dye anything—wood, shells, bone, even acrylic beads. So why did it take me so long to remember that you can dye shoes?

Black Butler Diary: Heels of Death

After I saw The September Issue, I was inspired to get back into wearing heels because I do love heels and, at 5’2”, I’m not exactly removing myself from the dating pool if I go a little taller. It’s now the end of September, so I figure that I have plenty of time to work my way from flats to stilettos for March. But I admit, I look a little ridiculous wearing a tanktop, gym shorts, and grey suede knee-high boots with 3” heels.

So… it’s 10:30 in the morning on a Sunday. Why am I doing this, again?

Sometime last week or so, between deciding that Eye Motif Fai would be best for A-kon 2010 and thinking I would like to be sane after completing the costume, I thought it would be nice to pick up a ‘break’ cosplay—someone I could work on when Fai gets to be too much. Someone spunky (because nothing says depressing like a post-Tokyo Fai cosplay), someone who I can have fun with researching the costume period, someone… with a bit of flair. It is fashion week time, after all. What can I say, I miss Kuja!

I was considering a female character just for a change. I looked at the fighting game girls and looked over my anime and manga collection, but no one really stood out. Since I’m super-picky and the character has to have some meaning to me for me to pay attention long enough to finish a costume, I went on a search. What better time to discover new anime and manga than the present, right?

So I started off with Kuroshitsuji, or Black Butler. As everyone knows, Kuroshitsuji is what would happen if Hellsing and Yami no Matsuei had a one-night stand, left Yami no Matsuei to raise the child, named him Artemis Fowl, and put him in a dress.

We all know where this is going. My criteria were 1) someone who it would be fun instead of depressing to be in character as for an extended period of time, and 2) someone vaguely fashionable for the series, and 3) Someone who I could cosplay solo without feeling weird. Enter Grell Sutcliff.

Of course, I couldn’t just pick someone and go. I had to run this by my friend (aka sanity meter) first.

Her: HOLY FUSS. WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING THIS ONE? SHE'S, LIKE, KUJA'S AND FAI'S EVIL DAUGHTER. (creeped out, btw, very creeped out)

Me: That’s a boy.

Her: ...it's a he?! *goes and stares at the pic*

Forget the chainsaw, these heels will be my death.