Interview: Lopti of Some Like It Blue

Giant wings. Draenei horns. A motley assortment of weapons, laid out cheek to cheek with a pile of makeup. These are just a few of the things you'd find if you were to peek into cosplayer Lopti's closet. That is, if you weren't swept away by the avalanche of wigs; she's got enough to outfit a small albeit colorful army.

Photography by The Sisters Mischief

Lopti is one of those blessed individuals who can pull off just about any look, but I love that she cosplays what she loves. Her first priority is caring about the character she then sets out to become, be it for an hour, a long day of con-going and photoshooting...or just plain old having fun. 

Check out my recent interview with her below the cut.

C: What's your favorite part of putting on any particular cosplay - the wig, the make-up, the props, etc.?  

L: Doing the makeup is definitely my favorite part of putting on a costume!  A lot of the characters I choose to cosplay require a lot of theatrical makeup, ranging from full body paint, to prosthetics, to dramatic contouring.  Putting on the costume and wig is fun, but I feel like the character really starts coming to life when I put on the makeup.

C: Your Loki cosplay was one of your first to get a lot of attention. Would you crossplay again, and why or why not? Who would you crossplay?

Photography by The Sisters Mischief

L: I loved crossplaying as Loki, and I would totally do more!  Sadly, my husband isn't too fond of me dressing up as a man, so I've refrained from crossplaying for the most part!  But that doesn't mean it won't ever happen in the future.  I'm considering doing a Pippin from Lord of the Rings, and I've also dreamed of doing an Edward Scissorhands cosplay for a long time.  Not to mention Howl from Howl's Moving Castle.  And of course, I'd love to do a new and improved Loki cosplay one day!

C: What do you think your strengths are when it comes to cosplay? And alternatively, what would you like to get better at?

L: Makeup is definitely my strong-point!  Which is kind of humorous, because there was a point in my life when I absolutely hated all things makeup.  It just didn't make sense, and I thought it never would!  Then I started playing with it regularly and bought some decent brushes, and it all started to click.  As for what I'd like to improve, I'd really like to learn how to make my own armor.  I have to admit, the thought is extremely intimidating!  But I'll learn.  Eventually.  Haha!

C: Do you have any "dream cosplays" at the moment? 

L: Edward Scissorhands has been a dream cosplay for years.  I've already experimented with the makeup and really liked the outcome.  I just need to make the costume a reality!  I'd also love to cosplay Madame Vastra from Doctor Who!  That would be some intense prosthetic work, but if it turned out well, it would be amazing!  And Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxies.  And Tooth from Rise of the Guardians.  And an owl from Guardians of Ga'hoole (I'm not even kidding).  ALL THE GUARDIANS.  

Photography by Katelin Kinney

C: Can you walk us through what your process is on getting a cosplay together, from start to finish? Where do you begin, and what's usually the finishing touch?

L: Typically my first step is experimenting with theatrical makeup to see if I can even achieve the look I'm going for.  I use mainly Mehron products, as I've found their colors are the most vivid and easy to spread on the skin.  If I like the outcome, I give myself the green light to make the costume! 

My mom is an amazing seamstress, so once I know the character I want to make, I sit down with her and we plot out a design for the costume.  We typically go fabric shopping together, get all of our supplies, then spend a few evenings at her house making the costume.  I'm very fortunate to be sponsored by a few exceptional companies that provide accessories for my costumes.  For all of my contact lens needs, I work with Samhain Contact Lenses.  They hand-paint contacts for each of my characters, so I know the lenses will be exactly what I need!  Kaos Kustom Fangs provides fangs for each of my fanged characters, and Aradani Studios provides prosthetic ears.  I always get my wigs from Arda Wigs.  They are super high quality, but still very affordable.  The right wig can make a huge difference in a cosplay!

Once I have the costume, wig, makeup and accessories, it's just fine tuning and perfecting the little details!  I'll usually do a test run of the entire costume once or twice before I feel ready for a photoshoot or convention.  That way I know how long getting ready will take and I won't feel rushed to get to an event on time.  

C: You've branched out a little in modeling in the last year or so, and definitely combined your modeling with your cosplay. But if you had to focus on one thing or the other - a career in modeling, or in cosplay, which one would you choose and why?

Photography by Leah Kelley

L: To me, the two kind of go hand in hand.  If not for cosplay, I wouldn't have any experience with modeling, but without modeling, I wouldn't have the resources to pour back into my cosplays (thanks to my sponsors)!  But if I absolutely had to pick between the two, I'd pick cosplay.  I love being a part of the cosplay community!  Everyone is so friendly and encouraging.  I haven't experienced that kind of camaraderie in the modeling world, and I would definitely miss it.  


C: Which one of the characters you've cosplayed do you feel most akin to? 

L: I'm not sure I should admit this, but probably Loki!  We're both kinda strange misfits with a deep love for getting into mischief.  But don't worry - I don't plan on taking over the world... yet. 

C: What three words would you use to describe the types of cosplays you most enjoy?

L: Magical, Colorful and Dramatic

Photography by Katelin Kinney

C: What advice would you give someone who wants to try cosplay, but has no clue where to start?

L: Start small!  Find your strengths and choose cosplays that will let you display those strengths - then slowly branch out as you learn more.  And don't be afraid to ask friends, family or experienced cosplayers online for help or advice!

C: BONUS: If you could only cosplay from one series/world from here on out, what would you pick?

L: This is a cruel question, because I love so many different series!  But... I guess I would pick the Marvel Universe, as the options within the universe are abundant.  I'd never run out of fun characters to cosplay! 

Click here for Lopti's Facebook page, and don't forget to check back next week for our weekly geeky interview.