Cosplay Corner Episode #3: Catherine Jones (GSTQ)

Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Catherine Jones is an award winning seamstress and has been the proud owner of GSTQ Fashions since 2004. She attended her first anime convention in in 2007, and has been hooked on cosplay costuming ever since! She now spends her work week creating custom costumes and wigs for anime fans, comic connoisseurs, and convention attendees alike! Scroll down for the full interview…

Tell us a bit about God Save the Queen Fashions.

GSTQ: It all started with a photography class.  Part of the assignment I had was to take “behind the scenes” photos.  One of the suggestions was to photograph drag queens getting ready to perform.  The bar I went to was so shady, it didn’t even have a sign out front.  I told the girls about my assignment, and they were excited to help me out.  About this time, I had started doing basic alterations for people, and I had made some business cards.  I noticed that some of the queens’ outfits needed some repairs, so I gave my cards to the queens.  Three months later one of them wanted an American flag themed bathingsuit and dress.  So, I made her the outfit.  Then, her friend wanted an outfit.  After that, their other friend wanted an outfit.

Then, I met Alexandria.  She only wore spandex, which I hadn’t worked with before.  Of course, I was trying to pick up whatever clients I could, so I went home that night, looked at some of my old dancewear, and started altering.  I went back the next week and informed Alexandria that I could now work with spandex.  Soon, I found myself making her a bunch of pieces for a contest she was entering at Atlanta’s most famous drag bar, Charlie Brown’s Cabaret.  A few weeks later, I found myself regularly making costumes for the main queen, Charlie Brown.

That Halloween, the lady I was babysitting for asked if I could make a Dorothy and Glinda costume set for her and her daughter for Halloween.  I also had a gentleman approach me about making a Jack Sparrow around the same time.  I had been going to the fabric store so often for all my drag queen supplies, that one of the employees thought to recommend me.  Both costumes turned out great, and I put photos of them in my portfolio, alongside the equally crazy outfits worn by my drag queen clients.

I ran into two kimono dealers at a transgender conference that I was selling wigs and makeup at later that year.  They looked at my portfolio and asked if I had ever attended an anime convention.  I told them that I hadn’t, and they recommended that I check out Anime Weekend Atlanta.  Well, I went and I was completely overwhelmed with the number of people that were into wearing costumes of their favorite characters.  I had no idea that this sort of thing even existed.  That weekend, I decided that surely there are people who would like someone to make their costumes for them, and with that GSTQ Fashions was born!

Having a formal education in costume design, does this give you an advantage in the fashion/cosplay world?

GSTQ: My college courses refined my skills and gave me an invaluable amount of sewing experience.  But, a lot of what I knew about sewing to begin with came from watching my mom sew for 18 years!  I only got to watch though, she didn’t let me touch her machines.  But, when she would leave the house to run errands, I’d sneak into the sewing room anyhow and fiddle with scrap fabric I knew she wouldn’t use.  Many years later she told me she always wondered how extra fabric would make it into her trash can.

What it comes down to is this: no class, professor, or book will teach you exactly how to make a Rydia costume, a Kingdom Hearts coat, or a Sailor Moon fuku.  You need to have the drive and know-how to be able to put together these outlandish outfits in a neat, well sewn, eye catching manner.  Whether that experience comes in the form of professionally sewing fashion, making curtains for your first apartment, upholstering patio furniture in your spare time, it doesn’t matter.  Sewing is sewing!  If you have the eye for translating 2D shapes into 3D forms, THAT is the key to making a good costume.  If anything, having professional experience has mostly impacted my efficiency.  When you’re making costumes for other people, and you’ve got a line of customers waiting on you, you need to be fast, accurate, and know what will/won’t work before you start your project.  There just isn’t a lot of room for errors/re-doing things.  Pressure leads to skill improvement.

What keeps you cosplaying?

GSTQ: I love being challenged, and each new costume has its own unique set of problems to be conquered.  I’m not necessarily a fan of each character I costume for, but I do enjoy every costume journey quite a bit.  Costuming is a way for me to bring happiness to people. I strive to go beyond simply giving clients a “costume” – I aim to give them a truly exceptional piece of clothing.  Part of the fantasy behind cosplay is that, for a day at least, you can let go and become a completely different person.  Having a garment that fits well and looks great is a huge part of that fantasy.  No one is going to really feel like a princess in low quality satin.  But, make that dress out of the best formal fabrics you can get, and it can truly change the way a person carries themselves, increases their confidence, gives them their strut.  That is the goal right there…make the customer want to strut their stuff.

You are a part of the Cosplay For A Cause charity event. Could you tell us a bit about what this charity means to you?

GSTQ: Cosplay for a Cause is a special project being done to help disaster relief efforts in Japan.  It is a calendar featuring 18 talented cosplay girls and four amazing comic book artists.  All of the proceeds from calendar sales are going directly to the Japanese Red Cross.  We thought this would be a great way to get the support of the cosplay community, after all, so much of the reference material we love comes from Japanese culture, video games, and anime.  I love the style of Japanese animation, with its complexity in both art and storyline.  I remember being completely amazed after seeing Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, and Armitage for the first time.  That was all it took to get me addicted!

You also construct wigs as well, correct? Could you tell us a bit about that process?

GSTQ: Yep, I do a little bit of wig work.  My focus is on things like basic bang cuts, adding curl and volume, straightening, pigtails and ponytails.  I really only started doing wig work because I felt that as a commissioner, I should offer a “full package” so to speak.  Wig styling can be a little intimidating at first, so instead of approaching wigs like hair, I just view them as complicated origami.  The folding and arranging of hair, it isn’t so unlike arranging paper.  You go in a very particular order to get your final product.

I know you love anime so could you name us a few of your favorites and which ones have inspired you the most in what you do?

GSTQ: Right now, I absolutely love Claymore, Samurai Champloo, and Soul Eater!  More than nice animation, what I love about these series are the stories.  My favorite personal costumes are the ones that have a great story behind the character.  Right now for me, that would be my Chun-Li costume, Aang from Avatar the Last Airbender, and Clare from Claymore (my current personal project).

You’ve been around for a number of years – how has the cosplay scene change in the past five years ? Any thoughts on the future ?

GSTQ: I have?  It really doesn’t feel that way!  I’ve been sewing cosplays for other people since about 2008, so I feel like such a baby compared to people who have been doing this for far longer.  I think one of the biggest changes I’ve seen is actually the availability of products.  For example, wig styles and colors are so varied now.  A few years ago, you didn’t have companies making different sized wig caps, lacefront party color wigs, multiple companies with pigtail wigs, etc.  It is great!  Over the time I’ve been involved in the scene, it also seems that costumes are getting more and more elaborate.  I think it speaks to the overall increase in quality from the community as a whole, which is just fantastic.

Do you have any tips for our readers to be a great cosplayer?

GSTQ: I’m going to keep this last answer short and sweet.  Take your time and do things right the first time.

Want to keep tabs on Catherine and all her cool projects? Follow her cookie crumb trail below:
http://www.gstqfashions.com
http://www.facebook.com/gstqfashions
http://www.twitter.com/gstqfashions
http://godsavethequeenfashi.deviantart.com