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?

Convention Style: Aki-con 2013

Galaxy Skirt: Romwe // Tanktop: Thrifted // Hat: H&M // Jacket: Love Culture // Boots: JustFab // Jewelry: eBay

Yet another backlogged convention style outfit post. This outfit is from my time at Aki-con a couple of weekends ago. Things are FINALLY kind of calming down in my life - next weekend I have a wedding to attend in Idaho (one of my dearest friends is getting married!) and the weekend after that I decided to run off to Austin for fun and sunshine and good food. However, now that things are calming down I'm feeling really... confused and anxious about my future.

I thought that Fangasm would open all of these doors for me. I suppose that was just wishful thinking on my part - Reality TV rarely gets Jersey Shore huge. I wouldn't take the experience back for the world, but I'm still working my soul sucking day job and now I don't know where I'm going from here. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but lately I've just felt anxious and uncertain!

I do know some things: I won't stop until I get what I want (ultimate goal: Have my own Geek-centric Sitcom!). I have been talking to Kristin about potential awesome things we are doing in the future. I am booking cons for 2014 appearances, so at least I'll be out and about signing autographs and saying hello to all of you. And... I'm trying really hard to move to Los Angeles, because I think that's where I need to be right now. But everything is just so uncertain, argh!

Enough bitching. I love this outfit: it's comfy and cute. I also may own too many galaxy printed things. I may have a problem. I JUST WANT TO BE THE COSMOS SO CARL SAGAN WILL LOVE ME.

PS: Like those ridiculous outtakes? I have a hard time taking most things seriously.

Convention Style: New York Comic-con

Skirt: Thrifted // Lace Top: Thrifted // Necklace: eBay // Boots: JustFab // Rings: Etsy

I've been sitting on this one for awhile! It's one of my outfits from New York Comic-con about a month ago. Life has been so insane that I've actually had posts sitting in my queue that I just haven't had time to put up, ahhh! But here it is, yay!

I know these are not the "typical" outfit pics, but it was hard to find time to take outfit pics during NYCC so I made (by "made" I mean "asked nicely") Kristin to snap some pics of me in our hotel room before I went out for the night. (This is the night I went to the Image party and met some truly extraordinary people and caught up with old friends, I didn't get home til 5am, it was a blast!)

Regina kept teasing me in this outfit, telling me I looked like I was going to go sing songs on the moors to sheep. I AM A SCOTTISH LASS, DAMMIT.

Convention Style: Darth Vader [Aki-con 2013]

Darth Vader Dress: Her Universe // Boots: Thrifted (Steve Madden) // Belt: Gift from old roommate // Jacket: Love Culture // Headband: eBay // Darth Vader Ring: Gift from Arsenica Accoutrement // Boba Fett/Hello Kitty necklace: Gift // Wig: eBay

So, Aki-con was this past weekend and while I only took photos of TWO of my outfits, I'm still trying to keep up with this series! I promise after next week when things die down I'll be back to documenting my daily looks, ahh!

I haven't had time or the funds to do any cosplay lately, so I've been trying to find fun ways to spruce up my geeky clothing at cons to be kind of cosplay. I am so obsessed with this dress that I got from Her Universe at San Diego Comic-con this year (well, I pretty much love EVERYTHING Her Universe), but it was too short on me since I'm 5'10". I added a fluffy tulle skirt underneath and it made it so cute that I formed an entire Gothic Lolita inspired look around it!

The ring is one of the most amazing things ever. It was a gift from a fan of Fangasm named Pattie, and she made one for me, Regina, and Kristin! So we all have matching ones. I love it!! I want a million more of her jewelry! Here's her Etsy Shop.

Convention Style: PAX Prime 2013 [Saturday]

Dress: Don't remember! >.< (Similar) // Denim Vest c/o Choies (Similar) // Flower Headband: Bunny Farm (Similar) // Boots: Thrifted (Similar) // Pokemon Badges: RedditGifts Exchange // Other badges: Cons/anime stores in LA // Death Note Necklace: eBay (Buy here) // Unicorn Necklace (Similar) // Animal Ear Ring: eBay (Similar) // CTRL Ring: Gift from my friend Tara

Welcome to a new "thing" I'll be adding to the Geeky Peacock - documenting my outfits on a daily basis at cons! I have a real challenge dressing for conventions because I LIVE in super huge heels (not good for walking around cons), and styling around comfortable shoes is difficult for me. However, I always try to look as fashionable as possible if I'm out of cosplay, and I decided I really need to start documenting this!

Originally I intended to begin this feature during SDCC, but I was so incredibly busy having a blast the entire time that I never took a moment to throw my camera at someone and ask them to snap some pictures. The same thing happened here - I went to PAX Friday, Saturday, and Sunday but only got outfit pics Saturday. However, I have NYCC next week and I'm going to make my dearest Kristin photograph my outfits every day! MUAHA!

It's been awhile since I've blogged, hasn't it? I've been incredibly busy dealing with the insanity (the AWESOME insanity!) that has happened since Fangasm aired last week!! I am having SUCH a blast reading everyone's responses to it. Did you guys watch it? What did you think? And what do YOU wear at conventions?