TC's costume - Katara from Avatar the Last Airbender

[photos originally taken during the 2009 Comic Con in July]

I meant to post these a while back, but you know how things can get busy and then you forget...Anyways, earlier this summer, I had TC' costume custom made for the Comic Con. The seamstress also does costumes for the ballet; this was one of her first non ballet costumes and her first costume based on an animated character. My daughter went as Katara from Nickelodeon's excellent animated series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (fyi - this will be a live action movie coming out next summer; it's directed by M. Night Shymalan). More on the animated series here. Cannot wait!!!

Instead of those incredibly lame and weakass bDisney princess bitches or that horrible hillbilly bimbo Hannah Montana (I predict that Miley Cyrus will end up pregnant or in rehab by the time she's 17) or those slutty ass outfits that hypersexualize young girls (c'mon does your 9 year old really need to be a sexy Little Red Riding Hood or a French maid?), my daughter wanted to go as someone who was kind and strong and independent. One who could kick ass and bend water!The Katara costume was a bit complicated because there were so many components. With only TC's Avatar books as guides as well as patterns I found on the internet fan and Cosplay sites, the makings of TC's costume was based on Katara's battle costume. This particular comes in six pieces. There's a pair of arm gauntlets (dark blue), then a side slit wrap blue tunic with white edging complete with curly-cue water design on the lower corners of the tunic. The white-obi like sash serves as a belt over the tunic top. Then, there are the blue pajama like pants as well as the faux fur lined velour "boot" covers which have an elastic that goes over and under her shoes. The last handmade piece was the waterbag which was made of felt with a rope strap.

Back view of her costume. TC's hair by the way is modeled after Katara's - worn tied back with braided "loopies" over the ears. Because TC's hair is layered, the pony tail didn't really stay that nicely. Also, I think the seamstress made the waterbag too big. But what the fk, what's done is done, right?

The last of her kind, Katara is the only one left in her Water Tribe - (the Southern Water Tribe) who can bend the element of water.

Another view...

Another part of her costume was the Water Tribe necklace- which I made myself. The necklace is supposed to be "Katara's grandmother's betrothal necklace" which was handed down to her. I thought Bert and I did a reasonable facsimile of this necklace....

I bought a royal blue grosgrain ribbon and added plated silver end crimps to the ends. The end crimps come with attachments for a clasp and chain since they are made specifically for ribbon chokers. I took apart an old necklace and used its clasp and extender chain. For the choker, I bought a circular but flat mother of pearl pendant and painted over it with sky blue fabric paint. Bert's contribution was the water tribe insignia which he drew with a steady hand since I was afraid I'd mess up. Lastly, I attached the pendant to the chocker with a jump ring. Voila...Katara's water tribe necklace!

At the Con, she had her photo taken by a few people. The first was this Asian fan boy and the others were by giddy females. The year before, a whole group of young people (teens) went as the entire cast of Avatar the Last Airbender (Aang, Sokka, Toph, Katara, etc). Cosplay is taken very seriously at the Con, but TC wore this for fun. I figured she'd get some use of out this after the Con with upcoming Halloween costume parties, the Literature Parade at her school and Halloween itself. I think this was her favorite costume so far over the years. She was the only Katara at her school and the only one probably in our neighborhood. I'm glad she chose such a great character!