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DENNIS: Before we talk about cosplaying, let's get to know a little bit about you. Where were you born and raised?
SIREN: I was born in New Jersey. My parents lived on the other side of the state line in New York at the time. I only spent a month of my life there though. I was later raised in the Midwest, right in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I have been living in Southern California for the last 5 years. In the suburbs, south of Los Angeles.

DENNIS: If a friend traveled to your area to spend several hours with you, where would you take them or what would you do for fun?
SIREN: I've had that happen a number of times actually. I've shown friends from back East around and even friends from Belgium and Japan. Usually, we end up in the Los Angeles area. I love shopping in Hollywood, especially in the Melrose area. There are so many interesting and unique things up there. If a friend is a fan of anime or Japanese culture I would definitely take them to Little Tokyo in L.A. There are a number of bookstores and places to eat. It's so much fun! I'd probably try to take them karaoke too. If there were time I would take them to Santa Monica as well. The shops there are really fun and the atmosphere is nice to walk around in.

DENNIS: Hmm...so if Kyo from your favorite group Dir en Grey came to visit you in Los Angeles, where would you take him?
SIREN: I'd probably take him shopping on Melrose Blvd because I know he likes a lot the stores there, like Necromance. I'd probably stick to the Hollywood area because that's where some of the most interesting stuff is. Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset are great places to walk around and shop. Especially at night Hollywood can be a great place to go clubbing or see live shows.

DENNIS:  If someone were in the passenger seat of your car, what kind of music would they expect to be listening to?   SIREN: Anyone in my car would be listening to anything from the radio to pop songs, hip-hop, jazz, classical or electronic music on my trusty pink MD player which I named "hide" with all kinds of J-rock or J-pop on it. I love bands like Dir en grey and X Japan; Malice Mizer, indies music, ballads, hard sounds, Morning Musume, anything. I have pretty eclectic taste in music. I love show tunes and music in so many languages like German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, even some Chinese and Korean music. DENNIS:  It's nice to know that you listen to a diiferent variety of musical styles. Which artists are you currently listening to now? SIREN: Right now I've been listening to Dir en Grey, who happens to be my favorite band! Malice Mizer, Tatu, 50 Cent, Missy Elliot, hide, Evanescence and a lot more! I think my mood in music changes every few hours. DENNIS:  If a friend came to visit you, what kind of shows would they expect to see Siren watching on television? SIREN: I don't watch a lot of television, when I do, I'm usually watching old movies. I love Cary Grant and Vincent Price! Or kids shows. I love watching cartoons and children's television. When I'm at home I like to watch shows on the History Channel and Discovery. I like PBS and learning type programs. Other than that just the news really; every once in a while I'll catch some Japanese language programming, or BBC shows.

PHOTO: Siren cosplaying as Super Sailor Moon from the anime series "Sailor Moon". Photographer unknown.

DENNIS:  As a fan of watching BBC and PBS. Are you a big fan of "Keeping Up with
Appearances" or "Are you being served?"
SIREN: I'm a big fan of "Are You Being Served?", "Absolutely Fabulous", "As Time Goes
By", "Fawlty Towers", "'Allo 'Allo" and "Waiting for God".

DENNIS: Hmm...Do you like to fake a British accent once in awhile?
SIREN: I do fake a British accent every once in a while, just to tease people. My Dad is an Englishman that grew up in London. He's a naturalized American citizen now and I go back to Europe every couple of years to see family there. When I come back I always get a little bit of an accent that I pick up.

DENNIS:  What kind of student were you back in high school? The cheerleader, jock, computer person, library person, band person, stoner, etc?
SIREN: That's tough, I was a lot of things, a band-o, the artist, the theater person or the choir girl. Most of my studies had to do with Arts and Literature.

DENNIS:  If there was one word to describe you as a person now, what word would that be and why?
SIREN: Miscellaneous. That's how I feel about myself most of the time. If I were a box I would be labeled "miscellaneous" and a little bit of everything would be tossed inside. I feel like I've had a lot of great opportunities and I'll pretty much do anything at least once. I feel lucky to have such a varied content in my "box" at my age.

DENNIS:  So, tell me how you got involved with cosplaying?
SIREN: Well, I've been sewing and creating things since I was about 5 years old. I used to make dolls clothes and even little weird costumes for myself. I always played dress-up. It was my favorite game growing up! My mom really encouraged me too. She would sew me a new Halloween costume every year that I never owned a store bought costume.

DENNIS:  What was your first cosplay and how was that experience?
SIREN: One year I was Sailormoon for Halloween. It was my first anime cosplay and it looked pretty bad compared to now but I was so proud. I was in High School and wore it to classes all day. After that, I've costumed for plays and the like, but didn't really get into convention cosplay until I moved out to California and attended Anime Expo in 1998.

PHOTO: SIREN as "Wedding Mana". Photo by unknown. Kyo of Dir en Grey. Photo courtesy of usagichan.com and Kozi (Malice Mizer). Photo unknown.

DENNIS:  Do you spend a lot on your costumes? SIREN: I think the most expensive costume I've made has never been more than a $100- $150. I don't really keep track very closely but I know it's not too much. I like to think of myself not as a cheap costumer but I am frugal. My "Wedding Mana" costume from Fanime 2002 was made for $50 total. I think part of the challenge of costuming is to create a great costume without having to spend an arm and a leg. You learn to problem solve when something needs to be made with $100 and you only have $45. You learn to fake things and fake them well. Though I do love quality materials, there are some things I just won't skimp on, like good quality thread!

DENNIS:  You mentioned "quality" thread. What kind of thread do you recommend?
SIREN: I prefer a brand of thread called "Mettler Metroscene". Guttermann and Coats are
the threads carried by Joann and Michael's Crafts. Guttermann and Coats aren't terrible brands and when I can't get down to the sewing shop, I buy Metroscene. They will do in a pinch but I find that Metroscene is of a "smoother" quality. It runs through a machine better and is invaluable when handsewing, as it tend to knot up and break much less than other threads. Also you want to be sure you used the right type of thread for the job. There are many types of thread, rayon, cotton, polyester, decorative thread, invisible thread, basting thread that dissolves in water. If you aren't sure what type you'll need, it's a good idea to take in a sample of what material you are going to be sewing and ask a sales person about what you should use. Application is important too. Topstiching thread vs. a regular thread for seams vs. decorative thread for designs. You wouldn't want to use a thin decorative thread for sewing seams, it might tear and fall apart!

DENNIS:  Do you feel stressed out when a con nears, that you have to finish a costume or a numerous amount of costumes quickly?
SIREN: It really depends, I have had times when I've been in charge of four or five costumes at once and it's been a bit hectic when I get too busy with other things to spend a lot of time on them. I think the toughest is when I'm making costumes for other people. The other people tend to get antsier about it then I do, but I won't deny that I get stressed. I'm a big time procrastinator too, so a lot of it is my own fault.

DENNIS:  Are you one of those cosplayers that travel around the country going to different cons?
SIREN: I really wish I could but I mostly stick to the Southern California cons. I've been thinking about going back to Chicago to attend to Anime Central because so many of my friends live right in that area but I don't think that will happen until next year. I'd really like to go to Otakon sometime as well. But I usually take a big trip once a year. Last summer, I was in Europe to visit family, two years before that I went to Japan. So, that usually eats into my time and funds.

DENNIS:  How does your family feel about you cosplaying?
SIREN: My family is completely supportive! Even though my parents do get fed up with the mess I make in the living room. Even my little brother, who is also an anime fan, supports me. He's cosplayed as well and even wore a dress to be Emiru when we cosplayed the J-rock band Lariene.

DENNIS:  Do your co-workers or non-cosplaying friends know about your hobby? Are they supportive?
SIREN: My co-workers are really fascinated by my hobby. They always want to hear about what I did over the weekend I had off and they ask to see pictures all the time. They like to hear about awards I've won and panels I've participated in. I've even brought in some of my costumes to show them my sewing. Of course, on holidays, I get dressed up! On St. Patrick's Day last year, I wore all green and a bright green wig. They get tickled to see me dress up.

DENNIS:  When you make your costumes, do you make your own costumes or do you have them created by a professional?
SIREN: I make all of my own costumes now. With my first few anime costumes, I had a lot of help from my mom and even now she offers me guidance, in case I get really stuck on a problem.

DENNIS:  If you do create the costumes on your own, do you use an expensive sewingmachine or a basic machine?
SIREN: I have two sewing machines, one is my Mom's old Bernina. It's an 801 sport, which was, I'm told, a pretty economical model when it was bought. That machine has lasted years and years and still works well. I use my Mom's machine the most. The other once is a cheaper machine that is actually mine but it's been in the attic for years now. I don't own one, but I've always wanted a serger!

DENNIS:  Giving one example of your favorite costume. Tell us the history on the making of the costume. How much? The challenges? Where to buy? Material? And all that cool stuff. SIREN: I don't know if I have a single favorite costume but one of my favorites was my Transylvanian Rose costume. Transylvanian Rose is a character from a manga called "R.I.P." by Mihara Mitsukaz. I bought the manga while I was in Japan and I became fascinated with the clothing design for Rose's character. She has a new outfit in every chapter and the clothes are based off Japanese Gothic Lolita fashion. I made one of Rose's outfits as a test for a technique I used in making my brother's Emiru costume. The second Rose costume I made was the black and white striped dress and boots I wore for AX 2002 and Ani-Magic 2002. I had planned to make the costume since I'd bought the manga but the most prohibitive thing about it was finding black and white striped fabric. So, the costume was on hold in my head for years until one day I found some perfect fabric at JoAnn's on the discount rack. I bought yards of it, just to make sure I had enough. I made the pattern for the costume by combining patterns from three costumes by Simplicity and Butterick and patterns of my own design.

PHOTO: Siren cosplaying as Transylvanian Rose from the manga "R.I.P." Photo by unknown.

The bodice and skirt are each from a separate Simplicity pattern, while the sleeves are from Butterick. HINT! Stock up on patterns at JoAnn's when they go on sale for 99 cents! I always buy loads of these at the sales even if I'm not looking from something specific. Stock up on basics, robes, shirts, simple skirts or anything that catches your eye. You never know when you may need a funky pattern. Who knows, maybe they will inspire you! The front panel of the skirt was a piece I made myself. The bodice was underlined with white muslin because of the woven knit of the striped fabric. The muslin made it more stable and kept the white stripes from being see-through. The trim was all bought from Tall Mouse crafts in Irvine and while the shape of the trim is correct actually, one of the trims is supposed to be black instead of white. I searched everywhere for the trim in black, but I couldn't find it anywhere and the material of the white trim was polyester, I don't have the facilities for the special dyes to dye it with. So, I opted to just use white trim and accept a good silhouette over complete accuracy. Another lucky thing about doing an obscure costume is that no one but me knows when it's less accurate. Rose is an angel who in the course of her story loses one of her wings so it was a challenge to attach one wing to the dress. Luckily, I had worked out the problem on my previous rose costume. I hot glued large snaps to a cardboard and feather wing I scrapped and refurbished from a broken pair and sewed the opposite snaps to the dress. It worked out nicely. The snaps held and gave the one wing a nice bouncy quality. The boots are actually a pair of boots I bought to wear with my Kamijo costume from the previous year. I think actually the boots are a bit high up the calves to be completely accurate but again the silhouette was good and as boots like that can be pricey, I opted to save money and use the ones I had. The boots are black patent vinyl and to make the white vertical stripes on them I used white vinyl electrical tape. After I cleaned the boots with windex, I carefully applied the tape. So many people wanted to know where I bought my boots and if they were custom made! For a little electrical tape I think those boots were the simplest but most noticeable aspect of the costume! I was lucky with this costume that I didn't have to make any special trips to the Garment District in Los Angeles or Hollywood for shopping. Mostly everything used was supplies I already had on hand or could be obtained at my local fabric and craft stores.

DENNIS:  When you create a costume, do you try to make it look as authentic as possible? Do you add your own creativity to it?
SIREN: I think it takes a little of both really. I like to be as authentic as possible but at the same time I have to adjust the costume to suit me and make it believable. A good example is when I'll add a little of embellishment to a costume to make it look more "real". The nature of anime being a lot of bold designs sometimes with little detail really gives an opportunity to add to it. I don't make big changes but adding details can add more weight and believability to a costume.

DENNIS:  Are you a perfectionist when it comes to your costume? How thorough are you when it comes to researching for your costume?
SIREN: I can be a real stickler for things but at the same time, if I can find a viable short cut I'll sometimes take it. I won't cut corners if it will compromise the quality of what I make but sometimes it's perfectly reasonable. Sometimes my ideas just don't work out the way I want them to and I have to take the less desirable route. I'm an artist too, so I'm familiar with dealing with that. Costumes are like 3D art with cloth, sometimes you have to compromise. As far as research goes I'll try to get as many reference pictures as I can. Having, at least, a full body shot of the front and back of the costume and a detail shot of the head is a minimum, though I certainly have worked with less. If available, three-quarter shots and action shots are wonderful! I take a lot of notes about fabrics and color that I would use on costumes. I'll also research and jot down notes on any part of the design that I think will be a particular challenge to fabricate. The Internet is a great place to look up techniques for sewing. I'll also try to jot down notes about shoes, accessories, trims and wig if I'll need it.

DENNIS:  How many costumes do you own or have created?
SIREN: Actually, it surprises me when I think about it! I think I've done anywhere from 25 to 30 costumes. I've lost track now. I've done a number of costumes for other people or at least contributed to them.

DENNIS: Among those costumes, do you happen to have a favorite?
SIREN: A favorite is really hard to pick! I don't know if I can pick just one. I could go through my list of costumes and list different reasons why I love them because they were fun to wear or fun to make. It's way too hard to pick!

PHOTO: Siren cosplaying as Sailor Galaxia from the series "Sailor Moon Super S". Photo courtesy of usagichan.com

DENNIS: Do you feel competitive when it comes to cosplaying? Do you care what people think? SIREN: I'm really not too competitive about my cosplaying. I've competed with big groups before and I find that I prefer to cosplay on my own or in smaller groups. As far as masquerade competitions go, I enter those to be judged on craftsmanship when I enter alone. I really have a focus on the creation of the costume and challenges of fabricating something convincing to wear and then being able to convincingly act the part as well; and that is what is fun to me! The whole process is fun! I love to sew, I love to act, I love to make things. Being a cosplayer is really an ideal hobby for me. As far as what other people think, I don't really mind what people think. I do some obscure costumes, and I don‚t think I have tread on many toes. So, my cosplay "career" has been extremely pleasant so far. DENNIS: When you are done cosplaying, what do you do with your costumes? Do you continue to wear them or are they retired and packed away in your closet? SIREN: Some costumes have become naturally retired just because I've outgrown them or lost interest in wearing them again. I think all of my costumes get worn at least twice. More often three times, some even more, and then I'll either pack them up, give them away or reuse materials in other costumes. Sometimes I'll even wear my costumes out clubbing!

DENNIS: Clubbing? How was that experience?
SIREN: It's great! Sometimes I'll just wear pieces of costumes or flashy hair styles. I went to a gothic club in L.A. recently in a full Mana cosplay and was rather shocked that a few people there recognized me! At the clubs, I head to people tend to really dress up for the occasion so going in cosplay isn't really a big deal there. Though it is great fun to go to a goth club dressed all in pink velvet Lolita fashion.

DENNIS: As an American-based cosplayer, do you see a big difference in terms of style and dedication to a costume from US cosplayers and cosplayers from other countries?
SIREN: As far as I can tell there isn't a huge difference in international cosplay scenes. Japan appears to have a more "marketed" cosplay community where magazines, pre-fabricated costumes, trading cards and professional photography play a large role. I feel that lately the American cosplay community is headed in that direction as well. There is a greater focus on things like resources and an outstanding community, especially online and a focus and dedication to photography that is growing even larger with large web communities appearing. I think that in every cosplay community you will see the same variety in craftsmanship and dedication no matter what.

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