http://www.mauramilan.com/artists daily 0.75 2016-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950111235-8CM0LIL0K96OK07GMZMM/1.jpg STUFF https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1485215621087-MYLLBH52J3E4MRJB7PIP/image-asset.jpeg STUFF http://www.mauramilan.com/new-blog daily 0.75 2017-01-20 http://www.mauramilan.com/film daily 0.75 2025-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1537504405835-QNRRXMYFL9R8DF0V1UBQ/image-asset.jpeg FILM - KOREATOWN starring Jessika Van https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1537504220832-41Z26ZY0LN3DEHD82BZL/image-asset.jpeg FILM - Crocodile (short film) 2008 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1537504405835-QNRRXMYFL9R8DF0V1UBQ/image-asset.jpeg FILM - KOREATOWN starring Jessika Van https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1551213620452-8VE9V33DMUZ8LEMI1W61/image-asset.jpeg FILM - Intersect (short film starring Troian Bellisario and Yvonne Zima) https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/5882678af5e231ede937dea2/5c75a480ee6eb02ae9381749/1764024927190/ FILM http://www.mauramilan.com/new-index daily 0.75 2017-01-24 http://www.mauramilan.com/charlotte-stowe-montauk daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950758632-NAZO8MNX0YD4IEMV9UF6/1.jpg Charlotte Stowe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950758632-NAZO8MNX0YD4IEMV9UF6/1.jpg Charlotte Stowe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950766954-UI4WV1IUKWOCNOL9ZF16/2.jpg Charlotte Stowe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950777774-TL5RQAKEN8OQB85HQ3Y7/3.jpg Charlotte Stowe http://www.mauramilan.com/cid-tolkien-montauk daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950815936-S4V3GZ4BXDTTYKUU8TLJ/1.jpg Cid Tolkien https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950815936-S4V3GZ4BXDTTYKUU8TLJ/1.jpg Cid Tolkien https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950824357-OLK5CEA7PL07K3RKJAD6/2.jpg Cid Tolkien https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950832626-MM68XA2G571CW0ESQ2N7/3.jpg Cid Tolkien http://www.mauramilan.com/candice-whitman-montauk daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950982714-2IXOYNN1M2KWJZKT0KF1/1.jpg Candice Whitman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456950982714-2IXOYNN1M2KWJZKT0KF1/1.jpg Candice Whitman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56d73dbac2ea51af9150258f/1456951004114-4G2SOWUQL5Q42L5GELWK/2.jpg Candice Whitman http://www.mauramilan.com/new-cover-page daily 0.75 2017-01-20 http://www.mauramilan.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-10-16 http://www.mauramilan.com/books daily 0.75 2020-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1525298225165-CZ967YJ0UM0PHM1MS9DL/IgnitetheStars_CVR.jpg BOOKS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1554510015352-OA4INQGV9RPNZRGSS0MS/eclipse-the-skies-cover+%281%29.jpg BOOKS https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446889345-SH1M0VMQ2027WZPJUN8F/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B4.13.13%252BPM.jpg BOOKS THE HELMET Ia has a sleek, black helmet with a visor that is emblazoned with her signature red feather. The helmet Amy made used some advanced cosplay techniques and is not recommend for beginners. However, if you want to try it out the template she used is available on Punished Props. The helmet Amy made is not wearable, since you cannot see through the visor, but is a great prop to have while walking a con floor. If you don’t want to make your own helmet, Amy highly recommends thrifting. You can find a bicycle helmet, baseball helmet, or a cheap motorcycle helmet, and use that instead of making your own helmet. Just make sure to add Ia signature red feather, which is the main focal point of the helmet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446946230-MF2Q8OM0O6M0G8WN1D7T/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B4.15.39%252BPM.jpg BOOKS WIGS, MAKEUP, AND CLOTHING Ia’s whole look is a lot of black, so for her clothing Amy wore black leggings and a black long sleeve t-shirt. Go for comfort with your base layers in all black. Amy also wore black motorcycle boots, a very fitting look for Ia. You can substitute another style of black boot if you prefer. To complete the look, Amy purchased plain black knee pads online and black fingerless gloves to wear. For Ia's hairstyle, any black bob-style wig with no bangs will work. There are several specialty cosplay wig shops online, such as Arda Wigs, that have wigs that would be perfect for this cosplay. Or you can find something similar online. Amy suggests wearing a wig cap underneath to make sure your wig stay on and your hair stays smooth underneath. Makeup is totally optional, but for this cosplay opt for a more natural, matte look. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446843200-47N133UZMRLO8K0SWYVP/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B4.11.04%252BPM.jpg BOOKS ATTACHMENTS Once you have the armor completed and your paint is dry, it’s time to add attachments. Amy used a combination of elastic, nylon webbing, and industrial strength velcro to attach the armor to her body. Elastic is great for areas that need to flex, like legs and arms. Nylon webbing is the best for areas that may warm and swell or cool over the course of wearing your cosplay, like chest armor or any areas that go over shoes. Industrial strength velcro is highly recommended - it can hold up to 6+ hours of walking around a convention floor. It can be used on a variety of pieces and attachments. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446395809-BPC24S4W65GEFOOJNG4R/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B4.04.10%252BPM.jpg BOOKS IA’S ARMOR CONSTRUCTION Start a big build by sketching out the design on a croquis template, available online for free. Think about the materials you will use, and note any designs that might be difficult. After sketching, Amy used a combination of templates purchased through Kamui Cosplay, edited to fit Ia’s armor design, and templates she sketched. FOAM CONSTRUCTION This step can be the most tedious, however, it’s the most important part of cosplay construction. Before you start, make sure you have the proper protection! Always use eye protection and a respirator. For this project Amy used three different types of foam - exercise mats made of EVA foam that were ½ inch thick, cosplay EVA foam sheets TNT Cosplay Supply in 4mm, 6mm, and 10mm, and 2mm craft foam. The exercise mats were used for the helmet and chest piece, the TNT Cosplay foam for the chest piece details and the arm and leg armor, and craft foam for any fine details on the armor. Color does not matter since the piece is painted. Cut out armor pieces with utility knives (for thicker foam) and X-acto knives (for thinner foam and detail areas). Since EVA foam can dull blades, use a knife sharpening tool to ensure a clean cut. A heat gun can help heat form foam to your body to give it more shape and seal the pores of the foam to make it easier to paint. Take your foam piece and blast it with heat - you will physically see it change colors as heat is applied. Once you’ve heated the whole foam piece, you can curl it up to create any shape you want. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446616709-63CMMKOO3MDGJ9B4ZB1N/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B4.08.16%252BPM.jpg BOOKS GLUE, PRIME, PAINT, SEAL If you’re making armor in multiple pieces, you’ll need to glue it together. Amy prefers hot glue and barge or contact cement. Hot glue is a fast, easy way to make a semi-permanent adhesion great for small details or filling in cracks. Barge cement is a flexible permanent adhesive that provides a strong hold with a thin layer. To attach two pieces of foam, apply a thin layer of barge cement on the edges you want to stick together. Let it dry for anywhere between 10 minutes to 4 hours. Then slowly connect the edges together, working carefully to make sure they’re totally lined up. To help get this right, Amy adds marks to her armor pieces. A dremel tool can also smooth out uneven edges with the sanding attachment. Repeat these steps, adding details on top of your base armor, until you are satisfied. Once you have all of your armor pieces constructed, glued, and heat formed, it’s time to prime. Priming the foam will create a nice barrier between the foam and paint and ensure that your paint job won’t chip off over time. For big pieces, prime with Plasti Dip, a sprayable rubber coating that doesn’t affect small details but has enough grip for painting. Amy used about 2 ½ cans on her full armor set, and did 2-3 thin coats of it on each armor piece. Another option is Mod Podge. This will take a lot more layers, but is cheaper. Coat the entire project in 2-3 thin coats of glossy black spray paint. To highlight the edges of the armor with wear and tear, Amy used a highly metallic paint called Rub ‘N Buff, that you apply with a rag or paper towel and buff to a high shine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1588446318975-7HAW7EPBL2I6UCDVF9OH/Screen%252BShot%252B2018-06-04%252Bat%252B3.43.24%252BPM.jpg BOOKS TOOLS You'll need the following tools to create your Ia cosplay; Writing utensils (pencils, pen, metallic permanent marker) and scrap paper, ruler and measuring tape, safety eye goggles, a respirator, EVA foam and craft foam, utility knives and X-acto knives, a Dremel tool, heat gun, hot glue gun with hot glue, Barge cement, Plasti Dip, Paint (acrylic paint, spray paint, rub ‘n buff, and/or leather paint), industrial strength velcro, elastic bands, nylon webbings with buckles. You'll also need a black bob wig (if wearing a wig), a black shirt and black leggings for your base. Knee pads and black gloves were used for this look, but can be optional. RESOURCES Amy didn't learn all of this stuff right off the bat. Whenever she has a question or wants to learn a new technique, YouTube is a great resource. Here are some of her favorite YouTube Channels to learn cosplay techniques. She finds these to be easily accessible for everyone while still providing excellent learning material for advanced cosplayers. Punished Props Academy Kamui Cosplay Zonbi’s Worksop http://www.mauramilan.com/welcome daily 1.0 2019-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/1529114719126-WV8G4T1F5MIAAAGYTVO5/Screen+Shot+2018-06-15+at+7.03.04+PM.png . http://www.mauramilan.com/random daily 0.75 2017-01-20 http://www.mauramilan.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2022-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58814dd96b8f5ba844dbef11/fce1694f-20b4-499c-a5ad-723661c65f50/National-Treasure-Edge-Of-History-poster-horizontal.jpg TV - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. http://www.mauramilan.com/read-me daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377096507573-1MU42OOOOGIM9URAJ9D9/515c4225e4b0afec1218b21e.png Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377096775448-0L7B4Q54H1VLOGFF1DPR/synthetica+%2820130821%29.jpg Read Me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5052176b84aeb45fa5cfcc83/1377097104716-HDI53XJVV0DKZ24A3T68/51e453dee4b06abd3403c22e.png Read Me http://www.mauramilan.com/shop daily 0.75 2016-03-03