For those who don't know how to sew and make their own costume including me, they prefer to order or buy the costume. While some prefer to buy from online shops a.k.a Taobao and Ezbeli which provides rater large and variety of choices, I prefer to have local tailor, online or whatsoever, to make the costume.
For me, my confidence and in-character come strongly from the costume I wear. The more perfect, detailed and matching the costume to the reference, the higher my confidence to play as the character. Therefore, I really really depend and trust 1000% on the tailor to produce great piece otherwise I might screw up the character.
Ruby's Cosplay Shop. Heard of the name before? You should. You see, there are many awesome online costume-makers in Malaysia, and basically I decided to try and order from this shop.
I used to deal with Nekoworkshop for both Taobao order and custom-made costumes but considering how Nekoworkshop is extremely busy and have limited slots, I have to search for an alternate shop that can make costume that would reach my expectation.
Like I said, I am VERY particular about costume because I depend ALOT on the costume to get in to character. When I order things I will and MUST do a review on it, no matter how horrible and life-screeching the product is.
As you may have known, this year comeback I'm planning to cosplay as Annna Kushina from K Project. I wish not to burden Nekoworkshop with this last minute order, so I seek for Ruby's kind and wonderful help instead.
By the way, before I reached out Ruby, I did ask EzBeli whether they can custom-made this costume since this costume is not available in their website. EzBeli accepts custom-made yo! Maybe I will try ordering from them in the future. I found Ruby CS randomly to be honest.
Desperate people takes desperate measures, and I was desperate okay!?
As you can see, Ruby provides top communication and very polite, attaining all my wth is this question and very VERY quick. I was a bit sad that they did not offer installments. I mean, installment as in you pay half, they work on it and then you pay another half once the costume is done. That's one point down compared to Nekoworkshop.
BUT!
If I were to compare the prices of Ruby's costumes with Nekoworkshop, I think I understand why they do not offer such facility. Most of Ruby's costumes based on their commission album is not more than RM 400, which should be affordable for one-time pay. Besides that, I think even though they don't offer installment facility as Nekoworkshop, Ruby gives pretty reasonable price!
I am surprised, so excuse my flabbergasting message in the screenshot.
May 29 - I asked for the costume price.
May 30 - I paid and confirmed my order.
June 7 - The costume's done.
June 13 - Received the costume.
Total days of wait - 15 days more or less
For your record, they DID say in their facebook page that they need at least two weeks to complete the order. I never hold on to the statement since I know costume making is hard, not to mention they might have few other orders in progress.
My brain at the time went: OH SHIT.
For your record, the OS is not because the costume was made by tailor from China I am not being racist here okay?!
When someone mentions MADE IN CHINA my brain immediately interprets it as TAOBAO QUALITY and to be honest, I don't buy costumes from Taobao. Okay, I did buy ONCE and that was a desperate, again, situation.
I have the feelings I sometimes being too direct that I think I might pop a vein from people, but see there? Ruby answered politely and explained to me the reason why the costume is done by the China tailor. Even though it's from China, it arrived early. Woooow.
When I first try the costume, I was a bit... disappointed? Maybe it's because my standard is too high and I was hoping it too be flawless like lolita dress which I should realize by that time that this is NOT lolita, but COSTUME. Since Mama is used to seeing me in lolita attire, she too became a bit fussy with the quality of the dress.
I decided to fix the costume on my own, bought large and medium size red satin ribbon, things and that. I even cut my Baju Kurung buttons to sew on the cape.
I did not order velveteen version because I don't want to suffocate myself. Velveteen is extremely hot and VERY heavy, not to mention it is hard to keep it clean. And oh the agony to iron and keep it in closet! I pre-sew the pair of ribbons and the hook as shown below:
I believe the tailor affiliate some parts of the costume with velveteen, which I think it's cool. Despite both the cotton (uniform sort of) fabric and velveteen are red in color, but because they are different materials, it appears as thought the dress has two shades of red on it.
I sew bows to each side of the sleeves. My sewing skill is horrible I get it~!!
I glued the pins which they provided. I like the pins to be static at place, not moving around. The small bow is actually for the sides of the sleeves but as you can see it is just so so small and simple.
So I used one of the two small bows for the collar, and let the big bow pin just above the pre-sew ribbons on the cape. That's how the top looks like after the alterations.
The skirt. Cotton and simple, very simple indeed. I have to keep in mind this COSTUME not LOLITA. /inner screams/
This is exactly how it arrives. No alteration has been made on the two pieces. I feel like crying to be honest. Maybe I should buy black lolita underskirt to replace the black skirt, or maybe petticoat. Yeah, at least that will fix my sudden wavy feelings on this costume.
They forgot there's a big bow behind the skirt! So, I made one. /giggles/
Velveteen hat. Seriously. I was in shock when I saw it. I ended up purchasing half meter satin fabric in red, some black laces and red ribbons to make a new mini top hat. The agony is unimaginable.
They provide hair clips for the top hat, but I did no take them. I mean, I'll be wearing hijab.
THE HORRIBLE AND NIGHTMARE OF MINE.
So after two days of hand-sewing and hot-gluing things, Here's the full view:
Excuse me, I don't wear makeup, I don't have red lens and the red marble yet. So time to rate RUBY'S COSPLLAY SHOP.
COMMUNICATION: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Communication is extremely important for me. When I buy something, I would like to have great two-ways communication. Ruby CS never gets tired to answer my questions, willing enough to acquire info and provide them just like I asked. They are very quick at reaching back you too!
PRICE-QUALITY MATCHING: ★ ★ ★ ★
I can't judge the price without the quality. For RM 200 + RM 26 for the shipping cost, I am pretty satisfied with the costume. Look, it is not THAT horrible once I try it on after few stitches and hot glues.
TOTAL TIME IN PROGRESS: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Frankly, it is fast. I wonder if it's ready-made or custom-made but even so, the quality is manageable. Imagine the costume is done in FIFTEEN DAYS. I think few loose threads is cool.
OVERALL: ★ ★ ★ ★
Will I order from Ruby's CS? YES DEFINITELY. I have yet to order costume from their another tailor. For your information, Ruby's CS also provides props and shoes making, taobao order service and lens ordering. Go and check out their page right now!
For me, my confidence and in-character come strongly from the costume I wear. The more perfect, detailed and matching the costume to the reference, the higher my confidence to play as the character. Therefore, I really really depend and trust 1000% on the tailor to produce great piece otherwise I might screw up the character.
Ruby's Cosplay Shop. Heard of the name before? You should. You see, there are many awesome online costume-makers in Malaysia, and basically I decided to try and order from this shop.
I used to deal with Nekoworkshop for both Taobao order and custom-made costumes but considering how Nekoworkshop is extremely busy and have limited slots, I have to search for an alternate shop that can make costume that would reach my expectation.
Like I said, I am VERY particular about costume because I depend ALOT on the costume to get in to character. When I order things I will and MUST do a review on it, no matter how horrible and life-screeching the product is.
As you may have known, this year comeback I'm planning to cosplay as Annna Kushina from K Project. I wish not to burden Nekoworkshop with this last minute order, so I seek for Ruby's kind and wonderful help instead.
By the way, before I reached out Ruby, I did ask EzBeli whether they can custom-made this costume since this costume is not available in their website. EzBeli accepts custom-made yo! Maybe I will try ordering from them in the future. I found Ruby CS randomly to be honest.
Desperate people takes desperate measures, and I was desperate okay!?
As you can see, Ruby provides top communication and very polite, attaining all my wth is this question and very VERY quick. I was a bit sad that they did not offer installments. I mean, installment as in you pay half, they work on it and then you pay another half once the costume is done. That's one point down compared to Nekoworkshop.
BUT!
If I were to compare the prices of Ruby's costumes with Nekoworkshop, I think I understand why they do not offer such facility. Most of Ruby's costumes based on their commission album is not more than RM 400, which should be affordable for one-time pay. Besides that, I think even though they don't offer installment facility as Nekoworkshop, Ruby gives pretty reasonable price!
I am surprised, so excuse my flabbergasting message in the screenshot.
May 29 - I asked for the costume price.
May 30 - I paid and confirmed my order.
June 7 - The costume's done.
June 13 - Received the costume.
Total days of wait - 15 days more or less
For your record, they DID say in their facebook page that they need at least two weeks to complete the order. I never hold on to the statement since I know costume making is hard, not to mention they might have few other orders in progress.
My brain at the time went: OH SHIT.
For your record, the OS is not because the costume was made by tailor from China I am not being racist here okay?!
When someone mentions MADE IN CHINA my brain immediately interprets it as TAOBAO QUALITY and to be honest, I don't buy costumes from Taobao. Okay, I did buy ONCE and that was a desperate, again, situation.
I have the feelings I sometimes being too direct that I think I might pop a vein from people, but see there? Ruby answered politely and explained to me the reason why the costume is done by the China tailor. Even though it's from China, it arrived early. Woooow.
When I first try the costume, I was a bit... disappointed? Maybe it's because my standard is too high and I was hoping it too be flawless like lolita dress which I should realize by that time that this is NOT lolita, but COSTUME. Since Mama is used to seeing me in lolita attire, she too became a bit fussy with the quality of the dress.
I decided to fix the costume on my own, bought large and medium size red satin ribbon, things and that. I even cut my Baju Kurung buttons to sew on the cape.
I did not order velveteen version because I don't want to suffocate myself. Velveteen is extremely hot and VERY heavy, not to mention it is hard to keep it clean. And oh the agony to iron and keep it in closet! I pre-sew the pair of ribbons and the hook as shown below:
I believe the tailor affiliate some parts of the costume with velveteen, which I think it's cool. Despite both the cotton (uniform sort of) fabric and velveteen are red in color, but because they are different materials, it appears as thought the dress has two shades of red on it.
I sew bows to each side of the sleeves. My sewing skill is horrible I get it~!!
I glued the pins which they provided. I like the pins to be static at place, not moving around. The small bow is actually for the sides of the sleeves but as you can see it is just so so small and simple.
So I used one of the two small bows for the collar, and let the big bow pin just above the pre-sew ribbons on the cape. That's how the top looks like after the alterations.
The skirt. Cotton and simple, very simple indeed. I have to keep in mind this COSTUME not LOLITA. /inner screams/
This is exactly how it arrives. No alteration has been made on the two pieces. I feel like crying to be honest. Maybe I should buy black lolita underskirt to replace the black skirt, or maybe petticoat. Yeah, at least that will fix my sudden wavy feelings on this costume.
They forgot there's a big bow behind the skirt! So, I made one. /giggles/
Velveteen hat. Seriously. I was in shock when I saw it. I ended up purchasing half meter satin fabric in red, some black laces and red ribbons to make a new mini top hat. The agony is unimaginable.
They provide hair clips for the top hat, but I did no take them. I mean, I'll be wearing hijab.
THE HORRIBLE AND NIGHTMARE OF MINE.
So after two days of hand-sewing and hot-gluing things, Here's the full view:
Excuse me, I don't wear makeup, I don't have red lens and the red marble yet. So time to rate RUBY'S COSPLLAY SHOP.
COMMUNICATION: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Communication is extremely important for me. When I buy something, I would like to have great two-ways communication. Ruby CS never gets tired to answer my questions, willing enough to acquire info and provide them just like I asked. They are very quick at reaching back you too!
PRICE-QUALITY MATCHING: ★ ★ ★ ★
I can't judge the price without the quality. For RM 200 + RM 26 for the shipping cost, I am pretty satisfied with the costume. Look, it is not THAT horrible once I try it on after few stitches and hot glues.
TOTAL TIME IN PROGRESS: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Frankly, it is fast. I wonder if it's ready-made or custom-made but even so, the quality is manageable. Imagine the costume is done in FIFTEEN DAYS. I think few loose threads is cool.
OVERALL: ★ ★ ★ ★
Will I order from Ruby's CS? YES DEFINITELY. I have yet to order costume from their another tailor. For your information, Ruby's CS also provides props and shoes making, taobao order service and lens ordering. Go and check out their page right now!
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Labels: cosplay, costume orders, reviews, Ruby's CS
