Month of Miyazaki: My Neighbor Totoro

totoro by whimsyandnoir featuring Vera Wang

I couldn't end the "Month of Miyazaki" without mentioning TOTORO!!! If there is ONE creature in the Universe that I WISH actually existed, it's most definitely this adorable fur ball of love.

When I think of Totoro, I think of comfort and warm, happy feelings. Hence my choices for an 'everyday cosplay' look inspired by Totoro! Comfy sweaters, tennis shoes, and I even included a mug for a nice warm cuppa tea as you lounge around, taking time out for YOURSELF on a rainy winter day.

Aaaahhhh.. can't you just feel the love?

Click through the photo to see where to purchase these items, if you're so inclined.

Also,  check out this idea for a Miyazaki-Theme Park!! (It's from last year, but I still think it would be so cool!)

 And an ANNOUNCEMENT: stay tuned for FEBRUARY's all new theme of cosplay inspirations - THERE WILL BE A GIVEAWAY TO PARTICIPATE IN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST!! I cannot WAIT to share the first post of the new theme with you guys!


Come back and see me, then :)

Check out:

1) Kiki's Delivery Service
2) Princess Mononoke
3) From Up on Poppy Hill
4)Howl's Moving Castle

Month of Miyazaki: Howl's Moving Castle

howl by whimsyandnoir featuring a feather cape

It's the last week of "Month of Miyazaki" and I've saved the best for last! Who *doesn't* love Howl's Moving Castle? Every time I meet a fellow Miyazaki fan and ask what their favorite movie is, "Howl's Moving Castle" is often the top answer! It's certainly one of the most magical of all the Miyazaki films.

Howl is SUCH a character - he starts off as so flamboyantly fabulous in the beginning, with golden hair and a red and gold coat.. and then he goes all "dark side" when he shifts into his bird-form.. And he's lovely both ways!!!

 It was hard to tone his looks down for everyday, "real life" inspiration, but I think I found some great pieces. Check out the black feathered capelet!! As always, you can click through the photo to get taken to the Polyvore set to find out where to buy each item!

 I've got ONE more character set that I will be posting later this week, and then we are officially done with January and "Month of Miyazaki".. sad to see it go, but I hope you've all enjoyed it.


 Have you been keeping up with my weekly "Month of Miyazaki" posts?
Check out:

1) Kiki's Delivery Service
2) Princess Mononoke
3) From Up on Poppy Hill

Month of Miyazaki: From Up on Poppy Hill

Umi by whimsyandnoir featuring saddle shoes

One of the lesser known Miyazaki films, From Up on Poppy Hill is completely different from all the rest. In fact, it wasn't directed by Hayao Miyazaki, but by his SON, Goro Miyazaki!

Cartooning talents apparently run in the family!

The lead female character, Umi, is a teenage girl in 1960's Japan with a lot of responsibilities. It's her job to take care of her younger siblings while her mother is away at college, and she also has to help her grandmother run the boarding house they own. She shops for and cooks dinner and does laundry, all while keeping up with her schoolwork! It doesn't leave her much free time, but one day she joins an after school club without really meaning to, because she met a boy that she gets along with and likes... and things sort of go all topsy turvy from there.

Aside from the sailor school girl uniform, her everyday look consisted of a simple red skirt, pink blouse, and cardigan. It was simple, unfussy, and cute as hell.

Umi's late father was a sailor who was lost at sea, but she held on to her hope that she would one day see him again by raising flags for the boats to read every morning. I chose cute anchor earrings that I feel portray this well. If you haven't watched this movie, you really should! It's not "magical", but it does give feeeeeeels.


Have you been keeping up with my weekly "Month of Miyazaki" posts?
Check out:

1) Kiki's Delivery Service
2) Princess Mononoke


Stay tuned for more!

Month of Miyazaki: Princess Mononoke

mononoke by whimsyandnoir featuring ankle boots

Out of all the movies, this is the latest one I've (re)watched this past weekend. I had forgotten just how deep and powerful the meaning of it is! Humans vs. Nature, Man behaving like Man, and the Spirit world trying it's best to defend itself.. Also, it's kind of the most violent of the Miyazaki films. Definitely not for small children.

I found out it was Hayao Miyazaki himself's birthday last week!

I hope my 'casual cosplay' inspirations for the Wolf-Girl San of Princess Mononoke do his vision justice. (Don't you just LOVE the amethyst shard necklace?! I'm lusting after it..) I would LOVE to do a San cosplay some day, with the full on warrior girl makeup.

I also think that the character of Lady Eboshi was kind of cool and a badass, but what she did to that magical Forest Spirit kind of soured her coolness, haha. Unforgivable!

Are you a Princess Mononoke fan?!

Remember to click through the photo above to see exactly where to find/buy the items I chose!

Until next time, Wolf Girls and Boys...

Month of Miyazaki: Kiki's Delivery Service

kiki by whimsyandnoir featuring hair bows

Gonna attempt something new and fun: I'm going to set a random theme for each month this year and create a series of closet cosplay-inspiration sets based on each theme. For January, I'm in a Hayao Miyazaki kind of mood! 

I've been watching/re watching a ton of Miyazaki movies, lately. Aside from Spirited Away, I think my second favorite is Kiki's Delivery Service. It's just. Too. Cute. It makes me wish I could be a real life witchy girl like Kiki and have a magic flying broom to travel to beautiful seaside towns with!

I put together two similar looks to get inspired by: one a bit more pristine and polished, the other a bit more casual. But I think you can mix and match whatever suits your fancy.  (Click through the photo to see the links to the exact things I chose.)

Don't you just love red shoes?!  Come to think of it.. I don't actually own any red shoes, myself! 

This must be fixed. Sooner, rather than later.

Until next time,

G.