Michelle Chang (Tekken)

Haw and osiyo, everybody! ^^ Wonder why I said those two words instead of 'hello?' Because November is 'Native American Heritage Month.' Those words are actually Cherokee (Osiyo = 'How are you') and Hopi (Haw = 'Hello'). I myself have these roots and I honor them both, so I cherish this month even more than the big parade and feast at Thanksgiving or the lethal shopping insanity at Black Friday.

Anyway, in honor of 'NAHM,' I thought I could post some costume recipes for Michelle and Julia Chang of 'Tekken.' Why would I pick these two, you ask? Aren't they just Chinese, you might add? Well, that, mi amigos, is a big 'no.' Michelle and Julia are half Indian as well as half Chinese. Let's start this off with Miss Michelle Chang.

Here's a picture of her. Many thanks to the Tekken Wiki for letting me use this!

Here's what's needed to make her costume:

• Zebra-print scarf
• Matching zebra jacket
• Dark blue spaghetti-strap top
• White belt (the pants kind!)
• Old jeans
• Cowboy boots
• Feathers (found at any craft store, like Michael's, Walmart, JoAnn Fabrics, etc.)
• Fabric markers
• White headband (not too thick!)
• Red elastic wristbands (found at Hot Topic or Spencer's as well as any fitness store, like Big 5, Dick's, etc.)
• Brown fingerless gloves
• Scissors

How to make it:

1. Put on a work shirt, then put on the top. Have a friend or a parent draw the marking on it using fabric markers. Once it's done, take off the top and work shirt and hang the top, so the ink can dry.
2. Take some old jeans or denim shorts and cut them to the upper thigh, almost like Daisy Dukes. Set them aside for later.
3. Take the white belt and draw a thin line and diamonds on it using a red fabric marker. If the belt is leather instead of cloth, use a regular red Sharpie and do the designs with it. Make sure the diamonds are far apart from each other.
4. Take the headband and draw some dots and arrows on it using the same fabric marker. Don't color them in! Color in the area around them instead, so it's white arrows and dots on a red background. Make sure to leave some white above and below the red.
5. Get a white feather, color the tip using a black marker and carefully slip it in-between the headband and your head. Think a stereotypical Native feather when coloring the tip.
6. Using brown and green fabric markers, make additional stripes on the wristbands. If they're white, use a red fabric marker first before using the brown and green ones. Leave them to dry afterwards.
7. Once everything's dry, time to get dressed! Put on the gloves before putting on the wristbands, as well as the jacket before the scarf.
8. For the hair, just do a simple braid, get some bangles for your right hand and you're done!

I'll post Julia's next Thursday, as well as ones for different cook characters during Thanksgiving week, so stay tuned! ^^