Construction Details:

Jacket made from satin, peachskin and velvet. Waistcoat made from velvet. Undershirt/cravat made from peachskin. Pants made from stretch velvet. I've made costume pieces like all these before so patterning wasn't anything new, unless you count adding the seam lines on the jacket. For Fanime 2011 I added lots and lots of beading to the pants and jacket cuffs, collar, front panels and pocket flaps. The cuffs are machine embroidered and further enhanced with rhinestones.

Personal Thoughts:

This is not the most difficult costume I've ever made, but it was challenging trying to recreate a live-action stage costume based on very dark and somewhat blurry screencaps. Much thought was put into matching fabrics and trying to recreate the costume as closely as possible. Unfortunately, as with all recreations, 100% accuracy is not always feasible. In the instances that an exact match was unavailable, I tried to pick something that was in the spirit of the costume, the character, and the Takarazuka Revue. Generally, this meant using lots of rhinestones or other sparkly accessories. Takarazuka is all about being over the top!

I consider the most difficult portions of this costume to be both the wigs and anything made with velvet. I did a lot of things I've never done with wig styling, like making wefts from scratch and cutting apart the base wig to make a new part on the first wig. I've never sewn two wigs together like I did with the second either! Velvet is notoriously difficult to sew, and this was no exception. Topstitching the stripes down the sides of the pants was a test of patience. The easiest (and most fun!) portion was making the jewelry.

Every costume I make is a labor of love, but this one is especially dear to my heart because I have wanted to cosplay Der Tod for nearly five years. It's exciting to finally see a dream come to life. I'm also extremely excited to be partnered with a good friend that I introduced to Takarazuka.

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