Construction Details:

Started: Winter 2009/Spring 2010
Completed: May 2010

Worn at: Anime Oasis 2010, YaoiCon 2010

Parts Made: Everthing above the ankles, plus a not-pictured-here Rook Chesspiece headdress.

New Skills: layering organza for color variation, appliqueing mesh for backgrounds, hating costume satin, making fake belts and sword scabbards.

Awarded: First Place Craftsmanship (Anime Oasis 2010), Best Skit (Anime Oasis 2010), Best Group Costume (YaoiCon 2010)

Babble:
The two inner layers are full kimono, tucked up under an obi in typical "traveling" style. One is high-sheen Costume Satin with glitter (never again o.o), and the other is a lower sheen Casa Satin, also with glitter. The pants are purple linen and very full and comfy. The over robe is a medium weight white cotton (terrible idea, never ever will I applique on cotton, it wrinkles too easily), lined in partially in cotton and partially in a dusty pink chiffon (for the sleeves).
The design was done with applique and satin stitching in red metallic thread. Large patches of pinkish design were made by appliqueing a pink metallic mesh in 1-2 layers in different areas. the leaves are actually two layers of crepon sheer fused together and then appliqued....
The wig is a Sepia 'Carmen' with a little trimming here and there.

Personal Thoughts:

When Kay and Pas of the Paupu Guardians approached me to make a costume for their Anime Oasis skit, the only rule they had was that it needed to be white or black. I immediately thought of Akram's Haruka 2 outfit, and Kay loved the picture I showed her. The costume was built from the ground up to be flashy and dramatic in a large group skit and a huge stage space. (And to fit under a sheet and pretend to be a chess piece.) I think I executed that fairly well, and I gained a lot of amazing friendships from that convention and that group.

Styling Notes

Pretty much just had to trim the bangs a little and pull some of the more invasive strands of the hair off to the side with bobby pins. After two costumes with Carmen wigs I will warn that without trimming, this wig will invade your vision and severely limit your peripheral vision. It does look great while it does it though.

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