Miaka
Series: Fushigi Yuugi
Worn to: Sakuracon 10, Fanime 10, WCS 10, Anime Matsuri 11, Katsucon 12
Costume Award: WCS Team USA 2010
Difficulty: 5/5
My friend Krystal and made these costumes because we wanted something challenging that would force us to learn new techniques but not something so difficult that would push us over the edge into insanity. These costumes seemed to fit that criteria.
I started with my wig (a Kelly wig from Amphigory) and used extensions, glue, hairspray, batting, and felt to make the hair loops. I stranded beads onto wire and wrapped the wire around the hair loops. I sewed the loops onto the wig and wove a vinyl tubing around the loops and through the wig netting for extra stability. The headband is a piece of fabric which is completely hand beaded and sewn onto the wig. The wings were made from large turkey flats which I trimmed down and dyed using a yellow acid dye; they are detachable from the wig for shipping purposes and connect to the wig with medium-weight wire.
The skirt was the first costume piece I actually had to drape so I made myself a dressform specifically for this costume. The illustration shows some pleats in the front of Miaka's skirt and I was focused on getting them right. The skirt is made of peachskin and the crescent/horseshoes are made from a pink brocade, which I satin stitched around the edges and beaded on one side. The loincloth piece attaches directly to the pink skirt and is made from Krystal's leftover dress fabric which draped beautifully! The red underskirt is a separate layer which is a really cool stretch..mesh...polySOMETHING.
The blouse is made from a modified pattern and is peachskin with a layer of chiffon over top. The collar is pleated chiffon with an organza interfacing. The overalls are made from very heavy hat interfacing, wire, and two types of brocade; they attach to the obi, which is made from a faux dupioni, interfacing, boning, and more brocade. The necklace is made from beads, wire and wooden pendants which I painted. The sleeves are 14 yards of chiffon (7 of light yellow, 7 of a darker yellow) I hemmed them using a poor-man's serge (zig zag stitch on the edge, trim away) which left me with a very smooth hem but also frays VERY slightly, which annoys me to no end. I drew out a pattern for the anklet and made it out of craft foam and velcro.
Krystal and I used our Fushigi Yuugi costumes as our WCS preliminary costumes and used them as our WCS press costumes in Japan.
Worn to: Sakuracon 10, Fanime 10, WCS 10, Anime Matsuri 11, Katsucon 12
Costume Award: WCS Team USA 2010
Difficulty: 5/5
My friend Krystal and made these costumes because we wanted something challenging that would force us to learn new techniques but not something so difficult that would push us over the edge into insanity. These costumes seemed to fit that criteria.
I started with my wig (a Kelly wig from Amphigory) and used extensions, glue, hairspray, batting, and felt to make the hair loops. I stranded beads onto wire and wrapped the wire around the hair loops. I sewed the loops onto the wig and wove a vinyl tubing around the loops and through the wig netting for extra stability. The headband is a piece of fabric which is completely hand beaded and sewn onto the wig. The wings were made from large turkey flats which I trimmed down and dyed using a yellow acid dye; they are detachable from the wig for shipping purposes and connect to the wig with medium-weight wire.
The skirt was the first costume piece I actually had to drape so I made myself a dressform specifically for this costume. The illustration shows some pleats in the front of Miaka's skirt and I was focused on getting them right. The skirt is made of peachskin and the crescent/horseshoes are made from a pink brocade, which I satin stitched around the edges and beaded on one side. The loincloth piece attaches directly to the pink skirt and is made from Krystal's leftover dress fabric which draped beautifully! The red underskirt is a separate layer which is a really cool stretch..mesh...polySOMETHING.
The blouse is made from a modified pattern and is peachskin with a layer of chiffon over top. The collar is pleated chiffon with an organza interfacing. The overalls are made from very heavy hat interfacing, wire, and two types of brocade; they attach to the obi, which is made from a faux dupioni, interfacing, boning, and more brocade. The necklace is made from beads, wire and wooden pendants which I painted. The sleeves are 14 yards of chiffon (7 of light yellow, 7 of a darker yellow) I hemmed them using a poor-man's serge (zig zag stitch on the edge, trim away) which left me with a very smooth hem but also frays VERY slightly, which annoys me to no end. I drew out a pattern for the anklet and made it out of craft foam and velcro.
Krystal and I used our Fushigi Yuugi costumes as our WCS preliminary costumes and used them as our WCS press costumes in Japan.