Completed October 2008

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Inspiration
If this costume looks like I image googled the word “samurai” and added a short skirt to it….. well, yeah, you’re right. I made this for a cosplay gig at Sushi Samba Chicago, because they asked for “harajuku cosplayers” and I don’t think they really knew what either word meant. So I took the easily recognized Japanese warrior icon and gave it a short skirt. DUR I SO KREATIVE.

Construction
As seems to be the case with many of my original designs, “original” is code-word for “cost me next to nothing because I made it out of crap from my closet.” The same goes for this costume. The main fabric actually used to be my drapes. I used to sleep in a converted sunroom, so needless to say, I needed to make… uh, a lot of drapes. I couldn’t bear to leave them there when I moved so they’ve been sitting in a corner until one day they called to me.

Photos
Snow photos: These were taken on a lazy January Sunday in Las Vegas, where it was about 70 degrees out. You have to drive to the mountains to get to snow.I marched out into 3 feet of snow and cast a magic spell and somehow stood upon it with 7″ platform boots. I then tried to look badass and stoic while I slowly sank thigh-deep into the icy layers, which felt like a challenge of ANTM proportions. Except my proportions are…. well, let’s just not go there! Kyle the photographer had it just as bad, except in the opposite way. No platforms of leather for him. Nope, just jeans and sneakers and pretty much wading up to his knees in slushy snow that slowly melted into legs of cold and death. But you know. Sacrifices.

2008: The talented Elemental took these. I’ve been wanting to work with her for, like, years and finally got the courage to ask her. I was happy she worked with my insane schedule at Youmacon and even took pics of my no-name costume. I’d never taken pics at night before, but the mood really works with this costume!

Photos by Eurobeat King, Kyle Johnsen, Elemental