Completed May 2011

Inspiration
Every girl wants to be a pop star – even if it’s just pretend!  I’d been craving a simple, girly costume and I thought Takane Shijou fit the bill perfectly – I think she’s the prettiest Idol by far. ;)  Unfortunately, no one recognized me in this costume.  That’s never ever happened to me before!  There’s always at least one person, no matter how obscure, who recognizes the character.   Cosplay First.  Wow.  That just means more people need to learn about this game!

Construction
I chose satin and brocade to give the costume an extra fancy, decadent tone. The lined corset is Simplicity #5006, no alterations. I used a patterned black brocade to add some interest. I winged the pleated skirt – I’ve made so many before! It’s actually a bridal satin, wrong-side out, which I sewed a ribbon trim onto. I originally wanted to use the shiny-side out, but it was just too over the top – wait, is there such a thing?  The jacket is also satin, and fully lined. I couldn’t find cream fur, so I dyed white fur with yellow FW Ink diluted with rubbing alcohol.

This was a simple 2 day project – nothing really challenging, except for drafting the gold jacket from scratch. I especially love the keyhole cutout in back, which unfortunately I have no pictures of, and is covered by the hair – but it is there in the game, so I made sure to sew it! :)

Photos by Baron Karza, Kyle Johnsen @ Anime Central, Chicago