Hours: 80-100 hours Cost: 117, 00 Euro Worn at: Animecon2009
Why I chose for this costume:
I was asked to join a DOA group at Animecon2009. I allready used my other Leifang costume twice so I decided to make another Leifang. I didn't want to do the red or white version since I already have a red Chinese dress in my closet. So I chose blue.
How is it made?
With allot of tears. No kidding this dress was a complete nightmare for me. I first bought a pattern and a very lovely looking fabric. After making it I noticed that I didn't liked the look of the dress and also the seams where ripping apart. The fabric was too old.
Back to the drawing table again. I drew my own pattern and bought a nice blue satin fabric at my school. It has some white broidery in it.
I used a brocade fabric for the bird and the front bird was handlocked so it wouldn't rip apart. This took me for WEEKS. After locking it I've handsewed it on my dress with a satinstitch. This took me WEEKS again.
One of my classmates, Corine, drew my bird on the back.
Instead of handlocking the back bird I used textile glue. It worked great so it only took me for about two hours to glue the back bird's outlines.
After using the glue I had to handsew the bird again.
When the birds where sewn on the dress I wanted to create more depth in it by using sequins. My boyfriend also helped me out with them a little.
Long story short: this was a complete timetaking cosplay.
Even finding the right shoes was a difficult task.
Other thoughts:
It took me for hours, days, weeks, months to create this costume. Also allot of frustration. But it was all worth it. It is a very comfortable and elegant dress. Only the shoes where a real pain.
