Face it. This girl dies a lot. More than once an episode, most of
the time. So it was absolutely imperative that the costume would
allow me to collapse without actually killing myself. A fun challenge.

I used an old cotton leotard for the main body of the costume. The
shoulderpads were black dress shoulderpads with some burgundy
fabric--not bad for a makeshift creation. As for the skimpy, frilly
excuse for a skirt....let's just say that I was profoundly thankful for
dark stockings. A pair of sexy black satin gloves finished the outfit.

I truly enjoyed cosplaying as Hyatt, and of course I couldn't have
done it without my own personal Excel-sempai, Kara Dennison.
She somehow put up with my violent coughing fits, profuse internal
bleeding, and the occasional death. Arigatou gozaimashita, sempai!

Hyatt

Pictures [Hyatt v1.0]: 1 2 3 4
Hyatt version 2.0 - coming soon!

Ritsuko is one of my two favourite characters from Eva, second only to
Fuyutsuki-sensei. It figures that the two characters I like most were the
ones screwed over most by Gendou's plans. Not that most of the EVA
cast didn't get screwed over by Gendou one way or another, but anyway...

My main problem was my distaste for short skirts, and in order to dress as
Ritsuko, I had to wear one. Fortunately, the white lab coat made me feel a
bit better about prancing around in a short and tight black skirt. The eye-
searingly blonde wig was another great find, though I had to trim it to get
the proper length. I also borrowed a belt to round out the oufit. A touch
of makeup, an eyebrow-pencilled beauty mark, and I was ready to go.

Akagi Ritsuko

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

I don't wear short skirts. In fact, I loathe most skirts that come above
mid-calf. So even though I really wanted to cosplay as Wakaba, I was
skittish about walking around in the flimsy Ohtori Academy uniform.
Face it, those puffy sleeves aren't exactly a fashion statement. Yet after
rewatching the Black Rose Arc of Utena a few dozen times, I discovered
that I could be the genki Shinohara Wakaba without resorting to a
detestable green pleated miniskirt--and look spectacular in the process.

The black jacket came from a lucky eBay find. I modified it to be more
military in character with some black scrap material, and managed to
scrounge up some gold buttons, satin ribbon, and black curtain tassels
to round out the top. The trousers are a pair of light colored khakis,
worn with pointed black ankle boots. The hair is mine, au natural, with
a bit of black satin ribbon. For the necessary black rose, I dyed a cheap
yellow silk rose with some waterproof black shoe polish and let it dry.

Shinohara Wakaba

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

If someone had told me I would one day cosplay as Seitoukaichou
Kiryuu Touga, one of my least favourite characters from Utena, I
would have either burst out laughing...or told them to go to hell.

I stand before you now a bitter, broken woman.

I actually made the wretched costume, and then proceeded to get
on stage, prance around, make suggestive comments, flirt without
any sense of shame, and generally act like...well, to be honest, act
like HIM. It would have been more fun if my wig had been better.

The making was actually not so difficult. I had about 7 yards of white
fabric (tablecloth fabric...heh heh heh) to work with, and I tried my
hand at a sewing machine for some of the longer seam runs. In my
opinion it's rather shoddy workmanship, but it was good enough for
stage use. I have NO PLANS to wear it in the future, much to the
disappointment of certain people who will remain nameless. Anything
done in the name of a good cosplay. And to my darling Nanami, how
many times must we remind you? Don't sleep with your brother!

Kiryuu Touga

Pictures: 1 2 3

Hermione's outfit is not difficult to make. A good (read, British) school
uniform supplier can provide 60 percent of the necessary togs. All that
remains is a wand, a striped tie, a Time-Turner (yes, I do have one), an
ankle-length robe with the Gryffindor crest, a good ear for her accent,
and the proper attitude. Everything--barring accent and attitude--can
be found if you are willing to do some searching! Hogwarts Forever!

Hermione Granger

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

This sad excuse for a costume came from the William and Mary Anime
Society Theatrical Cadre's production of "Tenjou Utena and the Holy
Grail: Scene 5". I happen to play the role so well filled by Ms. Connie
Booth in the original Monty Python and the Holy Grail, an unfortunate
woman who has been dressed up as a witch. In this case I had been
captured by a mob and presented to Juri-san with the grand decree:

"We have found a Rose Bride, may we slap her?"

Parts of costume: one (1) white prom dress, one (1) vest that had seen
a far better tour of duty as the sleeveless jacket for my Ritsuko costume,
two (2) scraps of material from said sleeveless jacket--namely, the old
cut-off sleeves themselves, one (1) headband with tinfoil attached, one
(1) length of 18" nylon rope, a long strip of duct tape, numerous safety
pins, and one (1) UNUSED toilet plunger. Let the weeping commence.

Generic Rose Bride

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Lady Une. I've always had a soft spot for her. That, and I've always wanted
to throw someone out of a plane and shoot them as they fall. But anyway,
I plan to cosplay as Lady Une, and may even have the fortune to have the
very pleasant company of Mr. Duo Maxwell and Miss Dorothy Catalonia.

The costume was not as difficult to create as I had expected. I could use
my own hair, fortunately. It's the right length and color for Une. The boots
were a modified pair of old winter boots. The gloves and jacket came from
a lucky eBay find--the jacket was later altered and augmented with the
necessary frills, epaulettes, and other fancy trim. The trousers are a pair
of plain white leggings. I also found a small leather holster to wear on
a gaudy-looking brown leather OZ belt...without a weapon, of course.

Colonel Une

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

I seem to have a penchant for the psychotic characters, wouldn't you say?
Ranma 1/2 is chock full of them, and I thought it would be nice to go a
little goofy and have fun. The only problem was the leotard--it took more
than a little soul searching to convince myself to don something I haven't
worn since the endless cycle of dance classes in my younger days. My
otaku-hood won out over my self-consciousness, however, and Kunou
Kodachi-sama was added to my list of cosplaying prospects.

Kodachi's not a hard costume to make, just a leotard, some paint and
applique fabric, a ribbon stick, and, of course, a freakish sounding laugh.

Kunou Kodachi

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Haunted Junction stars three high-school students--the son of a Christian
minister, the son of a Buddhist monk (however odd that may seem to
Western ears), and the daughter of a Shinto priest. As president of the
"Holy Student Council", Haruto must therefore spend precious studying
time dealing with the spirits and ghosts that haunt his school. However,
all he wants is a normal life at a normal school that will lead to a normal
job and a normal salaryman life...and destiny seems to be against that.

This costume, if I ever get around to working on it, will be my first
attempt at a non-female cosplay role (or at least one that was done
of my own volition). With any luck, I'll have an Asahina-kun and a
Kazumi-kun to share some of the attention. WELCOME!

Houjo Haruto

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6

If I was to even consider going as a Sailor Senshi, I'd have to think
carefully about my choice of character. Personality-wise, I'm closer to
Ami/Sailor Mercury or Setsuna/Sailor Pluto, but I don't think I could
tolerate the seifuku long enough to wear the costume. Sailor Galaxia,
however, presents a tasty challenge to my sewing skills, and strangely
enough to my body image. Not to mention the fact that she rocks!

Galaxia would be a definite challenge to do. The fabric would have to
be lots and lots of gold lamé, panelled to lie properly on my body.
I'd probably choose fabric for the bracelets, too, because it would
be far more comfortable and allow for greater maneuverability. As
for the boots, the crown, and the rest...well...that's why it's currently
in pre-production, more of a cosplayer's wish than anything else.

Sailor Galaxia

Pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6