Princess Kushinada - Orion
<back>

Worn at: Wellygeddon '07

Awards: BEST COSTUME

Hehe. I read Orion after seeing costumes done by Yaya Han and Erika Door and pretty much decided right then I'd do a Kushinada costume. I didn't actually like the manga that much to be honest, but since when has that stopped me? :P Oh yeah - and I won Best Costume! FINALLY!!
As I mentioned before, I really wanted to make this costume different; really make it my own. To what extent I succeeded I don't know, considering it aint' my design in the first place, but hey! I made it anyway!

The corset, skirt and HAREM PANTS were modified from existing patterns, and the embellishments were fairly straightforward - applique all over the place and hand-sewn trims and binding finished them off, pretty much. I'm very proud of the gold at the hem of the pants - it's a very, very shiny gold organza-like something and I mimicked the motif in the reference image. I've never really had much luck with machine-applique before, and it's not a complete success now either - but who can tell?

The petals were hand-painted individually onto a single thickness of fabric, cut out and hand-sewn onto a tulle base (pre-gathered and stitched onto a stay). The dewdrops were hand-sewn into place, and are small silver seed beads and plastic pearl drops.

The headpiece was craft foam, cut into shape, glued together, heat-molded and spraypainted - the raised decoration in the center is fabric paint :) I aged it with black acrylic and copper craft paint. The wig was the Enchantment style, from Amphigory (via Katie Bair) and I nearly strangled it SO MANY TIMES. It was a nightmare to brush out, which is why it is bound with ribbon - that ribbon hides the birdsnest to end all birdsnests. Ick. I used a pack of loose extension hair at the hairline - pinned at the center part and just above my ears.

PHOTOS by my mum - there are more to come, and soon!