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Yuuko
Yuuko - XXXholic
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Worn at: Wellygeddon '08
Awards: Commended
IT ARE FINISHED! FINALLY!!
Ohhh, man it feels good to have this thing completed! Rather than start a whole new costume for Armageddon this year I decided to just grit my teeth and finish the kimono. I finished all the applique smoke and butterflies on the hem and sleeves, painted, handstitched and was generally miserable for about two weeks. After the detail work was all done, I lined the kimono in red and threaded cord through the eyelets at the shoudlers. I'm not too happy with it - I'll need to replace it at some point.
The obi is 4m long, just two wide strips of brocade faced with vilene, stitched end-to-end, and lined. Biggest problem I had was forgetting how to tie it in the two years or so that I'd left this costume alone! I improvised in the end, haha. The sash and cord details were simple, pretty much just remnants I had lying around. The wig was actually the funnest part of the whole thing - I have done only a modest amount of styling in my cosplaying life, so it was a bit daunting. I re-used my Princess wig from last year, and had to drown the thing in conditioner before I could even start detangling. I cut in the longer forelocks, but the fringe and cheek-length locks were part of a weft I made and stitched to the front of the wig. The whole thing was then rigorously straightened, and detangled some more. I tied up a small bun at the back and wrapped it with red ribbon with bells on, re: a costume worn by Yuuko (briefly) in the manga. Unfortunately, I have a small head - if I'm not very careful to wear this wig anchored securely to my own hair underneath, it slips. Lots. :(
Overall, I'm very please with the result. However - at the convention, due to some hurried dressing, I didn't tie the obi tight enough. It got quite loose, and I honestly felt about four feet wide! Not flash, man. Next time I'm doing the corset thing rather than obi.
Progress pictures
Again, I got NO pictures at the convention! Coming soon, I promise! But here's one of the wig:
