Character: Chihaya Kisaragi
Series: The Idolm@ster
Version: Diamond Luxury (Blue)
Debut: A-kon 2013
As soon as I started watching the Idolm@ster anime I knew that I would love it, but the hardest part about being a cosplayer and loving idolm@ster is choosing who to cosplay and which outfit! There are so many girls with a wide variety of body types and personalities. While I’m probably more physically suited for Takane or Asuza I fell in love with Chihaya’s story and character. I always fall for the girl with the tragic past. I settled on Diamond Luxury for a group (which sadly ended up as just two of us) where we did the outfits in idol colors.
The costume itself really didn’t offer any new challenges for me, but working on it was quite an experience. Since I had no new skills to learn I got to watch myself create something that a few years ago I would have just never even attempted. I did get to use confetti dot for the first time, which was terrible.
Both the skirt and vest are heavily altered commercial patterns. Mock ups of both pieces were made to ensure the seam lines were all correct. The entire costume is faced in twill for structure and the confetti dot sections were also faced in a blue cotton because the confetti dot is a very loose weave. Both the skirt and vest are fully lined.
The boot covers are removable and held in place on the boot with fashion tape. This way the boots are reusable (for more idolm@ster costumes of course). The white cuffs fold over and are held in place with velcro.
The belt is real leather and was and tooled with the chevron pattern. It was painted gold with Angelus leather paint.
The necklace pieces and wing pins were sculpted with sculpy clay and the necklace pieces were attached to the chain.
The wig was a persephone in midnight blue from epic cosplay wigs. It was cut down by about 10″ and the bangs were slightly styled.
Photos: Mike Boike, Squidflakes, Yumiki Snapshots, Film Shooter, ACP