Character: Cosmic Fantasy Sailor Mars
Series: Original concept based on Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Debut: Anime Expo 2002
Status: Active
This costume is my baby. I had wanted for a while to design my own version of the Sailor Senshi costume, having been inspired by such wonderful cosplayers such as Love Meeko (for Eternal Orrery Uranus and Neptune), Michiru (for Cosmos Neptune), and the former group Yume no Senshi (for Ethereal Senshi). I don't remember what exactly was my inspiration for Cosmic Fantasy, dbut I do remember wanting to have layered bows. I drew designs for each Senshi, including Moon, and hoped to gather an entire group of cosplayers to don each costume. The trouble lied in who to choose. The obvious choice for Jupiter was Kat, my cosplay partner. I decided to make this costume for her in secret and have it be her Christmas present. I didn't actually finish it on time, and gave it to her incomplete. She then helped me finish both costumes. I eventually decided to make them a YnS costume, because I joined during the construction phase. However, YnS has since broken up, so I don't know if I'll be searching out other cosplayers anymore.
This was my first serious attempt at a Sailor Senshi costume and was mostly trial and error. I decided to make an actual bodice which was originally only going to be shaped using darts, but later used princess seams to fit and flatter better. The bodice is made from a lovely heavy bridal satin, and the skirts, collars, sleeves, bands, and colored bows were all made from baroque and polysatin. The gold bows are heavily interfaced tissue lame, and everything is trimmed with gold bias tape.
The costume is still incomplete, according to my design. I created uniform boots to go along with them, which will hopefully be made in the near future. This was a fun and challenging costume, and one of my favorites to wear.

Photos taken by Laura.
For more on the Cosmic Fantasy designs, please go here.