Character: Nuriko
Series: Fushigi Yuugi
Debut: Anime Expo 2000
Status: Retired, indefinately
Nuriko was my very first cosplay for Anime Expo 2000. Shortly before attending AX00, I had seen a pivotal episode of Fushigi Yuugi, my then favorite anime, and immediately knew that this was the character I had to cosplay as. My original choice for my first cosplay was Suzaku no Miko, but that idea has become scrapped because Kat decided to take on that costume and I did Seiryuu no Miko along with her at a later convention.
Nuriko's blue traveling costume was made mostly by myself, but with a little bit of 'help' from a former high school friend. I had asked her if she would help me, to which she agreed. She and I went fabric shopping and suggested that I make it out of a shiny satin fabric. She didn't know anything about the series (and therefore wouldn't know what sort of fabric the situation would actually have called for), and I was new to costume making, so I went along with this suggestion. I bought a Simplicity kimono pattern and altered it slightly to create the robe. The difference in fabric colors was a bit of a challenge to cut and sew together, but worked out well.
The robe and sash were made out of polysatin with green bias tape trimming the robe. The pants were made out of pink broadcloth, and the shoes were Tai Chi shoes on loan from my sister.