Character: Tenjou Utena, duellist
Series: Shoujo Kakumei Utena ~ Adolescence Mokushiroku
Debut: Nan Desu Kan 2001
Status: Retired, indefinately
Kat and I have a 'history' of Utena and Anthy together that started with the TV versions of the costumes. After seeing the movie, we both knew that this was the next thing to do. We debuted the costumes at Nan Desu Kan 2001, but I almost missed it due to illness. The day before the convention, I had finally started feeling better, and finished the costume, which included the shorts, and all the non-sewing accessories, in that one day.
I made the costume from polysatin with red bias tape trim. The shorts were made from a pattern I found for racing shorts (with a stripe up the side), so I had to modify it drastically. I may as well have not even bought the pattern. The epaulettes were a much more successful attempt than the ones for my TV costume. I made them out of red Crayola modeling clay and coated them with clear nail polish. Then I trimmed them with thick gold piping and added thick rope cords as the tassles.
But I think that the best part of this costume was my Sword of Dios. I made the blade out of balsa wood and the hilt was made from Crayola modeling clay and painted. Unfortunately now, there are broken pieces that need to be glued back on, but it's by far my favorite costume prop. And even though it's made from soft clay and even softer balsa wood, I still had to have it peace bound.
This costume is retired until I can get a new wig for it. The original one has been cut shorter to Utena-kun style.