Anime Gothic

About This Costume:
My friend and I decided to do anime costumes for this years Anime Detour. I usually do comic book or video game related costumes, so I was really excited to step out of my shell and try something different. FLCL was the first anime I ever watched, and my friend really wanted to dress as Haruko so it seemed perfect for me to go as Mamimi.

The costume was supposed to be really easy, but as most of you probably know everything is always more of an endeavor than we first think it would be. I found a blue zip-up right away and modified it by cutting off the hood and adding a collar. Considering I had never sewn before in my life, it was much harder to figure out than I thought it would be. In the end it worked out well enough. The skirt was defiantly the hardest part. I bought a pattern and went at it. Pleats are hard!!! The skirt turned out pretty well in the end. I ordered the wig from eBay and was really happy with it. I love the highlights in it and it is just the right length.

The socks were easy enough to find at a local retail store, where I got the shoes as well. I will be honest, the shoes are ugly as hell but they were the most comfortable things I have ever worn while cosplaying. I painted the red star on to the undershirt, and dyed a white bag blue for her backpack. It is not quite the right color blue, but it was as close as I could get! After sewing on the white stripe I was done with the costume!

I set up a shoot before Anime Detour so we could document our costumes. My friends Haruko costume turned out amazing. Shooting an anime costume was crazy different than shooting a sexpot comic character. Mamimi always acts spacey and wears minimal makeup so I did the same. I hope her character came across in my photos!!!