Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
This character is the main character from Persona 4, in his outfit from the crossdressing pageant. Persona 4 is one of my favorite video games, and I always love the protagonists of the Persona series. I chose this particular outfit because at the time I was debating between this and his regular school uniform, but I was in a bit of a crunch for time, so chose this.
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
This was my first time making a uniform sailor collar on my own, but I’m very pleased with how that turned out. The outfit itself is fairly simple; a pleated skirt and a long sleeved shirt. I think the hardest part was the detailing; the white detailing on the sleeves was hand-done in the dark, and the rest I wish I’d done a little thicker, or painted on like some friends had.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ?
The entire scene from which the character’s outfit is taken from is sort of ridiculous, so I got a lot of fun and joking reactions from people who knew the game.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
I love acting and roleplaying, and always loved dressing up when I was little. The fantastic costumes that anime and games provided really intrigued me. There was always a character from a series that I wanted to get a chance to play. Subaru from Tokyo Babylon was my first cosplay, and he still remains one of my favorite characters.
What are the con did you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
The first con I attended was a tiny one-day con at UC Berkeley called Anime Destiny. It was also the first con I cosplayed at, and I’ve never looked back! My favorite con I’ve attended is definitely Fanime. It’s a large con with a small-con feel; I’ve come to know a lot of the staffers, and it’s also the con that the most of my friends show up at. I never fail to have a good time there, and have so many good memories of it.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
Cosplay to me is a way to have fun with friends, express creativity, and show my love for a certain series and character. When I cosplay, I try to the best of my abilities to represent the character and series and try to bring them to life.
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
Right now, I really want to make a fancy dress, but one of my dream cosplay plans is one of Sakura’s outfits, either from Card Captor Sakura, or Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. The dresses are so pretty, and I’d love to do one of the really complex ones.
