Tell me about the outfit you are wearing !
Yoko Littner from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. I really enjoyed the anime, and my friends were wanting to do a Gurren Lagaan group. This is one of those outfits that I told myself I would not be caught dead wearing because I generally like to be fairly modest when I cosplay (and I had heard horror stories about guys harassing female cosplayers with tight and/or revealing outfits at conventions). However, my boyfriend was going to be my favorite character, Kamina, so I decided to cosplay Yoko to pair up with him. Despite her choice of clothing, she is an awesome character, and I had a protective Kamina to keep the creepy fanboys away.
Tell me about the process of making your outfit ?
It was MUCH harder than I expected. The outfit itself wasn’t too challenging, but it was time consuming. I made the bikini, shorts, bangles, gloves, boot covers, scarf, etc. The hard parts were the wig and rifle. The wig was so heavy because of the long ponytail, and I had to experiment with different things to keep the wig from sliding back too far on my head. The rifle took more time to make than the rest of the cosplay combined. It’s mostly made out of cardboard and craft foam, but I had to keep going back to the hardware store and look around for parts that would allow the rifle to be detachable for easy transport, have a movable stand, and keep the pink strap on so I can wear it without worrying about it sliding around or falling off.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ?
I didn’t wear it around at the convention for too long, and most of the time I spent in it was for a private photoshoot with our group. I think the biggest surprise was the number of compliments I got. Originally, I was a bit fearful because I’m a bit on the flat side, while Yoko has a large chest that is a bit uncommon for a girl her size and age. Lots of people associate her as the sex-appeal character, but people saw past that and wanted my picture because they liked my cosplay.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
I’ve been teaching myself to sew since middle school, and I was introduced to cosplaying when I saw pictures of cosplayers online. The cosplayer who stood out the most to me was PikminLink, and I was really inspired. I tried making costumes in High School, but it wasn’t until after I started college that I really got into the hobby. I made a couple costumes to take to my first convention, and then I was hooked!
What are the con did you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
My first con was A-kon 2007, and I think my favorite con that I’ve attended was Animefest 2008. I got to meet a lot of online cosplay friends in person, the location was gorgeous, and we had a blast at the photoshoots. There was also lots of hang-out time; it was an exciting place to be but also very relaxing.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
To me, it’s being in the shoes of the characters you love and having fun! It’s called Cos”play”, meaning if you’re not having fun, then you arn’t doing it right XD
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
Link from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
