Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
I’m cosplaying as Klan Klan from Macross Frontier. I chose this specific character because I found myself really entertained by her in the anime, and she is the strongest (in my opinion) female in Macross Frontier. Her personality jumps from funny and cute, to serious and… well…badass. Haha. She’s a very fun character to cosplay, and I can’t wait to do more of her outfits in the future! For now, this particular cosplay is retired. I enjoyed cosplaying her and hold many fond memories while doing so.
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
At the time, making this outfit tested a lot of my skills as a seamstress. It made me research and use new techniques (such as making boot-covers and a jump-suit) to make this costume come to life. I had to chose specific fabrics to make this outfit resemble the one in the anime, some of which either breathe easily or don’t breathe at all. Out of the whole outfit, my favorite part is the wig. I came across it while browsing eBay sellers, and since it was perfect, it won me over in deciding to actually cosplay Klan! I also like the boot-covers and matching gloves.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ? ^^
While dressed as Klan, I’ve gotten anything from strange looks to even people asking to touch my wig! I’ll even have people come up to me asking what series I am cosplaying from, and decide to watch the show based on how crazy the wig is! I have also made many new friends through the Macross Frontier fandom, and have sucked them into cosplaying it as well.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
I discovered cosplay when I was around 12-13. However, at that age I knew that sewing such intricate costumes was beyond my skill, so I pushed it aside and forgot about it. I picked up the interest again when I turned 16, which is when I bought my first costume on eBay to attend my first anime convention: Anime Weekend Atlanta! Ever since I went to that con, I’ve been going to them, and cosplaying too! However, the main difference since I started attending anime cons is that I’ve picked up how to sew from my mother, and have self-taught myself many techniques to better improve the quality of my costumes. I’ve made 18 costumes and plan to make many more for 2010!
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 Anime Weekend Atlanta, which I’ve attended since 2006. It’s also my favorite con so far, shortly followed by Momocon, the largest free convention in North America! I enjoy both AWA and Momocon because of the people and costumes I get to see there. They’re also great places to catch up with friends.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
To me, cosplay is an expression of love for a particular character and series, be it an anime, video game, or book! It’s about meeting people interested in the same thing as you, and proving just how much they mean to you, all through costuming! It’s an amazing hobby, and is something that I really enjoy. I’ll probably be cosplaying for a good while, as it’s fun and also increases my sewing skills!
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
I don’t really have any that are super impressive or that require a lot of money. However, I would love to get around to cosplaying a lot of the characters from the Harvest Moon franchise. I’ve been playing those games since I was 9 years old, and have found them to be my favorite franchise of all. I get so sucked into playing them sometimes that I find my day has just slipped away… And even though it’s a farm simulator, the games can be very addicting, yet relaxing.
