Who is this?? I barely recognise my daughter in her fabulous cosplay outfit! For ComicCon this year, Cassie decided she wanted to go as Lucy Heartfilia, from Fairy Tail; the anime/manga conceived by Hiro Mashima. And she has been busy busy busy, working solidly on her costume… isn’t it gorgeous?!! I think she looks absolutely amazing!
Lucy Heartfilia from Fairy Tail; artwork and character by Hiro Mashima
And yes, Cassie’s costume is all made by herself, with just a few pattern adjustment and sewing suggestions by me.
Patterns; adapted Burda 8175 for the skirt, and adapted Burda 8548 for the vest. The corset top and the sleeves are self-drafted. Actually, the “corset” top is more like an abbreviated bodice than a corset; with princess seams and unseen skinny gold shoulder straps, that are hidden underneath her vest, and closure is at the centre back by white hook and eye tape. The sleeves are two pieced and double layered, with the white layer longer so it comes out at the bottom, and with elastic in a channel at the top so they stay up on her arms. The long gold straps on the sleeves are purely decorative. You want to see what the pattern piece for the sleeves looks like? No? well I shall show you anyway 😉
You cut two of each per sleeve, so the bottom flared bit of the sleeve is almost a full circle. A circle skirt for your arms! haha And yes, she hemmed the lot too, I think she stayed up until the wee small hours doing that job! The white and blue layers are joined together at the top with a casing for elastic, so they stay up on her arms. The gold straps were sewn on afterwards, they’re pretty much decorative. But don’t they look great!
Fabric; quilting cotton from Spotlight. Mainly chosen for the just-right colours, of course!
I’m so proud of her, because the whole costume is properly and beautifully made, and she did not take the easy way out in any part.
The dark navy blue, pleated skirt has an invisible zip closure and an interfaced facing. I suggested she make it a little longer, so she could at least wear it as a normal skirt too; but no; the costume had to be as faithfully executed as possible!
Those keys are an integral part of Lucy’s costume, and a part of her character’s story. Cassie was so thrilled when she spotted the key set in a store; and pounced… perfect for her costume!! Belt; surreptitiously extracted from her brother’s wardrobe mwahaha.
The camisole/corset top was self-drafted to fit her perfectly, and it fits like a glove! and then she drew the lines for the blue heart and gold edging on her muslin and cut it up to get the individual pieces. Meaning; they are not just appliquéd on but are all separate joined pieces; and the top is completely lined in white cotton.
She used a blouse pattern for the vest, mainly because the collar was right for the costume; it had no collar stand and was the right shape and lay in the right spot. The front and back pieces were easily modified to be a vest shape, and she individually drew out the gold edging pieces to fit, and with self-fabric facing throughout.
Really, I am so proud that she put so much care, thought and diligence into making it and finishing it all off perfectly and beautifully.
This is a character driven pose; it means “I’m watching and I’ve got your back”… and that symbol on her hand is also a key component to her character too. I freehand drew it on for her this morning, because you know; right handed, and it had to be on her right hand! It’s in pink ballpoint pen. I can’t wait to hear how her day was…. I’m sure she will be one of the best dressed at the convention!! As we drove in to drop her off, we saw stormtroopers and a Joker strolling down the esplanade on their way to the convention, laugh! It’s fantastic how everyone who goes makes a real effort to dress up in amazing costumes and really look the part… oooo I so wish I could be there to see all the costumes!!
Great costume. Has your daughter been to the International Manga Museum in Kyoto?
thanks! and no, we have not. something for a future trip 🙂
So, if it’s not too personal a question: where do you and Cassie get your self drafting skills and knowledge from?
I learnt to sew and knit from my own mother and have now been making my own clothes for decades; now I’m teaching Cassie. She loves fashion too and anything creative, and I’m thrilled she enjoys the process so much that she’s keen to get in, learn and make things. I guess practise makes perfect! 🙂
I love this! Cosplay is getting so much exposure—even McCall’s is featuring patterns for Cosplay.
Great job. Your daughter looks amazing!! Congratulations for that gorgeous costume!
Oh, gorgeous! My 12-yo is obsessed with this show and cosplayed the character Wendy, who is also quite young, at our local con last Sept! But I never quite blogged it. 🙁
Well done Cassie it looks excellent. You clearly went to a lot of effort and it was worth it, no sleeves on my favourite
Such a fun! I like how she found the right lines and accessoires for the costume and had the pacience to sew everything properly! I love the skirt!
Oh, she look great! I can see where she gets her skills from. I hope she has a fabulous time!
She looks fantastic! One of my girls loves all things Anime. I had to show her Cassie’s outfit! I had not even heard the word cosplay until recently. All my daughter talks about is going to Comicon one day. LOL I can only imagine the outfits I will be roped into helping her make one day!
Wonderful costume and I am sure she absolutely was the best dressed there! I hope she can find a reason to wear it all again though
Brilliant costume, and that event looks like great fun. I hope she had a fabulous day.
Oh wow Cassie, the detail you have gone to for your costume is amazing. I hope you get to wear it again because you look fabulous in it!
What a great interpretation of the original character! (And just a little more modest). Cassie looks awesome.
So amazing! She is so incredibly talented, just like you! What a fabulous costume!!
Cassie looks amazing, her attention to details and the ability to design and put it all together. is just fantastic. I can imagine her outfit is all over the cosplay platforms.
Awesome costume/outfit! So glad you included the character’s photo and information as I kept scrolling back and forth comparing Cassie’s ‘look’ to her inspiration as I read, and she nailed it all the way! She is such a beautiful young lady with her mother’s creative streak and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about her outfit here. Those sleeves are so cool….. they’d look pretty, maybe circled down a bit, to add as a layered bell sleeve to a regular top. 🙂
It’s a fabulous cosplay costume!
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