Sailor Christmas started as a joke to myself. I initially didn’t intend to take the cosplay seriously. I feel in love with the many Sailor Moon series when I watched them for the first time last year and knew that I wanted to cosplay one of the characters. Usagi wasn’t the character to which I was most drawn, though I love her in her own way. But when the idea for a garland pony-tailed bunhead came to mind, I knew that was going to be my first holiday-themed cosplay. All of the little details fell in place from there.
I love seeing a little smile or look of surprise when people see me in this cosplay. The thing that first tends to grab people’s attention is the choice of garland for the pigtails. Which is fitting, since it was the initial reason as to why I wanted to make this cosplay. I especially enjoy people’s reactions to this costume because not only did I make it myself, I added my own unique spin to the character. And I mean that in the most humble way possible. It just brings joy to my heart when people find interest or delight in things on which I’ve worked so hard to create.
When I wore this cosplay for the first time last year, I think it allowed me to make an impression in people’s minds. Not only did I have multiple people ask me this year if I was the same cosplayer who wore Sailor Christmas last year, but I also met several cosplayers last year whose work I admire while wearing the costume and we still speak to each other today. One particular group of cosplayers that I met was cosplaying from a show that holds a special place in my heart. While I was gushing over how awesome their cosplays were, they were telling me how much they enjoyed mine. I really love those small moments in the cosplay community where you can connect with complete strangers over a shared enjoyment of these characters and this hobby.
I adorned the wig with ornaments on the buns, Christmas lights, and holly in the back. This was my first time styling a wig in any major way, but I was quite happy with how it came together. After the initial idea for the unusual wig came to mind, I knew that I wanted to really lean into the holiday theming for this cosplay. As a kid who grew up in the 90s, crushed velvet red and green dresses were a must every holiday season. I chose to go with green fabric of that kind for the skirt and collar to contrast the red boots.
Of course, the boots needed to be crushed velvet as well. Although I was shopping at the right time of year, I could only find one affordable pair of boots in the correct style and color. Their only flaw was they were open-toed shoes. I purchased them anyway, and was able to close the toes with some of the fabric that I trimmed off the make the proper shape for the top of the boots.
Sticking with the Christmas theme, I chose to make the sleeve and mid rolls along with the boot trim out of the same material which is used for the top of traditional stockings. I sewed the skirt and collar onto a white t-shirt which I had altered to look like a bodysuit. The bows were created from multiple layers of ribbon fabric to mimic the layered look of holiday bows. The same fabric is used for the glove rolls and the red striping on the moon rod. Instead of a broach for the front bow, I opted to place the sailor scout’s gems onto a large jingle bell.
The gems in the moon rod are placed around a metal bow which I took from a Christmas necklace. The details of the moon rod are sculpted from thermoplastic, placed atop a painted PVC pipe. I really wanted to add some sparkle to the costume, so I created the necklace and earring shapes out of glittered foam and used a sparkling ornament from the dollar store for the crystal on the moon rod.
The star atop the rod is another dollar store find which I painted to match the tiara. The tiara was created from thick craft foam with mistletoe in the center instead of a gem. I chose a mistletoe in particular because Christmas is considered more of a romantic holiday in Japan, and I could easily see Usagi waiting under it all night, hoping to catch Mamo’s attention.
Cosplay has allowed me to express myself in fulfilling artistic ways which I can’t get anywhere else. I love working with my hands and challenging myself to learn new techniques for my every costume. As a former theater major turned graphic designer with a great love for anime, comics, and nerd culture in general: cosplay is really just a combination of all of the things that I love. Cosplay has been an expressive medium that I can turn to when life isn’t going the way I want or expect. It has connected me with amazing people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’m so happy to have this hobby and community in my life.
—- https://www.instagram.com/ladyrei_cosplay/
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