Harrow Cosplay Planning 1: The Easy Part
Ok so, as the blog says on the tin, I want to start doing cosplay in order to cosplay Harrow. I have a lot of ideas about directions this could go.
Photo and Art Credit to @TommyArnoldArt on X
The easiest path to take, and probably where I will start, is Harrow's outfit from the cover of HtN as designed by Tommy Arnold. The most complicated aspects would be draping what I'm pretty sure is the Lyctor Hood as of right now, (I have not yet finished the book! I'm just very excited!) and designing the bone accessories, especially the bone "corset" as it is described on the page. I have found a tutorial by @vicious.frockery on Instagram that he developed while working on their Vaxildan cosplay that I think will be helpful in getting a footing for the structure. However, where that cosplay and this one will differ is in the size and detailing.
Ideally, I want the ribs to fully encircle my torso, including adding a portion of the thoracic spine. This will mean needing to add a way to open the ribs, either still along the spine or potentially through the side to hide "seams". I will keep thinking and begin experimenting with what works best for the safety of the garment itself.
As for detailing, @mothribs7 on TikTok has created a tutorial on paper machéing a rib structure where I think the end result is much closer to what I'm looking for. I will also likely try this method for the other bone accessories. (i.e. the hips, armbands, bangles, choker) On the topic of armbands and bangles, I initially thought they were silver, but on a second look and remembering the mention of Harrow's "bone bracelets" in chapter two, I have concluded the shine on the bangle is just a trick of the light on the cover.
The rest of the cosplay can be either found in my closet or purchased relatively inexpensively. I'm a big fan of Depop, Etsy, and Michaels. I've already bookmarked zipper knee-high boots, an unribbed (haha) turtleneck, and black leather arm bracers, and I have perfectly acceptable black skinny jeans in my closet. I still need to work out if the Lyctor Hood is rectangular like a chiton or semicircular like a toga, but that is just experimenting with whatever white mesh I can scrounge up and drape.
The sword is interesting. I do stage combat as, like, a hobby, so getting a prop longsword from Rogue Steel just to have on the day-to-day would be, while terribly cost-ineffective, not entirely out of the question. Of course, making one's own weaponry for cosplaying is a time-honored tradition, but also, I already wanted to buy a sword. I don't attend cons or anything, so having a real prop wouldn't be too problematic for that. This, much like the corset opening and Lyctor Hood, will have to be a longer thought experiment.
And that was the easy part.