#garakowa

Dual bustier progress~

The collar lapels were cut from white sateen and lining. The trim was broadcloth. Interfacing was applied to the undersides of the sateen and the broadcloth was pressed into 0.375″ double-fold bias tape.

The shell and lining pieces were basted together before the bias tape was applied. Excess bias tape was clipped off and the lapels were sewn to the top of the front of the bustier bodice.

A costume from each year I’ve been cosplaying, 2007-2017. I probably averaged 2-3 costumes a year at least. It’s been fun!

I started with hand-sewing stuff onto T-shirts with the collar cut out and using sticky-back ribbon as trim. No wigs. I didn’t finish seams in the first two years or line anything in the first three. Between 2009-2011 I really favored cotton sateen for just about anything. 2014 was the year I went on semi-hiatus from cosplay and conventions, so there weren’t any decent costumes made during that time. I returned in full force in 2015 after a trip to Japan and here we are now, year 2017, 10 years since I started this intense hobby in my freshman year of college.

I’ve always said that I’ll scale back massively from cosplay once I hit 30, so next year, 2018, will likely be the final year I do some sort of age-inappropriate cosplay. If Sword Art Online season 3 promotion is in full force then, I’ll cosplay SAO for one last time and go out on a high note.