Cosplay | HM Costume Design

Cosplay Experience

Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones):

In Spring of 2019, I worked to build Daenerys' dress from the season 7, episode 1. The scene where she returns to home to Dragonstone for the first time. I really loved this costume and wanted a project to do.

I purchased the wig and added more sections of white hair to it, in order to get bigger braids for her complicated hairstyle. I braided the hair to style the wig.

I built the dress based on a McCall pattern that I altered slightly to make the dress fit tighter around my torso, since hers is very fitted in the scene. I also had to shrink the sleeves down from the pattern to fit my arms.

After building the base costume, I then worked to embroider the "scales" on her caplet, sleeves, and dress bodice in different shades of red, grey, and black embroidery floss. I also worked to heavily bead the shoulders, cape, and sleeves. I dyed some fabric that was blue to grey to add texture to the costume.

Professional Photos by Lauren Reed

Imogen Temult (Critical Role):

I built the vest, gloves, dress, bow, belt and pouch based on the character art for Laura Bailey's character on Critical Role. I used a old 90s pattern to build the vest. The dress I built from a pattern I altered. The gloves, belt and pouch are made from 100% leather. For the belt and pouch I used a pattern I found on Etsy. I also styled the wig to have loose wavy hair and pulled it back with the bow.

All Professional Photography was done by Karen Smith Photographer

Jester Lavorre (Critical Role):

I built the tail, necklace, and 3d printed the horns based on the character art for Laura Bailey's character on Critical Role. I used cosplay foam as the base for the tail and covered it in the same tights I am wearing so it would match. I added strips of leather as "tail jewelry." The outfit was put together to be inspired by Jester, it features the official Jester Dress from Critical Role.

All Professional Photography was done by Kaitlyn Langford.

Vampire:

I wanted to do a vampire for Halloween in 2022 and was inspired by Laura Bailey's version of Delilah Briarwood from Critical Role. I built the red bodice and bustle from a curtain I found at Goodwill. The skirt is made of corduroy. I wore it again for Halloween in 2023 but used a different skirt and pants because I wanted to be able to move more.

All Graveyard Photography was done by Lily Tacke.

Snow White Coats (Once Upon A Time):

I built two Snow White from Once Upon A Time inspired coats for my younger cousin and I. I used a pattern, although I adjusted it as needed. I decided to stray from the pattern and add grommets and lacing to the sleeves to add detail.

All Professional Photography was done by Karen Smith Photographer

Jedi Costumes:

I built Rey's costume from The Rise of Skywalker. I draped and built the shirt, sheer over piece and the bracers and upper arm band. I built the knee pads and added them to an existing pair of white capris.

I designed and built my costume as a Jedi Master for the Star Wars Day at the daycare I formerly worked for. As well as working on pieces for my Jedi Apprentice's costume. I was a Jedi there for three years and my costume has changed slightly each year. The third year I rebuilt the Rey wrist band from a new pattern and used the older green Rebel jacket I had made, the rest was bought.

The second year I wore a brown dress and high finger-less gloves that I built. I also built the Rey belt and Rey wrist band from a pattern I made by looking at research photos. In the comicon and later photos I added the official Rey belt from the Last Jedi to this and built a grey Jedi vest to go with it. The vest shoulders were an experiment where I played with using heavy cord stitched between the layers to make an upraised design on it.

The first year, I built the green jacket from altering an existing pattern and a lighter green shirt to go with it using the same methods.

All Professional Photos by: Karen Smith Photography

Super Hero Costumes:

I originally built this Wonder Woman costumes for Halloween one year, that my friend also wore it to comic-con. I did this by taking red leather strips, cutting them like Diana's in the movie, and sewing them to a plain corset base. I then made and attached the skirt, belt, and gold trim at the top of the corset. I painted them to add detail. I also made the bracers, arm band, boot covers, and belt pieces that hold her lasso.

I also made the Starfire costume for comicon. I built the boot covers, skirt, top, bracers, and chest piece. The wig and green jewels were bought.

I bought a 3D printed Wanda Maximoff Tiara that required me to sand, heat-shape, and paint it so that I could recreate some Wanda Artwork I saw online.

All Professional Photos by: Karen Smith Photography

Ciri (The Witcher):

I went to comic con as Ciri last year, I built the leather corset from real leather and patterned it myself. I restyled my Daenerys wig. I dyed the shirt to be the color of hers from the show.

Emma Swan (Once Upon A Time):

The first cosplay I ever made was this vest for Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time that I wore to a Ren Faire. I built the vest and dyed the fabric to match the color.