After Seung Mina, I really wanted another chance to work with silks and brocades, especially since the Nemu and Tenten costumes had been so simple. Diao Chan from Dynasty Warriors 3 was a great way to scratch that itch, and it gave me my first (and possibly LAST) experience with wig design. Diao Chan's dress and sleeves are made from charmeuse, which is rich-looking without being overly shiny. One of my cosplay pet peeves is the "Halloween costume" effect, where most of the outfit is made from brilliantly shiny baroque satin. Baroque satin is inexpensive and comes in a wealth of colors, but it looks out of place most of the time. The skirt is made from the very last of a bolt of a shocking pink dupioni silk - it made my eyes tired to look at it! Again, I do not have the artistic skill to paint or embroider designs onto Diao Chan's dress and sash, so I relied on rich fabric instead. The sash is made of a rayon brocade from Thai Silks, edged with a strip of the same silk that makes the skirt. The skirt is sewn into the edges of the sash, and the front is fastened with Velcro. The whole contraption was cockeyed by the time I got done with it, but with time running out, it got a "good enough." |
