*Oto no Pretear*
Shin Shirayuki Hime Densetsu Pretear
Worn at: Anime Expo 2002, Halloween 2002, Katsucon 9, Ani-Magic 2004
Chara Info: Himeno is a spunky first-year high school student. Her father has just remarried, coincidentally to the wealthiest woman in the town. Himeno now lives in a huge mansion with her father, stepmother, and two stepsisters. She is also the Legendary Princess Pretear. It's mahou shoujo--you all know the rest :P.
Why Her?: Because I'm OBSESSED with this series!!!! Plus I love Himeno. As for this particular costume--purple is my second-favorite color. Oto no Pretear is also Sasame's Pretear, my favorite Leafe Knight ^_^. This outfit is also a challenge to my sewing skills, because you're not just going to walk into Hancock's and find a pattern for that top :P.
The Story: This is by far the most complicated costume I've made to date. Sit tight, coz this is going to be a long one :P.
(BTW, I mixed elements of the manga-style outfit (seen above) with the anime-style, which you can see here and here. I couldn't decide which version I liked best!)
I first picked up fabric for the top and skirts in early February. I figured many, many layers of tulle on each skirt would give it the needed poof. It wasn't even CLOSE, so I decided I needed a petticoat. The problem is, a new petticoat in violet would have set me back $50 O_o. So I ended up finding a white one at a garage sale for $5. I was going to attempt to dye it purple, but I figured I could use it for other stuff if I left it white XD.
But the skirt STILL wasn't as poofy as I wanted. So I sewed some thick wire into the hem of the underskirt and tried again. It's still not defying gravity but it doesn't look bad now. So I left it.
Next came the bodice. I searched for months for a suitable pattern, but found nothing remotely to what I needed. So I took my measurements and did the best that I could. The neckline is a little higher than it should be, but that's easily fixed.
The shoes were some white pumps I found at the thrift store. I painted them with lavendar acrylic paint, and glued on the ribbon at the top with Tacky Glue. I think this method of painting shoes works very well as long as you don't step in anything moist. I stepped in some grass and it took the paint from the heels right off ^^;;.
The ornaments on the headband were sculpted from white Model Magic, and painted with metallic blue and gold acrylic. The headband was one I already had, painted gold. I also glued red rhinestones to the entire headband, another manga incorporation.
The gloves were bought at Party City, but the ruffle was sewn on by me. The hand ornaments are styrofoam shapes, and painted with metallic violet acrylic. Unfortunately, I got clear fansubs only AFTER I finished the costume, so I had to repaint these red after Anime Expo :P.
The wig. . .^^;;. I ordered a wig online, but it didn't come in time. So I ran around town, found the cheapest wig I could find in a decent color (although it was too dark ~~;;) and hoped to higher powers I would be able to style it. No luck -- the wig, being so cheap, was such a mess. So, knowing I wouldn't be recognized anyway, I wore the costume without the wig at AX.
However, it was complete for Halloween 2002 and Katsucon 2003!
I brought this out of the closet for Ani-Magic 2004. This time I didn't use that nappy old Himeno wig. I have a black Takako wig I'm going to use for Light Pretear, so I decided to wear it with Sound Pretear one last time. After all, it *is* most appropriate for Takako to be in the Sound pret, right? ^_- It was fun wearing this costume again. I forgot how fun it is to be a big puffball XD.
Pictures
