In keeping with the First Universal Law of Cosplay, ("Everyone's gotta do an Utena character at some point in their costuming career,") I created this little number. I also made it because I like big poofy dresses that make swooshing noises and which scare the crap out of people when you attempt to board elevators with them.

The hardest part of the costume to work out was the jacket part. I had to experiment with muslin mock-ups for several hundred years before I came up with a pattern which would dart correctly, yet allow for the tabs and skirt at the bottom. Once that was finished, everything else was easy. Except for the neck ornament, which I made from friendly plastic and wood. The skirt was especially difficult, as it had a gazillion yards of fabric and had to be cartridge-pleated in front. The shoulder ornaments I made using polystyrene balls and DMC embroidery floss, and the crown I made using 1/8" craft foam covered with gold foil. (Cheapo materials which came off looking pretty much like the real deal. )