Aqua Pura.

Character: Eternal Neptune from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Seamstress/Model: Tess [cupcake-rufflebutt]
Photography: Donna Lleces
Location: Katsucon 2012

Construction Notes:
As I continue to wait patiently (okay, not-so-patiently, LOL) for Katsucon photoshoots to be posted, I thought I might upload another shot of my Eternal Neptune costume. I definitely would not have been nearly as successful with my first sailor fuku, had it not been for the support and advice of all the girls in my Eternals group. I started with a modified Green Pepper pattern for the leotard, which I constructed from matte stretch jersey. From there I added the bubble sleeves, adapted from a Snow White pattern, and the attached arm rolls. I also used a modified version of the Green Pepper circle skirt pattern for my skirts, which I chose to pleat as opposed to gather. Long before I even started on my costume, my group had settled on casa satin for the solid portions of the costume, but due to dye mishaps (because casa satin doesn't come in a shade remotely close to Neptune's colours in the manga/artbook) and a time crunch that prevented me from custom-ordering anything, I had to go with the closest thing I could find at my local Joanns -- a lovely blueish-green taffeta. (Inadvertently, I think taffeta worked to my benefit because it gave the skirt a much crisper flare. If I were to make another fuku in the future, I would use taffeta without hesitation!) At any rate, I was highly anal (perhaps to the point of lunacy) about matching the greens in my fabric and wig and I'm still amazed that it worked out so well, considering the wig (ordered from Arda) had not yet come in the mail when I went fabric shopping. All of the light green portions of the costume are actually three different fabrics layered together -- a shiny white organza, a matte green organza, and several layers of tulle -- in order to achieve the sheen, colour, and shape I wanted. The front bow was constructed from navy blue casa satin, though I may remake it in the future with taffeta for a sturdier look. The stars on my choker and waist (as well as the brooch, which is not visible here) were all cast by my group's Venus, BeckyTaka. She did a beautiful job and we got many compliments on them! Also purchased were the tiara (from Catzia), base gloves (from WeLoveColors), and boots (from Electrique Boutique). The mirror was an extremely exciting find on eBay. I've no idea if the auction's claims were factual (that it is a vintage mirror from the 1920s) but it is a NEARLY EXACT imitation of Neptune's own Deep Aqua Mirror -- so much so that I have to wonder if Takeuchi didn't own this mirror herself or use a picture of it as reference. I have seen one or two other Neptune cosplayers with what appears to be the same mirror I purchased, so I am truly curious as to any information on its origins! I did alter the back of the mirror to match the manga/artbook mirror (which is quite different from the one shown in the anime) and you can see the mirror's new backing in my previous Neptune upload. I think I've covered just about everything, though this brief write-up really doesn't summarize what a pain in the butt this costume was to recreate. I do believe, however, that the first fuku is always the most frustrating, and I can understand how my friends are so addicted to making these things -- once you've got the process down, it's cake!

Other Neptune Uploads:
[link] | NEPTUNE

Special Request:
Please no critiques/criticism; I'd like to keep this gallery happy! :3