Kitsune

What got you into cosplay?
I've had the inkling for it since I was born, really. My mother is the original Washing Well Wench, Daphne Woo-Hoo, for any fellow Renni-dorks. Since I was young, I've had a costume cabinet instead of cardboard costume boxes. I learned how to thrift decent costumes early because of it, and I would have at least two new costumes for the renaissance festivals each year. I became a costume junkie at a very young age. Even before elementary school, I got into anime. In those years, I'd sometimes dress up like a character I'd make for different series and wear it to (middle) school. (Don't worry, I grew out of that stage young!) I didn't know that people dressed up as anime characters on a large scale at that time. Early middle school, my grandmother made my first costume, Saint Tail, for a birthday party. Afterwards, I thrifted a Koto costume for a friend's birthday party, and afterwards an original Saint Tail design (Santa Tail) for a Christmas party. It was soon after that my friends discovered conventions, and we were soon hooked. Any reason to dress for something besides parties, Halloween, and ren-fests was a good excuse for me.
What was your first costume and why?
My very first costumes were all renaissance festival costumes, from gypsies and pirates to catgirls and fox-fae-folk. I was also very big on Halloween each year, my mother helping me construct costumes very elaborate for my age. The two that stand out most in my mind were a centaur archer and a dragon rider, both heavily laden with fabric-covered cardboard. My first cosplay costume was Saint Tail. I suppose I could almost consider my Pokemon Trainer costume as a cosplay costume... but that was closet cosplaying to the max. My Saint Tail costume was made for my fifteenth birthday party, which was Asian Adventure themed (my mother threw the best parties ever, including a lot of LARPing before any of us realized we were, well, LARPing). I still use the top pieces and hat, which are now nearly six years old, but have long since retired my felt skirt in favor of a new taffeta skirt with a much longer hem. This was back when I was first getting into anime past Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Digimon, DragonBall Z, CardCaptor Sakura, Monster Rancher... and all those wonderful shows my generation started with. My very first manga series was Saint Tail, and I loved the costume designs at first look and would not leave my Gramma alone until she made it.
What is your favorite costume and why?
I used to think my favorite was Amano!Dream, because it is so elaborate and I spent so much time on it. And, in a way, I think I like photos of that costume the best. However, I get so bogged down in that costume that it just isn't fun to be in, so I can no longer claim it as a favorite costume. It photographs well, but really wears me down and it's the only costume I can't wear for more than six hours or so without getting really sick. So, I have decided now that my favorite has to be one that I feel comfortable been, feel cool in, and enjoy photos of. This does include several of my costumes, including Reno, Saint Tail, and Kabuto. But I think this has to go to my (as of typing this) Gambit. Though it's a killer on my eyes (thick sclera contacts aren't very comfortable), it's very easy to get into character to pose for photographs, and it's pretty comfortable so long as I have a fan of sorts or the time to get the jacket off. And he's one of the characters I just like so much that I just love having the chance to run around attempting to look like him. :3
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
So, so many. Many costumes I do these days are to add to other groups, but there's a few groups I'd love to organize. Some of these include Interstella 5555 (I'm stuck between Stella and Shep), Fushigi Yugi (I want to try so many costumes from this series, it's not even funny), and Boogiepop Phantom (I've been wanting to try anime Boogiepop since way before I did the (much easier) live action film version). I'm also striving to put together a ReBoot group, because I've been itching to do Mouse (first outfit), Dot (Underseas Adventure (AndrAIa intro episode) reboot), and Hexadecimal (either first or second outfit). If I can get one of those costumes done, I'll be an insanely happy fangirl. My dream costume insomuch that I want to do it but it probably won't happen for a long time is Jarlaxle from The Dark Elf Trilogy - but that's a bald male drow with a short open vest, so I have a long way until that happens. -Or, maybe not so far. If all goes right, I might be attempting this cosplay for Megacon 2010.
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
Metrocon, over and over again. I always have so much fun performing and running panels at Metrocon. My favorites so far have been in chess match, Fantasy Masquerade, and the Metro Chunin Exam panel. In 2006, I played Reno in the Chess Match and Fantasy Masquerade. Reno still has to be my favorite role to play, especially when I have a bottle of Mako Draft (I still swear it's just water, guys! XD) in hand. Metrocon's chess match remains very, very important to me; my father participated in Renaissance Combat Chess Matches, and I feel like I get to follow in his footsteps in a slightly different venue. I love the cast each and every year. And I'm starting to go off-topic. <3 Suffice to say, Metrocon Chess sums up my most memorable experiences every year. But the Metro Chunin Exam? That was pretty awesome, too. I played Kabuto for it (one of two villains against, like, twenty good guys), and we all just had an absolute blast. A little bit scavenger hunt and a lot of silly antics, the Chunin Exam seemed to be a hit for both the performers and the attendees.
Do you participate in masquerades?
I'm honestly not a big fan of masquerades. I've entered a couple, usually as part of a group, but I don't like competing all that much. I'll always tag along to fill a slot in a group, but I've only entered solo a very small number of times.
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
So far, my Clow Card costumes keep getting all the recognition. XD The Clow Card group I entered with at Janicon 2007 won the Judge's Choice for Best Group, while the Clow Card group I entered with at EXPcon 2008 won Best Attention to Detail.
Tell us a little about yourself
I am a Junior at University of South Florida, currently studying for a Creative Writing degree. I'm also in the Honors College, which offers some great classes I wouldn't normally take. I plan to teach English in high school until (if at all) I can establish a writing career. I'm also a part-timer at Waldenbooks and take care of the house and my little cousins when I'm actually at home. I live with my grandmother, who teaches me to sew and helps me with my costumes; my mom lives in California with my stepfather and my dad lives in Sarasota with my stepmother, so I have a pretty big and spread out family. When my life isn't consumed by school, work, housekeeping, and family, I'm either working on cosplays or panels for conventions. My friends and I plan and run several character-interaction and gameshow panels, including Whose Line Is It Anime?, Metro Chunin Exams, Meet the Digidestined, and Saiyuki fan-panels, with some new additions to the lineup this year. I've also been involved with the Metrocon Anime Human Combat Chess Match for the past three years - hoping to make it four! As I mentioned before, it's a very important part of my life - and not in any geeky anime way, but because I truly love every member on the cast and it is an amazing opportunity to be a part of. When I'm not doing any of that, I'm writing and roleplaying. And when I'm not doing /anything/ else, I'm trying to sleep.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I write too much. I do apologize. XD