Hokuto Sumeragi - Umbrella #1

Hokuto Sumeragi, Tokyo Babylon
by CLAMP

COSPLAY ID
CHARACTER Hokuto Sumeragi
SOURCE Tokyo Babylon Photographs artbook
COSTUME Umbrella costume

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COSTUME BREAKDOWN

• turquoise waterproof pointy newsboy hat
• turquoise turtleneck (or hicky)
• sky blue shirt
• turquoise gloves
• turquoise waterproof umbrella skirt with corset
• turquoise shorts or sky blue bloomers (not seen)
  
• turquoise waterproof overknee boots
• turquoise waterproof umbrella with blue world map

8 stacked witches hats

I've been trying to figure out how to make this skirt for years, after thinking about it and researching, I got good plan, and I also found out I can buy the turquoise waterproof fabric by meter online, and it's not expensive. Part of the structure, the umbrella ribs, were what was evading me, but then I thought of steel wire. But steel wire requires special tools to cut it, and I don't want to have to buy a cutter just for one costume, but then it occured to me that those cheap halloween witches hats have spring steel wire on the brim, so I got 8 of them, one for each rib.

The skirt's structure plan is, use the witches hats wire for the ribs, make a hoop from plastic boning, inspired by ballerina pancake tutus, that have a hoop to keep them straight, use the fabric shape to make the curve, and the corset will double as a ballerina basque, it will hold everything together, with reinforced seams, and all the works.

The other half of the illustration has Hokuto's twin brother Subaru, with his back turned to us, where we can see a fleur-de-lys yoke on his shirt, and the world map on the umbrella. I'm going to use those ideas for Hokuto's costume.

+ This costume is a really good challenge I'd like to face, and it shouldn't be very expensive, as most materials are on the cheap side.
- I'm not sure all this is going to work until I finish it.

THE CUNNING PLAN
I'm not planning on starting this one anytime soon, first I must finish the Mad Hatter costume and then Yuuko's Green Dress. Until I start, I'll do more research and think of a way to unfold the skirt to transport and store it.

[written in 1.12.2020]