Topo - Brave Fencer Musashi
Why this costume:
Brave Fencer Musashi was one of those games....that though not many people know it was the love of my childhood. I got into this game by my brother. After watching him play it I instantly loved the gameplay, characters, and dialogue. My favorite part and character was Topo. When I played it on my own I gained even more love for her but what I remember best is always having to beat her as part of the last battle grind for my brother. I could beat something, he couldn't. It always stayed with me.
Details Construction:
The Ears
I tried to make them as big as her. I covered a head band in white fabric and using interfacing I made the ears in almost like a figure 8. Wrapping the center piece around the band. I just kind of followed the easiest process I knew, and one I learned as a child to make Mickey Mouse ears.
The Capelet
Made from light purple Kona cotton, I drafted the pattern myself. Having made previous capelets for other projects, I simply traced an older one and made it to the desired length. The brown straps were made of Leatherette that I top stitched and hand sewed onto one side. The other side closes with snaps to hold the capelet closed.
The Skirt
A simple box pleat skirt in dark purple Kona cotton. I measured out the pleats trying to keep them large like hers. I then hand sewed on the lace to the bottom of the skirt instead of the petticoat to ensure it could always be seen. I did this only through the inside lining so there were no seams on the outside. The waist band was then placed on and closes with a zipper and snap. I wore a petticoat under it to add the fullness.
The top
I simple shirt with long sleeves. I drew out and drafted the pattern again this time myself. The sleeves were done in the style of "Peasant Sleeve." So there was a cute little pucker to them on the top...just to add character to the otherwise boring inside top. Even though...you literally never see them. I then using white fabric measures and drew out the "cloud" like designs on her sleeves and using heat and bond attached them to the bottom. I then added further details with a combination of purple paint and stitching.
The Tail
A simple casting turned and then filled with polyfil. I then placed wire inside to make it pose able. It wasn't quite long enough and it is the thing I least liked about the costume, but I still had it! It attached around the waist with ribbon.
Brave Fencer Musashi was one of those games....that though not many people know it was the love of my childhood. I got into this game by my brother. After watching him play it I instantly loved the gameplay, characters, and dialogue. My favorite part and character was Topo. When I played it on my own I gained even more love for her but what I remember best is always having to beat her as part of the last battle grind for my brother. I could beat something, he couldn't. It always stayed with me.
Details Construction:
The Ears
I tried to make them as big as her. I covered a head band in white fabric and using interfacing I made the ears in almost like a figure 8. Wrapping the center piece around the band. I just kind of followed the easiest process I knew, and one I learned as a child to make Mickey Mouse ears.
The Capelet
Made from light purple Kona cotton, I drafted the pattern myself. Having made previous capelets for other projects, I simply traced an older one and made it to the desired length. The brown straps were made of Leatherette that I top stitched and hand sewed onto one side. The other side closes with snaps to hold the capelet closed.
The Skirt
A simple box pleat skirt in dark purple Kona cotton. I measured out the pleats trying to keep them large like hers. I then hand sewed on the lace to the bottom of the skirt instead of the petticoat to ensure it could always be seen. I did this only through the inside lining so there were no seams on the outside. The waist band was then placed on and closes with a zipper and snap. I wore a petticoat under it to add the fullness.
The top
I simple shirt with long sleeves. I drew out and drafted the pattern again this time myself. The sleeves were done in the style of "Peasant Sleeve." So there was a cute little pucker to them on the top...just to add character to the otherwise boring inside top. Even though...you literally never see them. I then using white fabric measures and drew out the "cloud" like designs on her sleeves and using heat and bond attached them to the bottom. I then added further details with a combination of purple paint and stitching.
The Tail
A simple casting turned and then filled with polyfil. I then placed wire inside to make it pose able. It wasn't quite long enough and it is the thing I least liked about the costume, but I still had it! It attached around the waist with ribbon.
