Mew Ichigo Cat Maid Cosplay

It's been three wonderful months working on this costume for Alcon 2013, and I have finally finished it - in time, too!! It's based on Tokyo Mew Mew's Mew Ichigo when she is in cat maid form. This was a very important project for me, because I wanted to really put a lot of love and effort into a cosplay outfit. For years, I've wanted to cosplay as Ichigo Momomiya but I've never been able to find the time to do it or have anywhere to wear it to.

I'll be working in the cosplay cafe, so I think it's very appropriate that I'm a cat maid. The whole outfit is made from cotton. There is no satin anywhere - all ribbons, neck, tail, apron, bloomers, were made by me in the same pink cotton used in other places on the dress. I did a lot of research before starting this outfit, and I debated whether to have satin ribbons or not, but I thought that the satin clashed with the cotton. And to have the whole dress made out of satin is silly because it isn't shiny in the anime/manga. It had to be cotton.

I didn't make the cat ears or the cat tail, because there are some things I just can't make, like shoes or socks or the bell. I bought them from Etsy. The pink ribbon on the tail has been lined with lovely interfacing to make it nice and stiff so it's gravity defying just like in the manga.

I am talking about the manga a lot, because that was my reference. I thought the manga was amazing and the anime was a bit odd. In fact, I read the manga when I was 16 and have only just finished the anime at 22.

But, that aside. There is a petticoat underneath the skirt to make the skirt really huge and puffy. I have taken some creative control over the outfit, but I have made it my priority to ensure that it is as close to the original design as possible. The skirt is approximately the same length as the top, just like the original. The size of the skirt and its pleats, and the sleeves are really huge, just like the original design. I even battled with myself over the apron which is my least favourite part because it's like a pillow in most pictures which is really weird, but I still had to do it. I've even got tiny strawberry earrings which I think are just the cutest!!!

This is one of my best pieces of work, and I'm really pleased with it (I especially love the Masha bag, kawaiiiiiiiiiiii). I hope it looks great at the convention!!