Debuted at Anime Boston 2011
What a fun and comfortable costume! I started with a and old nightgown pattern because it was yoked, and I have never made a yoke before this costume. It was not difficult. The dress is 100% cotton and breaths wonderfully. I had a little trouble finding the right color blue, but I was diligent. I gathered the dress in at the waist and made two matching belts to go over the gathers. The belts are not clearly shown in the photos though because the apron covers it. However I wanted the dress to look perfectly finished with or without the apron.
I used a scalloped eyelet trim around the collar, as well as a matching scalloped eyelet linen for the apron. This apron came in super handy all weekend. I used it to shield the dress from crumbs, keep my friend’s legs warm, and I held it over my head in the rain! Also, when the bathroom was out of paper towels, I had a functioning apron right there around my waist to use! Hurray!
I even made bloomers and a slip to go under my dress. The bloomers were super comfortable and I plan to use them again under future costumes.
The boots I got from a discount store, brand-new. I love them. With inserts they are super comfortable, and they’re actually in style….whoa.
I bought the wig off of ebay. It is not the highest quality that I’ve ever bought but with a little conditioning and styling it looked great! I cut and styled the wig myself. The clips in the back that hold the wig tight on my head actually broke on the first day of of the con, oops, but fortunately I had secured it with enough pins that it didn’t make a difference. Hey, at least I saved money on the wig, right?
This costume was extremely well received. I was cosplaying in a large Howl’s Moving Castle group and we had about 2500 pictures taken of us in two days. I had a blast, and I was so comfortable all day. It was like being in pajamas. I wasn’t too hot or cold and I could move. It makes me want to do more comfortable, plausibly designed cosplays in the future.
Related Blog Posts:
https://shaunartcosplay.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/howls-moving-castle-photoshoot-with-thebigtog/
https://shaunartcosplay.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/anime-boston-2011-review/
https://shaunartcosplay.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/howls-necklace/
https://shaunartcosplay.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/howls-moving-castle-accessories/
https://shaunartcosplay.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/finished-sophie-set-to-debut-at-anime-boston/
[…] I have finally updated the page for my Sophie costume! It now has a costume description and pictures!! Though there are more pictures to come soon. I’m waiting to get photos back from our super cool photoshoot. When I have those pictures I will be sure to post them right away. But in the mean time, go see the new page! […]
[…] I have finally updated the page for my Sophie costume! It now has a costume description and pictures!! Though there are more pictures to come soon. I’m waiting to get photos back from our super cool photoshoot. When I have those pictures I will be sure to post them right away. But in the mean time, go see the new page! […]
[…] To see more on my Sophie costume, visit the page! […]
[…] To see more on my Sophie costume, visit the page! […]
my roommates and I were watching that movie tonight and I showed them your awesome cosplay! Great job, Shauna! it makes me want to sew more. 😀
<3! Yay. Glad you like it.
This is quite amazing!! I’m so impressed!!!!!! I am in need of a Sophie costume myself and am thinking about making it…would you mind terribly telling me where you found the pattern you used?
I found my pattern at Joann fabrics. It was a nightgown with a yoke. The yoke was the most important part for me to find in a pattern, the rest of the dress I drafted pretty much myself. I used the pattern mostly for reference on how much fabric I would need, and putting the yoke together.
I would love to cosplay as Sophie. Is there anyway i could get that pattern you used? And any advice on making this costume would be great.
The pattern I used was MCcalls 5099
Hi! I love this cosplay, and it I have an old yoked nightgown pattern that I bought for two dollars lying around, so I’m definitely going to make it! My I ask how you gathered the skirt? Did you separate the pattern into bodice and skirt and gather both in?
Nice job! How do you get in and out–is it just loose enough to slip over your head?
Yes, the collar unbuttons to become wide enough to fit over my head.
Hello, my name is Anika and I am from Germany.
I really love your cosplay version of Sophie, it’s impressive
and looks exactly like the original. Is there a possibility that
you might tell me in detail how you have sewed the whole dress?
I want to try to make it by myself.
Thanks in advance. : )
Can I like buy this from you having hard time making this
I can sell it to you but I can’t let the original go for cheap. An affordable option for you may be to commission me to make you your own. Email me for details!
I enjoy this cosplay alot. Only minor critique i would keep in mind if you did this again would be that you have sophies hair short and silver while howls is blonde and turniphead is still in his scarecrow form. When sophie is young but still with gray hair howl has already had the hair dye incident that turns his hair black. At that.point her hair is still long though, immediately after it is cut short turniphead is kissed and turned back into a prince. Just a minor lapse in timing appropriation.
Hello! The info on your Sophie cosplay is amazing and so helpful! Thanks so much. I just had one question. I really like the color and shine of your wig and was wondering if you can tell me where you got it if you don’t mind. Thanks and sorry for the trouble!
Hi Eva,
I believe that I got this wig off of ebay! It was many many years ago, so I don’t remember which seller. It came from China (Order at least 1 month in advance), and is made of kanekalon fibers.
Awesome! Thanks so much for the super quick response!!! I really appreciate it:D Is there any way it’s possibly still in your previous order history on ebay? Again I’m sorry for the trouble and for prying so much> <
I actually check already, and it’s not. It was far too many years ago to still be in my history. Even if it was, that seller might not even be around anymore. Sorry.
No thats okay! Thanks so much for checking! Thanks for the help:)
Hi I’m Nicco from the Philippines,
Before anything else, I’d just like to say that you and your cosgroupmates are awesome! And on to the reason which led me here:
A friend of mine was asking me if I knew anyone that could make Sophie’s dress and a 1920’s inspired outfit for her. While I’m not that confident in my abilities (and thus directed her to people whose abilities I’m confident with), I decided to look for reference photos of Sophie’s dress anyway. I want to try my hand at making the dress myself, for experience and for my girlfriend who wants me to cosplay as Howl.
I’m quite new to dressmaking, only started out in April of this year (I think it was April).
Regarding Sophie’s dress, how do I determine the number of pleats present and would it be possible to see the waist of the dress?
Thanks,
Nicco
Hi Nicco,
I didn’t do any pleating with this dress. The bust is gathered onto the yoke, and the waist is large and baggy un-cinched. I cinch the waist with an internal draw-string and matching blue belt.