Utena – Revolutionary Girl Utena

Made for: MTAC 2001

Background: I looove Utena, one of my favourite animes, and Utena was originally going to be my “first” costume for Halloween 1999 (until I got Final Fantasy 8 for my birthday and had to be Quistis instead). So it was only a matter of time before I got around to making the costume.

Journal Entries: Read more at my Utena tag

Related Costumes: Utena 2007, Utena 2022, Artbook Utena, Nanami

Patterns Used:
KwikSew 2454

Jacket:

I decided to go with the blue jacket instead of the anime black. I found some blue suede and used a pattern to make the jacket. I added all the red ribbon trim and yellow buttons, added fake pockets and cuffs. The rose “holder” I made of sculpey, and sewed the fake rose to it. The “skirt” underneath the jacket is layers of organza, gathered at the top and attached to the jacket.

Shoulder Pieces:

The hardest thing for me about this was making the shoulder pieces – it went through several incarnations before it got to this, and I still wasn’t happy with it. I started with wooden discs painted yellow, then put half of a styrofoam ball on each and covered it in friendly plastic, then painted it and glued on the tassels. My trust issues with sticky-back velcro came from this costume – when it constantly failed to hold the shoulder pieces in place. Sew-on only from here on out!

Wig:

The wig I bought online. I cut it, and heat-curled the hair on the side of the face.

Accessories:

The shoes I bought, and added the white “spats” out of white cotton, and the red ribbon bows. I had bought the ring a while back, and the socks and shorts I also bought.

History:

I finally remade this in 2007, though I was never all that happy with that version, so I made it again in 2022!

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Please note that none of these costumes are for sale! This is my personal portfolio.