I’m a little miffed right now because I was planning to attend a steampunk festival on the weekend and my truck decided to do strange things. I love steampunk costumes, but never really thought about attending a festival and certainly never entertained the idea that I’d participate in any way. But I find myself quite disappointed and think that with my love of all things historical, making a steampunk costume might be a fun way to sew a historical costume that allows some very creative latitude. Steampunk fashion draws on the clothing worn during the age of steam, a period of about one hundred years both in the United Kingdom and the cowboy-frontier era in the west. But the age of steam was still very much the age of the horse. Which of course has me thinking, how can I fit a horse in here? I suppose some futuristic gizmos on a saddle and other gear could be incorporated. Some imaginative brainstorming is in order here!
But, steampunk isn’t the only cosplay opportunity out there. Cosplay is probably most commonly associated with anime. But the stories that anime characters are based on don’t usually ride horses. There are a few exceptions, however. Cowboy America seems a good fit for your anime cosplay. The costume is relatively simple; chaps, cowboy hat, vest and big blue eyes for the rider, regular cowboy style tack on the horse.
Attack on Titan is a manga about three characters that defend their home planet from gruesome humanoid, human eating monsters. Some of the characters, male and female, ride horses. A green elbow length cape, over-the-knee boots, and a short, brown military style jacket is the basis for this costume. There is, of course, some weaponry used to hack down the villains. The horses wear complicated looking breast collars along with packs to hold weapons and supplies.
One of the most popular anime characters that rides a horse is Malon from the Zelda series. Malon’s horse is named Epona. Epona was born on Lon Lon Ranch and trusted only Malon. Eventually, by playing Epona’s Song on his ocarina, a character named Link rides Epona. Epona wears western-like tack with a bright saddle cloth. Link’s costume consists of a tunic, brown knee-high boots, elbow high gloves, futuristic long bows and swords for weapons and an engraved shield. Epona is often ridden without a bridle and reins. Other anime series that feature horses and are inspiration for cosplay are Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon), Pokemon, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Walkure Romanze and Legend of Basara.
If you’re a Disney fan you have lots of horses to choose from as a basis for your cosplay. Frozen, Aladdin, Mulan, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story and Cinderella are just a few movies with Disney horses. Non-Disney movies and series to draw ideas from might be Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and Outlander.
Of course, cosplay doesn’t have to be anime or movie based. A photographer near me produced a wonderful calendar featuring unicorns with fairies, elves, and other forest folks. What a great idea for a club fundraiser. Choose your favorite historical era, science fiction or fantasy theme and have fun
As to my own cosplay costume. It will be a work in progress for a long time. I am the queen of unfinished projects. But with a long winter ahead, I might be ready by next summer.
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Steampunk isn’t the only cosplay opportunity out there. Cosplay is probably most commonly associated with anime. But the stories that anime characters are based on don’t usually ride horses. There are a few exceptions, however. Co ...
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