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Here goes: URBOSA BUILD THREAD! I am not strong and have never had abs, but I will not let my dreams be dreams.
I will also NOT have abs for this. I don’t exercise!!!!! I hate it!!! I get bored!!! I try to stay active/healthy by DOING THINGS but I won’t “exercise”!!!
Current mock-up for the skirt and top! I wanted to create a really elegant drape with the champion fabric, so I opted for a half circle skirt!
Lighting isn’t great but the top/armor/shoes fabric is here!
Some lovely Via Spiga heels that I found at the goodwill after two days of trying heels on like a fool. Decided to go with these because they’re real leather, and have a lower heel. And I do t even have to break them in!
I loooove finding real leather shoes at the thrift store!! It feels wasteful to buy them new if I’m just gonna cover them, and it makes them 10000x more comfortable.
Hit a bit of a roadblock with this costume. I was experimenting on the construction of the top, and although the final product would have looked fine, it was extremely uncomfortable and hard to put on.
Honestly, I’m no stranger to discomfort, but since it’s over my chest, I don’t want to exacerbate my asthma. Back to the drawing board!
The skirt but flat ahaha
Inner faced, mapped out, and applied a lot of the skirt last night! I don’t fuss too much with clean edges for appliqué, especially if I’m doing a pretty wide stitch. I used a textured crepe satin for the details, and peace silk dupioni for the skirt!
I tend to do contrasting textures/sheens with appliqué work! I feel like it adds dimension to flat designs, and brings them into the real world more... gracefully haha.
This is a pucker-free zone 
tricot stabilizer for the fabric (thank you @JinDjinnsStudio !!) lightweight stabilizer under the details, tear away stabilized for the machine 
tricot stabilizer for the fabric (thank you @JinDjinnsStudio !!) lightweight stabilizer under the details, tear away stabilized for the machine
Almost a year later buuut
Okay so... over a year ago I finished this top, but I was so discouraged after the satin thread started puckering and waving on the thicker areas. Gutterman and Sulky embroidery thread are not great for NON embroidery machines. It was difficult handle and looked bad lol.
Most of the top is covered by the gold pieces, so I could realistically use this top, but I don’t make costumes just so I can hate how they look lmao.
In contrast, Coats and Clark is more versatile in standard machines. Left is Gutterman, right is C&C. I had so much more control over spacing and thickness in the right photo.
Ripped the old appliqué out and placing new pieces. I got rid of the faux dupioni and switched to my taffeta. The colors photograph soooo much better. Second pic is a color comparison. I kept the green base, because it has orange cross threads and ties the other colors together.
Gel pen for scale... used some of my doll clay for the tiny pieces and it takes detail work like a champ! I need to smooth and even them out still, but I’m happy with the size.
It has been 2 (two) years but I have finished ONE part of urbosa ... the waistband will be covered. Honestly the silk is so vibrant that I couldn’t find lining that even remotely matched. I just went with a nice turquoise to contrast the blue, since I don’t want silk lining.
Still haven’t added the triangles bc I haven’t decided how I want to add them haha.
Also I added the waistband but I’m going to remake it once all the accessories are finished bc I feel like everything will lay different
Some minor progress over the past couple weeks. I was brave and started the process of mapping out the gold pieces on the new top hahaha. Also started sectioning her hair out! I’m glad I waited because arda released a ponytail lacefront in the red I’m using!
Brass disk detail! Peep tiny triangle that I finally added. I interpreted this as a dangly belt piece and not attached to the skirt, so it’s removable. Also I don’t really wanna store my silk skirt with brass pieces on it lol
Replaced the nylon with braided embroidery thread. Full pic of the skirt w/ new details hopefully soon
Bruh I’m really.... trying to stay motivated on this I swear
Lowkey I got worse at sewing and sculpting I don’t know what happened DONT @ ME
I’m back to the drawing board yet again on the top so I’m going to ... not look at it. 
Ok... now the skirt is done minus closures. I replaced the lining with a silk cotton blend and decided to stitch the triangle details rather than a raised design. The disks are brass and attach to hooks with braided thread. I’m shocked the colors match. Also stabilized waistband.
Here is the new lining!! last pic is the old lining compared to the new. I asked the seller if they sold cotton or satin that matched the outer fabric and they happened to have this. It cost the same as the dupioni but it was worth it. The old color photographed too green.
I didn’t want to bug the store but I don’t like self-lining and has bought like 5 other swatches and none of them worked lol
Ordered leather for the green portion. The shantung was too thin and even with interfacing wasn’t working. Since I was using dupioni as well, it was too much of the same texture IMO.
I found a way better shoe for under 10.00 on poshmark and this is waaay closer to the shape I need! I decided to make a photoshoot shoe out of this and use an old pair of wedges for conventions so I don’t break both ankles (If I have enough leather)
Goddd this thread is getting long lmfaoo. I don’t usually struggle this much hahah.
