Costume completed - May 2, 2004
Version 2 completed - March 2008

I've wanted to have this dress for years since the time I played FF8 and before I knew about cosplay. The ballroom scene is one of favorites from the game.

Dress - This was my first dress I ever made. I bought a Mc Calls pattern 3958 pattern and altered the bottom half. I sewed the chiffon to the top part and sides. I used a one inch wide ribbon that closely matched the dress color. Though I used the non-shiny side of it on top. I sewed this to the top around the dress and used velcro to attach in the back. On my second version, I used a longer neck piece that I tied in the back.

Shoes - The shoes were the hardest part of the costume and were really painful on my first version. I walked like a sort of tin man in them. They were the most closest matched pair of shoes that I could find at a thrift store. I painted the shoe in a ivory color and took pieces of fake leather strapping, painted them an arranged them to match how Rinoa had hers. Small bits of velcro were used to close the straps around the ankle. On my second version I used the same method, but I did a better job on the straps so that I could walk approriately.  

Accessories - After studying the dance scene, I noticed something shiny on her wrist. I used a simple silver bracelet for that and the chain and ring that came with the FFVIII Rinoa necklace set.

Total spent - $46.40. The material I used for the dress was a little pricy. It would have been half the cost if didn't have to remake the dress twice on my first version.

Progress photos

Completed photos

5-8-04

9-1-08

Photo credits - Ninja_Kurai