Frieren NYCC 2025
Where to start with a project like this? I spent the majority of 2025 working on this cosplay. It was my first big competition piece and I wanted to do it right. This was also my first time putting together a Build Book for the judges so I luckily have all of the information already laid out and ready to be morphed into a blog post. I’ll spare you the full 18 pages but I’d like to highlight some of my favorite elements of this cosplay.
The design process was extensive. I wanted to borrow elements from many of my favorite periods of fashion history while remaining cohesive. Historical costuming is the passion that got me interested in cosplay in the first place; it is integral to my personal style.
Frieren’s character design is simple in terms of silhouette. My first big decision was in regards to the underpinnings that would provide shape and structure for the more visible elements of the outfit. Frieren’s body type is much more androgynous than my own so I wanted a type of corset that would shape my curves into straight lines. I opted for the “1760 silk brocade corset” from Stays & Corsets vol 2 by Mandy Barrington. The front is fully boned to create a rigid, almost armorlike plane down the front of the chest. I added several tabs along the bottom of the corset to help support and distribute the weight of the skirts that would be worn on top.
I’d like to clarify that when I talk about a corset changing the shape of my body, it is not about changing my size or trying to be skinny. I firmly believe that cosplay is for everyone and that anyone who wants to cosplay should be celebrated for doing so. I am not shaped like most of the characters that I cosplay. That does not mean that I am wrong or bad or ugly or any of those rude comments that are sometimes thrown around in the cosplay community. I do, however, find joy in the challenge of figuring out how to evoke elements of a character’s size, shape, or art style in the structure of my cosplay. Sometimes this means adding platforms to my shoes if the character is taller than I am (Frieren is shorter so there wasn’t much I could do about that). Sometimes it means adding padding in places to emphasize curves. For me, it’s a fun challenge. That being said, I do not want my design choices to imply that people need to change their bodies in order to cosplay who they want to cosplay.
The embroidery was where I got to go wild and get creative. I wanted the full cosplay to look very screen accurate from a distance, but with a whole world of subtle details when you got close. I used my embroidery machine for the white-on-white skirt panels. The gold-on-gold along the hem is all Elizabethan freehand embroidery. The pale blue blackwork on the linen choker is also done by hand.
Frieren is very close to my heart. I relate to her on so many complicated levels. We don’t need to go into the psychology of that here as it would likely be concerning and take attention away from the craftsmanship. As I am sure most cosplayers will agree, it is this deep and complicated connection to a character that fuels us and allows us to pour our heart and soul into a project. Although I did not place in the 2025 Cosplay Central Crown Championship at NYCC this time around, I am proud of my work and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Waiting backstage with the other cosplayers was absolutely wonderful. Being able to nerd out about our craft and fandoms together was such a beautiful experience and I look forward to doing it again and again.
NYCC stage photo taken by Cody Jabroni