Avatar Kyoshi

Only justice can bring peace.
Picture
Erik Blume Photography
Source
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Premiered
Philadelphia Wizard World 2014
Creation Time
6 months
I've been an Avatar: the Last Airbender fan since high school. I watched most of it live (although living at two houses with cable at only one made that somewhat difficult). I think it is one of the most incredible shows to have ever existed; it remains light-hearted while tackling heavy concepts. The characters are real, relatable, and their struggles are incredible to watch.
​
Kyoshi is, well, a badass. She wears an awesome kimono, an ornate headdress, and a full face of makeup and can destroy anyone she comes across with her deadly fans. She trained the Dai Li, for heaven's sake.

And, of course, Jennifer Hale brings her all together in a bundle of pure badass.
construction notes
  • Clothing
    This is a complicated-looking costume with very simple construction. There are four layers; in order of dressing, undershirt, underskirt, overskirt, hayori/kimono thing.

    The undershirt is a tank top sewn to rectangular sleeves made of a light, breezy fabric I stumbled across one day. The sleeves are gathered underneath the bracers of the costume.

    The underskirt is a green suede in a wrap style to allow for easy movement.

    The overskirt is a kelly green silk shantung from the Philadelphia fashion district, basically two "leaves" and not even a full skirt.

    The kimono/hayori/whatever is an olive ribbon taffeta from OnlineFabricStore.net and trimmed in a forest green satin. I drafted the pattern myself!
    ​
    The obi is more green satin with craft foam added for a more rigid front panel (this was before I knew about interfacing!)
  • Armor
    All armor is made of craft foam. The headdress is made of 2mm craft foam, reinforced with fabric, sealed with mod podge, and decorated with puffy paint and painted gold. The danglies are gold cord from JoAnn attached to tassels made from bundles of embroidery thread. It ties around the head with more green satin.

    The bracers are 3mm brown craft foam, backed with green suede for stability and adorned with Chinese lucky coins and gold detailed lettering that reads "Only justice can bring peace." They lace up with leather cord.

  • Accessories
    - The fans were created from paint stirring sticks, cardboard, golden paint, and a lot of patience.
    - The white makeup is a cream-based makeup (Ben Nye or Mehron) and sealed with baby powder.
    - Gloves and boots are from my closet.

Awards & Features
ABC News (uncredited) - October 2016
Mashable.com (uncredited) - October 2016
GeekxGirls Gallery - October 2016
Fashionably Geek - August 2016
Up & Coming Cosplay (Admin's Choice) - September 2016
Yahoo! News (uncredited) - October 2015
Extras
‹‹ Queen Regina