I tried on this homemade Durandal swimsuit and took a few mirror photos to document this fitting stage. Many peers in the community say that cosplayers eventually end up on the path of self-reliance; I used to take it as a joke, but I never expected it to actually come true.
Since I decided to cosplay this swimsuit, I simply took matters into my own hands to make it. Initially, the hardest part was sourcing fabrics and pattern drafting. The design looks very simple, but making it fit the body snugly while preserving that light, agile feeling of the original design truly tests one's understanding of fabric properties. The halter-neck top sets high demands on neck and shoulder lines; the white bow at the neckline spliced with the dark blue lining follows the classic Durandal colorway. To ensure it didn't look bulky when worn, I deliberated for a long time over the lining and fabric choices, finally selecting a material with crisp structure that doesn't irritate the skin.
The straw hat and those blue fabric floral decorations were also painstakingly attached by hand. The white waist drape paired with dark skinny straps, plus that light blue ribbon leg-wrap accent, brought out the overall layering instantly. Compared to spending hundreds or thousands on ready-made convention costumes, making a Homemade cosplay costume takes much more time and often requires ripping out crooked seams to start over. But the moment this Anime-style swimsuit takes shape in your own hands and you put it on, that custom-tailored fit and profound sense of self-achievement are things money simply cannot buy.
When taking these two photos, I was just trying it on in my bedroom, casually blocking my face with my phone to record the fit. Draping the light blue sheer wrap over my arm, whether standing or resting hands on hips, nicely accentuates the waistline and upper-body silhouette. This kind of mirror selfie in Casual cosplay allows me to see the overall contour while making timely adjustments where anything doesn't fit quite right. After all, when shooting at the beach, lighting and posing are essential; finding the right angles in the mirror ahead of time and familiarizing myself with how the fabric pulls during different movements will be extremely helpful for the upcoming formal photoshoot.
Although there's still a bit of a wait before heading to the actual summer seaside, I can't resist brainstorming outdoor compositions already. Sunshine, sand, and ocean breeze—this blue-and-white Anime-style swimsuit paired with a straw hat naturally exudes a refreshing summer vibe. Of course, as a cosplayer used to doing things DIY, I'll definitely carry a sewing kit and small scissors in case of strong beach winds or unexpected snags.
This experience of creating a Homemade cosplay costume made me realize that a great work isn't just about buying ready-made outfits; it's about the wearer's attention to detail and grasp of the character's persona. While making costumes is tiring, seeing your hard work materialize into a tangible garment brings a sense of accomplishment that is truly irreplaceable in this Durandal cosplay journey from Honkai Impact 3rd.