The Kushiel's Legacy series is one of my absolute favorite stories ever. Phedre no Delauney de Montreve--trained as both a courtesan and a spy--is brilliant, sensual, and 100% honest with herself. I don't think I've ever been in love with a story the way I am with Phedre's. (The author does a fabulous job of breathing life into her characters, even the ones you see for only two seconds, which makes Phedre that much more believable.) So, of course I had to pay homage to this fabulous work through cosplay, though with literature there's always a rub--the only reference art you have to work with is the picture the author has painted in your head.
To get around that particular snag, I drew up a dress design and sent it to the author, Jacqueline Carey, humbly asking for her opinion. Shockingly, I had gotten the dress just right!
The dress is scarlet baby-weave silk in a fully custom-drafted pattern, and the tattoo (also designed by me) took 3 sheets of tattoo paper every time I wore the costume. (The Kyou Girls have gotten really good at applying it for me!)
