Tbh, I feel like at the core of Sophie is that of a very simple girl. Not simple as in dumb, but simple as in even if Howl offered her fancy dresses and fancy stuff, she might accept it at first, but will usually go back to simpler dresses and her short hair or braid.
This is why when I see very fancy Sophie cosplays I almost feel like the whole character gets changed. It’s certainly the person’s interpretation of Sophie, but it’s no longer about her.
HOWEVER
I can see why it would be incredibly easy to just do… more. And I can see why Sophie tends to be a very cosplayable character. You can be a beginner and cosplay her nice dress that doesn’t require super fancy tricks (I say as someone who had headache after headache wondering how to do anything sewing related. I can attest it’s easier after you know the basics!)
But then after doing that dress and a bit more… I still love Sophie and I think adding onto her concept is just fun. What if there more layers to her dress? What if the cuffs were different? What if she was from another time period? What if her curse was different?
Through my cosplay project I have learned that sewing really gives a creative person SO MUCH FREEDOM and I feel inspired to do more that just the basics. It’s more than just making illustrations, it’s about bringing that character, that concept, to life!
So, you know, a big round of applause for Sophie Hatter’s design. It’s iconic, unforgettable, and amazingly cosplayable.
