Briar Rose cosplay tutorial

It's amusing how I ended up creating this cosplay—originally, it was just so I could pair up with a friend who was cosplaying Maleficent for a photoshoot that ended up getting canceled. Yet, somehow, Briar Rose has become one of my most worn cosplays! The truth is that this cosplay is just incredibly comfortable. If you're curious about how I created this cosplay, you're in the right place. Let’s dive in!

Photo by HappyMemories.Cosplay

The first step I took was creating a mock-up for the corset. I used the Dolores pattern from Aranea Black and a budget-friendly, jet sturdy, fabric I found at a thrift store. As a cheaper alternative to the steel boning, I decided to use zip ties.

Normally, I would use corset coutil as the interlining, but since coutil is quite expensive and this cosplay was originally intended for just one photoshoot, I decided to save some money. Instead, I used leftover black cotton jeans fabric for the lining and basic black cotton fabric for the outer layer. After selecting the fabrics, I carefully cut out the pieces, making sure to include the seam allowance.

After sewing the corset pieces together, I moved on to cutting the steel boning. For the sections near the grommets at the back, I used flat steel boning, while for the rest of the corset, I used spiral steel boning. Synthetic whalebone could also work well as an alternative if you don't like using steel.

Don't forget to finish off the tips of your steel boning to prevent damage to your fabrics!

Once the boning is inserted, I finish off the edges of the corset with (matching) bias binding.

With the corset base complete, I moved on to decorating the piece. I started by pinning the lace decorations in place to get a feel for the layout and determine where I liked everything to be positioned.

After finalizing the layout, I began sewing the lace decorations in place. I did this by hand to work around the steel boning inside the corset.

For the final step in completing the corset, simply insert the back lacing! There are many types of ribbon that would work, as long as it's strong. I opted for a durable satin ribbon. You might want to make a modesty pannel as well, but that is optional.

For Aurora's skirt, I decided to make a full circle skirt using cotton fabric. Choosing the color was a bit challenging! Depending on the reference, the skirt appears grey, brown, or even purple. After seeking advice on my Instagram stories, I eventually settled on this purple shade. To finish it off, I’m going to add a small horsehair braid to the hem.

To create the hem, I start by sewing the horsehair braid to the skirt. I lay the horsehair braid along the right side of the fabric and sew it along the bottom edge.

Next, I fold the braid to the wrong side of the skirt, pin it in place, and sew it down.

After inserting the zipper (sorry, I forgot to take photos of that part!), the skirt was complete! For the blouse, I ordered a white base blouse, which you can also see in the photo above. I have to admit, I’m really liking this look as well!

Since Briar Rose's blouse isn’t pure white, I’m soaking it in a deep tea bath to achieve the right color.

Photo by Rosa.Rem.Clicks

And with that, the outfit is finished! All that’s left is styling the wig, adding a collar, and putting on a hairband. The next step? Enjoy your cute and comfortable cosplay!