My very first cosplay was a human interpretation of Lady Rainicorn from the animated series Adventure Time. From the beginning, my goal was to translate her vibrant, rainbow-colored form into something wearable and comfortable, while still honoring the spirit of the character.
Dress
The costume itself was originally envisioned as a fitted, floor-length, stretchy dress with vertical rainbow stripes to mirror Lady Rainicorn’s body. I searched extensively, visiting both large chain fabric stores and local, family-owned shops, but quickly ran into unexpected challenges. Sourcing the correct colors was difficult enough; matching the sheen, thickness, and opacity of each fabric proved even more complicated. This became my first real lesson in costume construction: many stretch fabrics can be surprisingly see-through, which isn’t practical for a full-length dress intended for a convention setting. Comfort was also a priority, as I wanted four-way stretch to allow flexibility and ease of movement.
Eventually, I shifted gears and turned to Etsy, where I discovered the shop CreatedByMK. While the dress I chose differed from my original vision, leaning more toward a flowy, casual style, I decided to embrace the change and support a fellow artist. The final piece captured the rainbow essence beautifully and became an important lesson in creative adaptability.
Voice box
To incorporate a deeper character reference, I created a voice box. In Adventure Time Season 2, Episode 12, Lady Rainicorn is given a voice box so others can understand her, with selectable voices ranging from “nerdy alien” to “old man” to “nightmare.” Including this detail felt especially meaningful, as it is one of the very few times she speaks English in the series. The strap is wired ribbon closed with a button. I sculpted the voice box out of Sculpey Clay. The knob was a button covered in glitter, and the toggle was made from a jewelry head pin and beads, that I had saved from past projects. It was one of those rare and satisfying crafting moments, where the extra supplies finally get used for “another time.”
Wig
The exact wig I used was a K’ryssma 26-inch Platinum Blonde Wig, which is currently not available on Amazon. I will admit that this felt like the easiest part of the costume.
Horn
To top it all off, her horn was initially made from the same air-dry clay, but it continually flopped over due to the weight. I ultimately opted for a unicorn headband from Dollar Tree, serving as a reminder that cosplay does not need to be expensive to be effective. I will admit that buying a second item I had originally intended to make myself made me feel a little disappointed at first, but that feeling quickly shifted back into excitement.
Artist Notes
Wearing my very first cosplay was nerve-wracking. I was the Boston Fan Expo. When people began asking to take photos with me, I was genuinely caught off guard and likely appeared unsure or timid. As the day went on, however, I relaxed, gained confidence, and began to truly enjoy the experience. I started complimenting other cosplayers and engaging more with the community.
One of my favorite encounters was with a pirate-themed Mr. Potato Head, complete with a potato masher instead of the traditional hook. That moment perfectly captured the creativity and humor of cosplay culture. Note: he even has a blue tag to show he brought his potato masher to the weapon check table.
By the end of the day, I was fully in my element. Despite the early frustrations of see-through fabric and a horn that refused to cooperate. I am grateful that I pushed forward and didn’t give up. With this first convention experience, I was officially HOOKED.
Current Condition
The wig was later cut and repurposed for my Eleven cosplay. The dress developed significant color transfer and instability despite being washed in cold water; at the time, I was living in an area with heavily treated, chlorinated water, which likely contributed to the issue. As a result, the dress was permanently damaged and had to be discarded. The horn and voice box components have been preserved and are currently stored; the paint on the voice box has discolored slightly over time due to age.