032 Sailor Goku

Some cosplays come from inspiration. Others come from pushing through a difficult moment.

This one was a mix of both. Sailor Goku is a mashup I had wanted to do for a long time: combining two iconic characters into something playful, recognizable, and a little unexpected. But the timing of when I finally created it wasn’t ideal. I was dealing with a couple of unexpected personal situations at the same time, and it put me in a bit of a creative and mental rut. Instead of skipping the convention entirely, I decided to: show up anyway and create something last minute, even if it wasn’t perfect.

The Concept

The idea behind Sailor Goku is exactly what it sounds like:

A fusion of Dragon Ball (Goku)
And Sailor Moon (Usagi)

Mashups like this are something I’ve always enjoyed because they let you:

Recognize both characters instantly
While still creating something new

It’s a balance between homage and creativity.

The Build (Last-Minute Execution)

This costume was put together very quickly and it shows.

One of the biggest takeaways from this project: Free-cutting without a pattern is not my strength. lol.

I created a leotard from scratch, cutting fabric without a structured guide, and it ended up being more difficult than expected. On top of that, I was working with:

A basic entry-level sewing machine
Limited time
And not a lot of mental bandwidth

It still came together… but not at the level I would normally aim for.

Outfit Breakdown

Even though the base was rushed, I pulled together elements from existing cosplays to complete the look.

Leotard (self-made, free-cut)
Blue fabric overlay across the chest
Sailor-style skirt from my Usagi cosplay with an added an orange ribbon to tie in Goku’s color palette
Opaque skater / ice skater tights

Note that opaque skater tights are a go-to for me because they:

Provide coverage
Feel secure
Photograph well

Footwear

Goku boots from a previous Dragon Ball cosplay. Reusing these helped anchor the character side of the mashup.

Accessories

Nimbus cloud purse:

Details tied to my Goku cosplay

For the hair:

I styled it into pigtails
Used claw clip extensions to keep my scalp cool (important for conventions)

For the Dragon Balls:

I used 2 small decorative capsule-style pieces
Made sure they had different star counts
Snapped them into place for a secure hold

Convention Experience

This cosplay was worn to Rhode Island Anime Con (Altered Reality Entertainment). Interestingly, this event ended up overlapping with Boston Fan Expo that same weekend, which affected attendance and overall competition turnout. I wasn’t originally planning to compete. However, another attendee encouraged me, mentioning:

The opportunity to win prizes like a 3D printer
And potential perks like future booth opportunities

So I decided to enter mostly as a way to: push myself out of the rut I was in.

Pre-Judging & Community Moment

While waiting in line, I met a couple who were entering their first cosplay contest. They were nervous. And honestly, even though I wasn’t feeling my best, I found myself encouraging them:

Reminding them it’s about experience
That everyone starts somewhere
That just being on stage is already a win

That moment ended up meaning more to me than the competition itself. Sometimes, showing up for others helps you show up for yourself.

Performance & Reflection

I’ll be honest… this wasn’t my strongest work. And I could feel that. Not just in the construction, but in:

My energy
My confidence
My stage presence

But instead of viewing it as a failure, I chose to see it as: practice.

A reminder that:

Creativity takes time
Craftsmanship takes time

And pushing through difficult moments doesn’t always produce your best work but it still counts.

A Realistic Take on “Last-Minute Cosplay”

This experience also highlighted something I often try to explain:

When people say: “Oh, you can probably throw something together last minute.”
What they don’t realize is: Even a “simple” cosplay takes significantly more time than expected.

And when you’re not in the right headspace, that time and effort multiplies.

Final Thoughts

Even though this version of Sailor Goku wasn’t executed the way I would have liked, it still holds value. It represents: