GRACE GILBREATH
Design • Construction • 2D Art
DePaul Costume Design Class of ‘22
“Talald Hieron” cosplay, May 2024/April 2025
Built from October 2023 to May 2024, with additional work in 2025, this costume, consisting of a dress, petticoat, tabard overlayer, detachable collar, horns, hair accessories, shorts, boots, and hammer was based off of the character Talald Hieron from the webcomic Vast Error.
During the 2024 cosplay craftsmanship contest at Anime Central, I took home Best Journeyman, the highest award in my category. I then went on to compete in the Crown Championships of Cosplay at C2E2 this year.
Dress construction
Beading
I spent about 24 hours beading this costume. Between the sleeves and the tabard, there are almost 5500 beads.
“Cure Macaron” cosplay, work in progress (started July 2025)
My current competition build, so far consisting of a corset, a bodysuit top, petticoat, and layered skirt. Based off of the anime Pretty Cure.
Techniques used so far include corsetry, beading, smocking, dyeing, pattern drafting and alteration.
Details
Care was made to pattern match as many flowers as possible in the lace outer layer of the steel-boned corset.
Mascot Creation
Left: “Burnie,” mascot of the Miami Heat. Multiple bodysuits, underbodies, uniforms made since 2022
Right: “Golden Retriever” full-body costume, designed by self
Wool “Valentine Witch” hat, February 2023
18th century Bergere hat, November 2020
17th cent. Bergere hat, November 2020
Buckram tricorn hat, November 2020
Corset Work
All corsets shown were made between 2020 and 2024.
Corset Work, cont’d.
Fantasy staff, 2022
The skull on this staff was originally a Halloween decoration. I modified it by installing LED lights and attaching a carved EVA foam antler. The staff’s “neck” was made by sculpting foam clay over a base of PVC pipe, softened and shaped with boiling water.
“Mothman” Wings, July 2021
upholstery foam, EVA foam, faux fur, buckram, minky fabric, elastic
This commissioned costume piece was based off of an “artistic liberty” design I collaborated on with my client.
Left: Pool Lemons, April 2020, acrylic on canvas
Right: Night City Alley, December 2020, acrylic on cotton jacket