Hey Shina by TwinEnigma on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

SO some of you may not know but a million years ago, I designed some costumes for these dorks in the style of the series.

That image has been the source of multiple headaches over the years, from fandom drama to ship wars to finding out some company in Hong Kong made the costume and sells it commercially (and, worse, having to sit there and see people at cons wearing it, thinking that Surely They Must Have My Permission/I Must Be Paid and I'm not).

BUT

You know, time goes on. And I still liked the concept and the AU that went with it. So, for NaruSaku Day 2017, I'm bringing them back out and trying to get back the positive feeling I'd initially had when making that first piece - which means, of course, I'm not nearly half as concerned with style matching as I am with having fun (also, I'm much happier putting my own twist on it). Now, I've played with the details a bit, particularly Sakura's, after some IRL costume tests, but it's fundamentally true to what I'd wanted with her costume in the first place: something uniquely her, feminine, and fun.

Happy NaruSaku Day!

(And yes, actually, the white cloth under the skirt never did interfere with movement. It hid the movement of my left leg, much to the exasperation of the Kakashi cosplayer I sparred with to test it.)