Patti, Steph, Lexi, and Fitz were planning on wearing wearing Kyo, Yuki, Hana-chan, and Uo-chan, respectively, to NDK, but their usual Tohru (Holly) wouldn't be able to make it out. The girls of OPIB had discussed doing Fruits Basket cosplay at some point in the future, and while I want to be Hana-chan for them, there's only some hair and footwear difference between her and Tohru, so I bought the costume from Milanoo.com and had it shipped in time for NDK. The bows are actually made out of some leftover fabric from my bridesmaid's dress from Usagi Seion's wedding, believe it or not, and I already had navy socks. I bought a pair of brown penny loafers, because those are a classic shoe everyone should own anyway, and I was set.

I really didn't expect to enjoy playing Tohru as much as I did, but looking back on it, it makes sense: Rei will always be my first love, followed closely by Utena (and lately Umi), but they're all fairly serious and strong characters. I do have my serious side, but especially at a con, I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky person, and when I'm surrounded by my friends I'm pretty bouncy. So I didn't have to think to pose as Tohru, I just had to be myself.