An original redesign by Jess Fox.
Debuted at Calgary Expo 2024. Competed in the Master’s division of the Masters of Cosplay: Stampede Qualifier, and the Master’s division of the Gamescon Canada Cosplay Competition 2024.
Welcome to the Emerald Dream
Character Introduction
Ysera; also known as the dreamer, and the aspect of the Green Dragonflight. She is a powerful being charged with protecting the flowering wilds of Azeroth from within the Dream. She has watched over those in Azeroth since the Dawn of the Aspects and continues to guard the Dream and all beings of nature in Azeroth.
I was drawn to Ysera early on in my time playing World of Warcraft because of her personality and her character’s story arc. I cried when we had to defeat her upon her corruption. I cried when she was reawakened in Ardenweald and when we brought her back to Azeroth in the Dragonflight expansion. She has always been a special character for me; her love of the natural world, her protection of dreams, and her guidance and wisdom in the game brought out a deep connection in me.
This cosplay is a love letter to a character that has always inspired me and a game that continues to bring me joy throughout every trial and tribulation of my life.
Sample Stage
Creating Drafts, Patterns & Samples
To begin Ysera’s construction I started with patterndrafting all the garments worn underneath her armor. This included a pair of pants, a corset with detachable shoulder coverage, boot covers, and a set of gloves.
I drafted these using flat pattern techniques and created all patterns from custom body blocks I handmade based on my measurements. Minor alterations to my drafts and patterns were made after sewing samples to prepare for the final garment construction. A majority of these were in the corset to create the perfect cinch and structure.
Execution Stage
Pants
These pants fit snuggly and are cropped to mid-calf to reduce bulk under the knee-high boots. Their fitted shape is emphasized by the color-blocked materials used. The primary closure for these pants is an invisible zipper at the center back seam.
These pants also have 2 of the 4 layers for the center front skirt piece.
Corset
This corset creates a snatched silhouette and provides support and connections for the armored breastplate and pauldrons. It is covered in intricate hand beading and holds the final center front skirt panel which is weathered using black tea, oil pastels, and vegetable oil.
Skirts
Three layers of fabric create the skirt, each layer is cut and weathered to look battle-damaged using black tea, oil pastels, and vegetable oil. The silhouette of the skirt is inspired by Ysera’s skirt design in Dragonflight. The skirt layers hold many hours of handbeading and even some LED lights.
Armor
This was my first ever large armor build. I have attempted very tiny pieces like brooches or a belt, but never anything this large, intricate and intense. All the armor is made using EVA foam, and is handpainted with acrylic paints. The Pauldrons also use wire structure and papermache along with worbla scrapes to make the spiraling branches.
Capes
The cape was a piece I wanted to be heavily weathered and torn and leave space open at the back to show off the beading on the skirts underneath. All edges are sealed with mod podge, and a slight weathered color is added to the lower half using black tea and olive oil to stain.
Gems & Lighting
For the pink gems all over the armor pieces, these are made of 2-part resin and infused with holographic pink paint to give it a subtle shimmer. The larger gems on the leg and forearm armor light up using LED light strings.
For the larger green gems, these are made using clear Worbla to create a 3d shape, stuffing it with cellophane to trap the light from the LEDs, and backed with green tissue paper and cardstock.
The spherical gems on the pauldrons and staff are made similar to the large green gems, but instead of using clear Worbla for the base, they are clear christmas ornaments!
Horns
The base of the horns are made out of XPS insulation foam, and covered with foam scales. Each horn is handpainted and secured to the wig using a combination of magnets and a reinforced cardboard headband. These horns are removable to make packing easier!
Wig
This was the first time I have ever styled a wig so intensely! I learned many new skills with this one. It uses a XPS insulation foam base for the ponytail, and 3 different wigs were cut up and sewn together to create the whole piece.
Staff
This is the largest prop I’ve ever made. I wanted it to look like a branch straight out of the Emerald Dream, twisted and full of magic. It is made using 2 paper towel rolls, two Sunny D lids, and XPS insulation foam! I used foam clay to add details and handpainted the whole thing.
Makeup
The makeup for this costume includes prosthetic ears, which I beaded and painted myself and body paint. I learned from previous costumes, and have done multiple makeup tests to get the right coverage without melting out of my face!
After my first time wearing this costume to a convention, I realized it would be much simpler to wear a purple shirt layer instead of painting my chest and arms, so I created a turtle-neck undershirt that is made of purple knit fabric!
Professional Photos
Photos by Veronica Scallion.
