Cosplay Spotlight: Myricaria

(Originally published October 2019. Author’s note: This article was originally published in a different article format than later interviews.)

Myricaria always admired the craftsmanship of cosplayers, but she admits that when she started playing FFXIV as Catriona Fraser on Shiva back in January 2015, cosplaying for herself wasn’t even on her radar. Then came the release of Heavensward, and she fell in love with the Halonic Priest healing set. Her character wore the outfit for over a year, so long that she recounts how her friends called her character “the Pope”!

It wasn’t long until Myricaria realized she wanted to wear the robes herself, and thus, in 2016 she dipped her toes into the world of cosplay for the first time.

For Myricaria, the Halonic Priest set holds a special place in her heart for how close it brings her to her character, and her character’s close ties with Halone and Ishgard. Like many players, Myricaria identifies strongly with her Warrior of Light, explaining that the bond is “a very special connection that remains unbroken to this day.” She poured love into every aspect of the costume and is proud that every piece is made by hand. Two patterns were used for the outfit’s trousers and jacket, with a skirt sewn into the jacket to build the robe. Every other detail was done freehand – along with videos, tutorials, and “1000 screenshots from the game.”

The robe was sewn out of white cotton canvas in order to give it weight with a smooth texture. The details and accents were constructed from “brown imitation leather and bordeaux red and golden taffeta,” because “as a member of the curia, the robe must also reflect its high status, which is why I chose these noble-looking fabrics.” She remembers Gamescom 2017 in Cologne, Germany, and meeting Naoki Yoshida after the cosplay contest when he came backstage to distribute prizes and take pictures with the cosplayers. Yoshi-P happened to be wearing a t-shirt with a White Mage, which is Myricaria’s main class, and she calls the moment of taking a picture with him while wearing her Halonic set “amazing.”

Myricaria’s second cosplay was not far behind; the following year she started work on Lakshmi, whom she calls her “second love in [Final Fantasy].” She didn’t use any patterns this time around, as the draping fabric was a much simpler shape than the Halonic robes. Chiffon and taffeta, fabrics commonly used in Indian fashion referenced in Lakshmi’s design, were decorated with pearls and paillettes and embroidered with ribbons and small coins. The rest of the details were built from foam. Detailing a costume, particularly ones as traditionally complex as Final Fantasy, can be overwhelming for new cosplayers, but Myricaria did not shy away from the challenge: the delicately woven golden accents juxtaposed against the thickly draped fabric of the dress draw the viewer’s eye to her painstaking handiwork. 

While the Halonic robes are near and dear to Myricaria’s heart, her Lakshmi cosplay is one of divinity and elegance. Like the real Lakshmi, Myricaria radiates an almost hypnotic beauty in her photos. She recalls that during Gamescom 2018, awestruck little girls were drawn to her princess-like appearance, some even asking for a photo while shyly hiding behind their parents: “It touched my heart to have made their day more special with such a small thing as a photo and a few nice words.” 

As for her future plans, it comes as no surprise that Myricaria has had her eye on Lightbringer Titania since the King of Pixies’s reveal. In fact, she’s planning on creating a Feo Ul variant once the first costume is complete. Although she’s anticipating constructing Titania’s wings will be a significant challenge, the work on her previous cosplays is reassurance that her Titania will be nothing short of stunning.

You can find Myricaria on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.