Retro Live 2017 - issue 2

Lara Croft was my first cosplay. Ever. I cosplayed
her years before I had even heard of the term
Cosplay. I grew up playing the Tomb Raider
games and from that early age, she was an inspiration
to me. I knew she was the type of woman I
would strive to be.
Her Legend outfit was the first I ever made, and it
wasn’t long before I realised that I could actually
cosplay her more classic outfit with a few minor
changes. It’s not perfect, but it’s a heartwarming
reminder of where I started.
When Rob mentioned the Retro magazine and
retro games, the first that came to my mind was
the original Tomb Raiders. Pixelated boobs and
all. Whilst I don’t have the awesome cardboard
pixelated cosplay (yes those cosplayers are
amazing!), I did my own take on the Anniversary
costume – which was pretty much the retro classic
redone in high definition. There was no way
I could pass up a chance to bring out my old
Lara costume and change up the tops to make
it closer to the Anniversary and classic era. I had
spent many hours making the shorts (which in
all honesty are the most uncomfortable shorts I
have ever worn – that’s what happens when us
noobs try to sew shorts!). I had spent many more
hours painstakingly making the belt and holsters
– one knows the meaning of pain when trying to
hand sew vinyl fabric! Despite the imperfections,
this costume has held up for around six years.
It’s still not perfect and it is absolutely a costume
I would love to revisit some day with the skills
I’ve learnt now…but in the mean time I love that
for me it’s a retro costume on a personal level. It
is a reminder that great things come from small
beginnings (Uncharted much?? LOL). It’s a fond
memory of my childhood and those retro Tomb
Raiding days with my sister and family friends. I
wouldn’t have my first costume any other way –
it’s gone through time and memories and that is
something not to be changed ☺