Little Witch Academia is a popular anime series that follows the story of Atsuko "Akko" Kagari, a young witch-in-training at Luna Nova Magical Academy. Throughout the series, Akko and her friends discover the power of friendship and the importance of believing in oneself. One notable aspect of the series is the unique and stylish outfits worn by the characters, particularly the students of Luna Nova. The Little Witch Academia outfits are a delightful mix of traditional witch attire and modern fashion. The main protagonist, Akko, is often seen wearing her signature red dress with a white collar and matching red bow. The dress is adorned with gold buttons and an emblem of Luna Nova, symbolizing her allegiance to the magical academy.
It is later revealed that the set belonged to Molly McIntyre and was used to contain 6 of overall fragments of her Ghost Witch half while the seventh one in Time Void behind the Chamber's Sealed Door by the faculty of Luna Nova Magical Academy — by bringing the complete set back to Luna Nova, the gang have unknowingly allowed those fragments to return to Molly's human half and allowed her to remember who she was before seeking the seventh and final fragment to become whole again.
I also added a wire in the edge of the brim to be able to shape it, and stitched the wire in place at the very edge with a zipper foot to get a tight seam. The pattern pieces for the interior and exterior were identical, once cut out, I sewed each of them together as a dress separately including the hood and sleeves.
The dress is adorned with gold buttons and an emblem of Luna Nova, symbolizing her allegiance to the magical academy. Akko's outfit also includes a black witch hat, a staple in witch fashion. The hat features a wide brim and a cute, pointed top.
Little Witch Academia Cosplay Tutorial
Making Diana Cavendish was a fun sewing challenge, for the most part it was familiar skills but there were a couple of interesting problems I needed to figure out as I went. Overall, I was incredibly pleased with how the cosplay turned out, and had a great time wearing it at my first ever Sakura Con!
This cosplay would not have been possible without the amazing support of my Patrons over on Patreon.
If you are looking to make your own Little Witch Academia cosplay the method I used for Diana will work for most of the hooded dress uniforms, with some adjustments to skirt length your more or less good to go. You can head over to my YouTube for a visual break down of the cosplay as well.
Dress
The core of the cosplay is the dress, I started (as I often do) with a princes seam pattern, each of the bodice pieces were extended to a flared skirt, and I used a basic seam pattern flared at the end for the bell sleeves. For the whole dress I made a mock up first to test the fit, or you can use the pattern in my store.
Once you have a pattern to work with you are ready for construction!
- The exterior of the dress was made from a navy blue suiting fabric, and the interior was a slightly lighter weight matte satin in maroon.
- The pattern pieces for the interior and exterior were identical, once cut out, I sewed each of them together as a dress separately (including the hood and sleeves). So I had two dresses, one maroon, one navy.
- Next I inserted the zipper in the center back seam, by top stitching it in place. First to the outer fabric, and then to the inner fabric.
- I then folded and top stitched the lining to the exterior and the edge of the hood, bottom hem and sleeve hem.
- Depending on how tall you are and which character you are cosplaying you may need to adjust the skirt length longer or shorter.
The shirt was added in separately, to reduce bulk, I took an existing button up white shirt, cut out the collar and chest and stitched it in place using the hood seam to hide where I was sewing it in. The tie was just a navy blue ribbon that I tied in place, it may be worth considering stitching it in place and adding a Velcro closure to the tie instead.
The ‘clasp’ was made out of a strip of folded over pleather, glued directly to the dress. The metal sections was silver pleather folded over EVA foam, and glued in place, before directly gluing to the dress.
Belt
The belt was made from a light blue denim fabric, any matte fabric will work as long as it is the right color, if it is a light weight fabric I recommend stabilizing it with interfacing. The belt pattern is included in the cosplay pattern. The important part is to make the belt curve so that it will sit flat against the hips rather than sticking out.
The buckle is not functional, the belt actually slips on over my head. It was made from EVA foam wrapped in worbla and painted gold, and then glued directly to the fabric of the belt.
Hat
For the brim of the hat I started with a large circle with another circle cut in the center large enough to fit my head, I sewed them together and then turned them right side out and added interfacing in between to give it stability. I also added a wire in the edge of the brim to be able to shape it, and stitched the wire in place at the very edge with a zipper foot to get a tight seam.
The point of the hat started as a cone with a curved point, I added another dart in the back to keep it flowing towards the back. In the anime the hat has magical properties that mean the point can always be visible, I sadly I had to pick a direction, and chose to have it swoop to the back and sightly to the side. The pattern for the hat is also included in the cosplay pattern.
- I sewed the lining and exterior separately, ironing interfacing to the inside of the lining piece before sewing it.
- I then added some stuffing in the top of the hat to help it keep it;s shape.
- Next I inserted the lining into the exterior so the wrong sides are touching.
- I stitched it directly to the brim of the hat, so the seam was on the inside/ underside, and hand stitched a ribbon on the interior to hide the seam.
- Lastly I added the band out of the same light blue denim as the belt.
The broach of the hat was sculpted out of Sculpey, painted gold and glued directly to the hat.
Boots
I drafted the pattern for the boots by wrapping my leg in cling film and tape, drawing the different pieces and converting them into pattern pieces after I cut myself out. I used heavy duty interfacing to make the boots stable, and added a zipper on the interior to allow me to slip in and out of the boot covers.
The boot covers involve a number of similar shaped pieces, and I am pretty sure I mixed up which was which at one point as one of them ended up oddly twisted… But they work great as long as you don’t mix up your pieces!
Finishing Touches
The wand was made with the help of Level23, and was based on this 3D print pattern. We made a few adjustments such as using a tube for the rod, so that we could run very thin wires to the LED light that was suspended in the top section. I also wrapped the top in worbla to make it slightly bulkier as the pattern printed quite small.
The wig was purchased from ezcosplay, and didn’t need much styling.
All in all I mostly recommend buying more fabric than you think when making this dress.
The costume set was uncovered by Akko and company as they were trying to find a way to break the time loop. As the set is seemingly ordinary, neither Akko nor her friends were privy to its significance.
It adds a touch of whimsy and serves as a symbol of her magical abilities. Apart from Akko, the other characters in Little Witch Academia also have distinct outfits that reflect their personalities and interests. Sucy, Akko's eccentric and mischievous friend, is seen in a dark green dress with a wide, floppy hat adorned with mushrooms. The outfit perfectly captures Sucy's love for potions and mystical creatures. Another character, Lotte, is often seen in a more traditional-looking witch outfit. She wears a long, flowing dress in shades of blue, with intricate patterns and symbols adorning the fabric. Lotte's attire reflects her gentle and studious nature. The Little Witch Academia outfits not only serve an aesthetic purpose but also play a role in developing the characters' identities. Each character's outfit is carefully designed to convey their personality traits and interests, allowing viewers to connect with them on a deeper level. Overall, the outfits in Little Witch Academia blend magical elements with contemporary fashion, creating a unique and captivating visual experience for viewers. The attention to detail in the character designs ensures that each outfit tells a story and enhances the overall narrative of the series. Whether it's Akko's fiery red dress or Sucy's whimsical mushroom hat, the Little Witch Academia outfits are a vibrant and integral part of the anime's enchanting world..
Reviews for "Little Witch Academy: The Ultimate Style Guide"
1. John Doe - 1 star
I was extremely disappointed with the Little Witch Academia outfit. Firstly, the quality of the materials was subpar. The fabric felt cheap and flimsy, and it didn't hold up well even after a single wear. Additionally, the sizing was way off. I ordered a medium, my usual size, but it was far too small and uncomfortable to wear. The design itself was also underwhelming. The colors were dull and the details were poorly executed. Overall, this outfit was a letdown and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars
I was unimpressed with the Little Witch Academia outfit I purchased. While the design was cute and true to the anime, the construction left much to be desired. The stitching was sloppy and uneven, and I noticed loose threads hanging from various places on the outfit. It gave the impression of a rushed and poorly made product. Additionally, the fit was not flattering at all. It seemed to be designed for a different body shape than mine, so it looked awkward and unflattering when I tried it on. I wish I had spent my money on a better quality outfit.
3. Mike Johnson - 2 stars
I was not impressed with the Little Witch Academia outfit I received. The sizing was completely off, despite ordering my usual size, it was extremely tight and uncomfortable. The fabric felt scratchy and itchy on my skin, and the overall quality was lacking. The colors of the outfit were not as vibrant as they appeared in the product photos, making it appear dull and lackluster in person. It's a shame because I was really excited to receive this outfit, but it fell short of my expectations. I would not recommend purchasing it.