I've always been a huge fan of Hajime Sorayama’s work—from his ability to render hyper-realistic chrome to the overt sensuality in his designs. His aesthetic is right up my alley. For years, I had only seen his work in 2D format, aside from his collaborations with Dior. Wanting to do something truly unique this year, I decided to bring his vision to life in my own way.

This was one of my most challenging costumes to date. I had never built a helmet before, let alone incorporated LEDs or any electrical components, but I was more than ready to take on the challenge. Since I committed to this costume early in the year, I had plenty of time to research techniques for creating a reflective chrome finish and learn the fundamentals of armor-making.

A few years ago, I recreated Thierry Mugler’s golden Metropolis fembot, which had a reflective gold texture. Initially, I considered using the same technique, but I knew I needed something far more rigid. I ultimately opted for EVA foam coated in fiberglass resin—a material that required me to use a respirator for the first time. (Before this, I’d usually just crack a window and turn on a fan if I was working with something potentially toxic.)

My favorite part of this costume was definitely the helmet, though the breastplate comes in at a close second. I had to make plaster molds of my own boobs—which was such an exciting process! This remains one of my most iconic costumes to date. Even as my skills continue to evolve, I will always be proud of this one