原文：
Croft Couture #20: Circé
The Tomb Raider fandom is full of talented artists, entertainers, and perhaps most notably, phenomenal cosplay talent. “Croft Couture” aims to showcase these lovely and dedicated women, and give Lara costumers a spot to share their experiences while dressed as gaming’s leading lady.
Returning after a short break, Croft Couture #20 features Circé from France! I had the fortune of meeting her while on tour last year, and Circé’s personality is as lovely as her photos. I’m especially smitten that she’s one of the few who have paid tribute to the final level of Tomb Raider II, before the infamous ”Don’t you think you’ve seen enough?” scene. Also, the photo of her very first Lara costume as a young girl is awesome. Photos above, interview below!
Fast Stats
- Name: Circé
- Country: France
- Occupation: Law Student
- Fan Since: 1999
- Favorite Tomb Raider Game: Tomb Raider II
- Favorite Non-Lara Tomb Raider Character: Werner Von Croy
- Favorite Tomb Raider Villain: Jacqueline Natla
- Number of Lara Croft Costumes: 5-6
- First Lara Croft Cosplay: Home Sweet Home Outfit
- Favorite Lara Croft Cosplay: Classic
- Future Lara Croft Cosplay: Tomb Raider V Catsuit
Q&A
What first drew you to the Tomb Raider franchise, and what initially inspired you to cosplay as Lara Croft?
In 1999, I was 7 and my father bought me my first console, a PlayStation. One week after that, he came home with a new game and said “I saw this pretty woman on the box and I’m sure that you will like this game. I think there is a lot of adventure in it.” It was Tomb Raider II. Then I began to play and I never stopped!
For the cosplay, I think that my story is the same as all Lara cosplayers. First I dressed as Lara when I was a child, then at Halloween, parties. Then last year I went to a French video game con - Paris Games Week – with an (awful) costume. But it was so great to dress like her seriously that I began to go to Tomb Raider forums and talk to the Tomb Raider Community. Thanks to that, I met a lot of people who were kind to me and some of them are close friends now!
What Lara Croft costume did you tackle first?
The first real costume was made by hand and it was the purple Home Sweet Home bathrobe from Tomb Raider II. I really love this level and the fact that Lara can kick some ass alone in her manor only with a shotgun and barefoot. My mum helped me because I had at that time no skill in sewing. I also made the dagger of Xian but I will remake it because it is pieces of cardboard!
What is your favorite Lara Croft ensemble?
I don’t know if it’s the classic or the Antarctica outfit. Everybody loves to wear the blue top and the brown shorts. It’s Lara’s signature which is unforgettable! But I liked to wear the Antarctica outfit from Tomb Raider III because it was snowing outside and I was with my friends Ellubre and Aliraclya who wore Lara’s winter outfits too! :)
What Croft costumes are still on your roster?
The adorable Julie offered me her black catsuit that she wore for her Tomb Raider Chronicles cosplay so I will make this outfit too! But the real next costume will be the Cambodgia / Ireland outfit when Lara was 16. I really love her two ponytails!
Which Lara costume was the most difficult to construct? Was it due to a particular garment or prop?
Until now, the costumes that I make were very simple. The difficulty is only the fact that I’m still a real beginner. I have so much to learn!
Lara Croft’s lifestyle is full of intrigue and adventure. Do you have any memorable photoshoots or convention appearances that pay tribute to Lara’s lifestyle?
I don’t have many yet, but this summer at Japan Expo I was a part of a Tomb Raider group with my friends Marie, Delphine, Ellia and Marilou. We wore 5 different Lara Croft costumes and it was very fun!
Along the same lines, what’s the most exotic location you’ve traveled to?
I think that the most exotic locations that I’ve traveled are Iceland and Taiwan. It was absolutely amazing.
I went to Iceland last year with a friend and we lived for three weeks nearly like Bear Grylls! We slept in tents and we discovered wonderful landscapes and volcanoes with our bags on our back. I really felt like an adventurer! We visited the location where they filmed the end of the Tomb Raider movie, which is supposed to be in Siberia. I was like “Hey Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig were here!” I nearly walk in their footsteps, it’s so cool!
This summer I went to Taiwan and I felt like Lara Croft again. First of all, because of the heat I always had a braid and I wore only tank tops and shorts! Then, I saw beautiful temples and places with a lot of dragons, which remind me of when Lara went to China and Japan.
What about Lara’s physical strength or mental prowess most inspires you? Has this, or your desire to cosplay Lara, influenced your daily life?
Her physical strength inspired me a lot but I feel guilty because I didn’t take time to do some sports this year. But Lara is definitely a model for everyone, because she is smart, strong, independent, courageous, she can speak many languages, and she loves history. She is what we all want to be:)
