Hu Tao Cosplay
Hu Tao is Genshin Impact's ghost-whispering funeral director: a warm brown mandarin-collar coat with gold-printed trim, the iconic porkpie hat loaded with talisman and plum blossom, twin dark braids with crimson tips, and flower-shaped pupils. The hat is the whole build — it has to be constructed accurately, fitted over the wig, and survive a full con day without slipping. Fabric-sewing cosplayers can tackle this; the coat's silhouette is cleaner than other Genshin builds. Plan for 7 components, 13 materials, and a 6-week build at $100-280.
6 weeks
15
13
7
See the whole look before you start.
References, materials, budget, and build order for Hu Tao.
Timeline
6 weeks
Color refs
Materials
13 items
Budget
$100 - $280
save the visual refs
Full reference board
The preview above is curated for scanning. This is the working board you clone into your own build, with notes, colors, product images, and extra references intact.
Images are sourced from around the internet to help you get started. Use the web clipper to build your own reference library.
Build guide
The hat destroyed my first attempt. I had sewn a perfectly decent brown coat, sourced a SAKUMETA wig with the right burgundy tips, even got the contacts in on the right day. Then I put the hat on over the twin ponytail clips and it sat at a 15-degree angle like a tiny brown boat heading somewhere embarrassing. That was two weeks before Anime LA, and I spent most of those weeks fixing a problem I should have tested on day one.
Measure your hat over your wig-on-head, not over your bare head. The twin tail clips add bulk to the crown. If you build the hat first and size it wrong, you're either re-building it or flattening your wig architecture. I do the wig first now: clip in the ponytails, put the wig on, measure the circumference at the hat line, then build the hat to that number. Sounds obvious. Wasn't obvious to me the first time.
For the hat itself: don't buy a porkpie base from a party supply store. They're too wide in the brim and too soft in the crown to read correctly. The Hu Tao hat has a narrower brim and a hard, flat top that holds its shape even at outdoor cons. I used 6mm EVA foam for the crown and brim structure, shaped the brim with a heat gun over a curved surface, and cut the talisman from air-dry clay painted with brown ink. The plum blossom branch is 18-gauge floral wire wrapped in dark brown florist tape with fabric petals glued on in clusters of five. The Fabric Depot in Portland had exactly the right dark red crepe fabric for petals, $4.50 a yard.
The coat fabric question tripped up everyone I know who built this. The brown in the game looks different on every monitor. Under store fluorescent lighting, a swatch that looks right will read too cool and grey on camera. I tested four swatches against a phone screenshot under a north-facing window before I found the right one: a warm brown twill, not charcoal-adjacent. The collar and cuffs want a different texture, something with a slight nap. Korean velvet, like Uwowo uses, or a medium-weight faux suede gives that contrast between the coat body and the darker trim pieces.
If you're sewing from scratch: the Indigo Patterns Hu Tao PDF ($22 AUD, indigopatterns.com) covers the coat, blouse, and pants in UK sizes 8-24. It's designed for less experienced sewers and includes vector files for the embellishments. Worthwhile if you're not confident drafting the mandarin collar from scratch, because that collar needs to stand on its own and the interfacing has to be right.
Budget for 6 weeks. The coat takes one weekend, the hat takes another, and the contacts need to ship. Full build runs $100 at the low end (pre-made base, quality wig, Sweety contacts) to $280 if you're sewing and building everything yourself. The version that photographs best is the one where the hat is accurate, the wig tips are genuinely crimson-not-orange, and you've done a full wear test at home before the con.
Components
Brown mandarin-collar coat
Inner blouse and shorts
Porkpie hat with talisman and plum blossom
Dark brown wig with crimson-tipped twin braids
Flower-pupil contact lenses
Patterned stockings and shoes
Pyro vision ornament and accessories
Pattern Plan
Real sewing patterns for each piece of the Hu Tao costume: the commercial base to start from, a free alternative where one exists, and the exact modifications that turn the base into the character-accurate piece.
Brown mandarin-collar coat
Modifications for brown mandarin-collar coat: No modifications needed for the coat silhouette — the pattern is character-specific. Use sew-in (not fusible) interfacing on the mandarin collar so it stands without drooping. For the collar/cuff contrast fabric, cut those panels in a separate darker fabric (faux suede or velvet) rather than the main twill. Apply gold trim with fabric paint, not iron-on vinyl, which cracks on curved cuff edges.
Modifications for brown mandarin-collar coat: Use the stand-up collar view. Shorten the collar height slightly to match Hu Tao's lower-profile mandarin collar (reduce by ~1 cm). Add a front placket with decorative cord loops for the Hu Tao-specific closure detail. Interface the collar heavily with sew-in interfacing. Add contrast fabric panels for the collar and cuff sections from a separate darker fabric.
The Indigo Patterns Hu Tao PDF is the clear first choice — it is specifically drafted for this character and includes all three garments in one download. Use S8482 only if you need a physical pattern or the Indigo PDF is out of stock. The key modification for either pattern is collar interfacing: sew-in canvas, pressed over a ham, before attaching to the coat body.
Inner blouse
Modifications for inner blouse: The blouse pattern is included in the same PDF as the coat. Use a red cotton shirting or poplin (not satin, which looks cheap on camera). If the blouse is mostly hidden under the coat, a modified existing top in the right color is a valid substitute.
The blouse is mostly covered by the coat in most poses. A thrifted red mandarin-collar top modified with a zipper or gold trim is an acceptable substitute. Only sew from scratch if accuracy in close-up photos matters to you.
Materials list
13 itemsEstimated total cost
$100 - $280
Milestone timeline
6 weeks- 1
Gather references: in-game model, official art, con cosplay photos
Research
- 2
Order contacts and wig immediately (3-4 weeks shipping)
Materials
- 3
Source and test coat fabric color in natural light
Materials
- 4
Source coat pattern and test fit in muslin
Patterning
- 5
Cut and sew the coat body
Construction
- 6
Interface and attach the mandarin collar
Construction
- 7
Sew or source the red inner blouse
Construction
- 8
Apply gold printed trim to cuffs and hem
Construction
- 9
Line the coat and finish all edges
Construction
- 10
Pattern and build EVA foam hat body and brim
Construction
- 11
Sculpt and paint the talisman; make plum blossom petals
Details
- 12
Assemble hat: talisman, blossoms, tassel; add inner elastic for wig fit
Details
- 13
Print, sand, and paint the Pyro vision ornament
Details
- 14
Install twin tails on wig; trim crown bulk for hat compatibility
Finishing
- 15
Full wear test: coat, hat over wig, contacts, stockings, shoes
Wear test
Frequently
asked questions.
Related tools and guides
Plan your build, estimate costs, and get ready.
Budget Calculator
Estimate your build cost before you start buying materials.
Convention Checklist
88-item packing checklist. Check off items as you pack.
Prop Scaling Calculator
Scale reference images to your body measurements.
How Much Does EVA Foam Armor Cost?
Real build budgets with specific products and dollar amounts.
Cosplay Commission Cost Breakdown
Real build budgets with specific products and dollar amounts.
Cosplay on Costumary
Templates, tools, and workspace built for cosplay makers.
Browse all templates
Explore build plans across 10 craft verticals.
Debut your cosplay build
Upcoming conventions where you could wear this. Dates, checklists, and budget tools included.
Start this build free
Clone this template into your workspace. Track materials, milestones, budget, and build progress in one place.
More from this series
Raiden Shogun Cosplay
8 weeks · 14 milestones
Genshin Impact's Electro Archon, built around a layered kimono-bodysuit hybrid, EVA foam armor, a 105cm braided purple wig, and the Musou no Hitotachi sword. This is an advanced build mixing garment construction, foam shaping, LED work, and heavy wig management. The make-or-break detail is purple color matching across fabric, paint, and wig. Includes 7 components, 15 materials, a 14-step plan, and a realistic 8-week, $250 to $550 budget.
Yae Miko Cosplay
6 weeks · 14 milestones
Genshin Impact's shrine maiden guuji: the soft pink wig with custom fox ears, the red-and-white robe with asymmetrical cut, and the detachable weighted tail. The ears must be made from wig material or heavily anchored, the red fabric needs color-matching precision, and the tail needs weighted construction to avoid dragging. 6 components, 12 materials, about 6 weeks, $110 to $280.
Furina Cosplay
6 weeks · 14 milestones
Fontaine's Hydro Archon in full Rococo splendor: the tilted top hat, cascading jabot collar, split-tail coat, and white-to-blue gradient wig with a wired ahoge. The hat is the make-or-break piece. It needs to hold its shape, sit at the right angle, and stay on the wig through a full convention day. 7 components, 13 materials, about 6 weeks, $120 to $300.
Arlecchino Cosplay
7 weeks · 17 milestones
Arlecchino (The Knave) is Genshin Impact's most cosplay-demanding Fatui Harbinger: a layered suit jacket, structured long coat with back chains, multi-color ombre wig, character-specific X-pupil contacts, and a full accessories set that runs 12+ pieces. This is an advanced build for cosplayers who can sew structured garments, handle prop accessories, and plan a full character makeup look. The make-or-break details are the coat's lapel structure and the wig's silver-black-red color work. Includes 8 components, 14 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 7-week, $180 to $420 budget.
Sandrone Cosplay
8 weeks · 16 milestones
Sandrone is Genshin Impact's puppet-master Harbinger: a structured dark dress with cream accents, an elaborate multi-element headdress, mechanical shoulder armor, and her iconic star eye markings. This is an advanced build where the headdress and the boned bodice are the make-or-break details. Get those two right and the rest falls into place. Includes 7 components, 14 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 8-week, $150-350 budget.
Qifrey Cosplay
5 weeks · 12 milestones
Qifrey's elegant white-robed silhouette is built around three signature elements: the tall pointed hat with the bent tip and black ribbon, the flowing white cape with the brass brooch closure, and the asymmetrical pince-nez glasses with one dark lens hiding his scarred eye. This is an intermediate build that needs more structural crafting than sewing. The hat and glasses demand the most attention, while the cape is a manageable garment project. The glasses and the hat are the make-or-break details, and this template walks you through both. Includes 7 components, 15 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 5-week, $95 to $280 budget.
Coco Cosplay
6 weeks · 12 milestones
Witch Hat Atelier's apprentice witch in her full outfit: the tall pointed hat with ornamental band, a dark cloak with decorative hem trim, a layered tunic-dress, boots, and her drawing implements. The hat is the signature piece and the hardest to get right. 7 components, 13 materials, ~6 weeks at $120-280.
Gojo Satoru Cosplay
5 weeks · 11 milestones
Jujutsu Kaisen's strongest sorcerer, built around three signature details: the black high-collar uniform jacket, the blindfold, and the white spiked hair. This is an intermediate build that leans on one well-made garment plus wig styling, so it reads instantly on the con floor without months of work. The collar and the wig are the make-or-break details, and this template walks you through both. Includes 6 components, 11 materials with cost estimates, an 11-step build plan, and a realistic 5-week, $90 to $240 budget.