Aela The Huntress Cosplay

Character: Aela the Huntress
Series/Game:The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Producer: Bethesda Game Studios
Costume and props: Handmade by me
Time spent: ~3 months
Techniques used: chainmaille weaving, foam and worbla crafting, weathering, leatherwork, wig styling, hand-painting, makeup, pattern making

The character and the costume

Aela the Huntress is a fierce Nord warrior and a member of The Companions, Skyrim’s legendary group of mercenaries. As a skilled archer and a devoted follower of Hircine, she embraces the gift of lycanthropy, allowing her to transform into a werewolf. Her iconic appearance features a leather and fur battle outfit, war paint, and a strong, determined presence that embodies the wild spirit of Skyrim.

Aela’s design is both rugged and elegant, blending practicality with the distinctive look of a seasoned hunter. Her armor has various interpretations depending on the game model, concept art, and mods, so I focused on staying true to her original in-game appearance while adding my own details and look like a realistic warrior.

Aela Cosplay photos

Photography by Valentin Pictures (2024)

Photography by Bard shots (2024)

Aela cosplay Tutorial

Creating this cosplay required a mix of techniques. I used chainmaille weaving for the metal parts, foam and worbla crafting to shape the armor, and leatherwork for the dress. The battle-worn look was achieved through weathering and hand-painting, while the wig was fully styled from a basic one. I also designed the costume from scratch and completed the transformation with makeup to recreate her war paint.

Want to see the process? Many work-in-progress photos and videos are available in my Instagram and TikTok!

@miciaglo

How I made Aela the Huntress (Skyrim) cosplay from scratch! Would you like to see also the armor part? #aela #skyrim #skyrimcosplay #cosplay #cosplaywip #cosplaytutorial

♬ Skyrim (Main Theme) – アンドレアス
@miciaglo

Please normalize a cosplayer needs time to create a good costume. Not everyone can craft 100 cosplays at year and not everyone has a team who can provide help or split the work in more people. There may be a very long procedure and several trials and errors before achieving what you have in mind! The most important thing is to enjoy the process and what you do, knowing that even if it’s not perfect you learned something! #cosplaywip #cosplay #cosmaker #skyrimcosplay #cosplayer #selfmadecosplay #cosplaytutorial #crafting

♬ 2000 years later – Sweet Angel Cosplay