WindoftheStars
2010 Bio
WindoftheStars is an internationally renowned costume designer, re-creator and cosplay model that has made over 50 elaborate award-winning costumes since 2004. Gaining inspirations from the things she loves, many of her works are recreations form anime, manga, video games, movies, TV series and pop culture, but of course she also tries to find time to create her own wearable works of art. To her, each costume is like a puzzle that requires many technical skills that are in turn shared with the community through online tutorials and panels. She has also had the privilege of being a judge for several costume competitions throughout California. Her works have been featured in many online interviews and articles such as 91.8 The Fan Radio and NerdBastards.com, and has appeared in COSMODE and CosplayMIX. When WindoftheStars isn’t working, she enjoys being a normal Reno local, by taking trips to Tahoe in the summer, off-roading in her Jeep up in Pevine, geocaching around town, and eating ribs at the Rib Cook-Off.
2011 Bio
WindoftheStars is an internationally renowned costume designer, re-creator and cosplay model that has made over 50 elaborate award-winning costumes since 2004.
Gaining inspirations from the things she loves, many of her works are recreations form anime, manga, video games, movies, TV series and pop culture, but of course she also tries to find time to create her own wearable works of art. To her, each costume is like a puzzle that requires many technical skills that are in turn shared with the community through online tutorials and panels.
She has also had the privilege of being a judge for several costume competitions throughout California. Her works have been featured in many online interviews and articles such as 91.8 The Fan Radio and NerdBastards.com, and has appeared in COSMODE and CosplayMIX.
When WindoftheStars isn't working as a professional seamstress in a local alterations shop, she enjoys being a normal Reno local, by taking trips to Tahoe in the summer, off-roading in her Jeep up in Pevine, geocaching around town, and eating ribs at the Rib Cook-Off.
2013 Bio
WindoftheStars, aka Mel Hoppe, has been a geek all her life. Since she was young, she has been into comic books and video games. In 2004 she started to put her artistic energy into creating costumes from her favorite games, movies, comics, animes, mangas, and even creates original costumes of her own design. Since then she has created over 80 costumes for herself and others; many of which have won awards including Best of Show. Her colorful and elaborate costume works have been seen in online and print publications across the world including Cosmode, Kotaku, TokyoPOP and OtakuUSA. WindoftheStars has also had the honor of modeling her costumes at shows for Kotobukiya, DC Comics and Bandai. In April of this year she was apart of Anna Fischer's The Wild Places cosplay photo project, which has received much online acclaim. When she is not working on costumes for herself, she makes high quality cosplay accessories for her Etsy store or works at a top tier alterations shop in Northern Nevada as a professional tailor.
2014 Bio
WindoftheStars, aka Mel Hoppe, has been a geek all her life. Since she was young, she has been into comic books and video games. In 2004 she started to put her artistic energy into creating costumes from her favorite games, movies, comics, animes, mangas, and even creates original costumes of her own design. Since then she has created over 90 costumes for herself and others such as George R. R. Martin; many of which have won awards including Best of Show. Her colorful and elaborate costume works have been seen in online and print publications across the world including Cosmode, Kotaku, TokyoPOP, OtakuUSA and was featured in Anna Fischer's The Wild Places cosplay photo project. WindoftheStars has also had the honor of modeling her costumes at shows for Kotobukiya, DC Comics, and Bandai. In 2014 she was asked to be a Judge on the new cosplay show Call to Cosplay, which aired on Myx TV and CrunchyRoll. In that same year, she also was a judge and co-organizer for 2K's Borderlands The Pre-Sequel Cosplay Contest. When she is not working on costumes for herself, she is making high quality costumes for others or works at a top tier alterations shop in Northern Nevada as a professional tailor. No matter where life will leads her, bringing characters to life one stitch at a time will always be a passion.