In any opera or general work for stage, a large part of the overall performance is the costumes.  Before you even get to sewing the actual costume, you need to research the era and style of your costume, create an appropriate moodboard, and then make designs. I chose to design for the goddess  Athena because I had also written my libretto for her character.  My inspiration for all of the costumes was a very ethereal vibe, similar to the types of clothing that Iris van Herpen makes.  Athena is the goddess of war and wisdom, so I decided to use a gray color palette, and combine both wise and warlike aspects.  for example, the chainmail and spikes on the shoulder represent war, and the symbol of on her staff and headpiece is the symbol for wisdom.