So, you’re a fan. You’re into anime, video games, comics, and just about anything that has a loyal following. Perhaps you’ve heard of conventions, maybe you’ve been to one. You’ve seen hundreds of your fellow fans running around in costumes resembling your favorite characters. Now you’re hooked. You’re ready for the next step of fandom: Cosplay. But where do you begin? How do you do it?
You should pick a character you love and feel comfortable with.
Whether you’re a complete novice or maybe even a seasoned cosplayer, the first step is choosing a costume. It may seem easy, but it’s a decision that has a lot of details to consider long before you ever set needle to fabric.
Most in the hobby agree that everyone should dress as whoever they wish to be, regardless of what anyone says. While this is true, there are several things to keep in mind when making your choice. Does the character have more than one outfit? Do you resemble this character in any way? How complex is the costume? What kind of materials will you need? There are a lot of things to consider that can influence your costume choice.
A lot of new people to the hobby tend to overlook the simple matter of body-type. They choose a character that has a stick-thin figure with strategically placed squares of spandex for an outfit, when in reality the cosplayer has a generous amount of curves and risks violating county statutes covering public decency laws. These are the cosplayers people tend to look quickly away from, wishing fervently for their eyes to be soaked in bleach. When making your costume choice, keep in mind that you will be seen in public.
While this does not mean that you must look like your character personified in the flesh (though hopefully you want to be close), there is a degree of common sense required that some novices (and even some veterans) sometimes ignore. It may be that you need to choose a different costume that is more flattering to your body-type or get creative. Generally, alterations in costume design to fit the cosplayer is acceptable within the community, even at the risk of accuracy. Adding more pieces, lengthening others, or even just changing the type of fabric can give you the look you want without the expense of your dignity. Not only will you look better, but your fellow attendees will thank you.
Some cosplayers tend to base their decisions on how closely they resemble the character of their choice. This typically does not concern gender or race, however. With good construction, adequate use of make-up, and effective costuming techniques, anyone can pull off their character regardless. Most of the time, it’s not so much how you resemble your character but your ability to take on the personality. This can be a challenge especially if your choice is your complete opposite. Be prepared, in that case, to study your character if you really want to stand out from the rest. Do you just want to be you in costume, or do you really want to become your character?
The complexity of a costume should have a big impact on your decision.
The complexity of the costume is usually the make-or-break factor in a cosplayer’s choice. Whether you construct the costume yourself or commission it from someone else, the success of a costume goes beyond the clothes. While this should not discourage your idea if your project is considered ambitious, be prepared to invest a lot of time and effort – in addition to cash, most likely - in achieving your look. At this point, I’ll talk about constructing costumes yourself and I’ll talk about commissioning more in depth later.
Your level of skill and experience is the key when evaluating the complexity of your costume choice. There are a lot of things to consider once you’ve made your decision. What kind of fabric (or fabrics) does it look like it’s made of? How is the outfit worn? Are there special-looking notions, like buttons or zippers? Basically, study your choice and think about how it would be made in real life. From there, think of what materials you have access to that would be the easiest to assemble while achieving the look you need.
There are other details too to consider in addition to the outfit itself. Does your character have props? Will you need a wig? What kind of shoes and other accessories do they have? While these may seem secondary to the outfit, they are no less important to the costume. Not having the right hair or the right shoes can seriously deter from the rest of the costume, regardless of how accurate and well-made it may be. Putting forth some level of effort into these details can make all the difference, even despite any limitations you may have. Your ability to furnish these extras can have an effect on your final decision, as they not only require more skill but also can rack up some considerable additional cost. Fortunately, there are ways to accomplish everything economically if you’re willing to think outside of the box and be creative.
If you decide to commission your costume, you have a different set of issues to consider before you make your purchase. Researching your commissioner is very important; not to do so can be very costly and lead to disappointment. If the person you’re commissioning from has made the costume you want before, look at plenty of photos and talk to the owners. Does the costume look like the example? How accurate is it? Is it well-made? Buyer beware—most online “cosplay costume shops” are scams, featuring poorly made costumes that often look nothing like the provided photograph and rarely fit correctly. If you truly want value for your dollar, find a seller who takes measurements and custom-makes to order. It’s better to spend a little more on quality once, then to spend less more often.
Also consider purchasing costumes second-hand. Sellers can give you their measurements and you should hopefully see the actual costume you’re buying in their ads. Ebay is usually the best source, but also consider cosplay forums – like the marketplace at cosplay.com/marketplace.
Popular costumes generally have a lot of resources available.
The cosplay community at large loves to help each other out. You do not have to go through any of the above alone. There are countless community forums, websites, and other resources to post questions and receive feedback. Cosplayers are generally willing to voice their opinion, especially if you throw out your own ideas. Some of the most well known forums are at Cosplay.com (cosplay.com/forum) and American Cosplay Paradise (acparadise.com/forums).
These are invaluable resources that cover just about anything a cosplayer should want to know. They also provide an idea as to what’s popular at the moment as far as particular costumes. This can also have a hand in your decision. Popular costumes can be easier to accomplish, as there are more resources to help you construct them, while lesser-known or less-popular characters can be more of a challenge. Some people only cosplay new, rare, or less-popular characters out of a want to stand out and possibly get more notoriety.
There are quite literally countless factors that can influence your decision on which costume to add to your wardrobe. In the end, despite everything, you should choose a costume because you love that character—or at least the outfit! The rest should be seen as a rewarding challenge, an accomplishment that everyone will be able to see on your face as you step out as someone completely different.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Great tips. I especially agree with choosing a costume that compliments your body type. Everyone likes to feel sexy, but your personal dignity should be considered as you mentioned. I have altered costumes in the past to make them a bit more conservative, because I know my body type and I know my strengths and weaknesses. I wanted to cosplay as Sara from Witchblade, but there was no way in hell I was doing the bikini. I oped for a dress that while still a bit on the scandalous side, showed much less skin.
The sad truth is that most characters and costumes in video games and anime are not intended to fit or work correctly on real humans…they just don’t look right because the characters have idealized bodies. Cosplayers need to realize this as well.
Anyway, I also agree with starting simple. I started pretty simple and look back cringing at my first cosplay attempts. I would be even more upset if my first costume cost hundreds of dollars.
Another piece of advice, I recommend wearing your costume for an hour or so around the house before debuting it for the first time. Try taking photos as well. I can’t count the amount of times I wish I had a rehearsal before showing off a new costume for the first time. Costume pieces don’t always stay in place and this way you can get all the kinks worked out before hand.
Great post!
February 13th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Great article and a good resource for beginners!
I agree Meg, most costumes in media aren’t intended for real people to wear. I think the most common form of that is strapless leotards on female super heroes. I wore one when I was Poison Ivy and it worked out fine but I couldn’t make any sudden movements in it for fear of exposure, haha!
February 13th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review on Cosplay
The best part of the NY Comic Con is to see all the great costumers and cosplayers and I am so appreciative of all the hard work that goes into makeing great cosplay.
Thank you all so much!
February 13th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Ohh, definitely helpful! I’ll certainly refer to this for my next cosplay experience, since I’ve only done one, lol! I learned a lot, but I could have used a lot more tips. But sometimes you just gotta learn through experience, too—I think that goes for anything, really. Still, being in-the-know and getting advice is pretty invaluable.
February 16th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Wow, great cosplay guide!! I think it makes a big difference in someone’s confidence when they cosplay a character they love and are in a costume they are comfortable in.
February 18th, 2009 at 2:35 am
So true. One of the number one rules for cosplaying is to have fun. But, if your costume is too over the top and you’re constantly fixing pieces and props because your body type doesn’t match much the fit for the costume you’re going for, you might have bitten off more than you can chew. If you find a costume not befitting, either alter it, or choose someone else. With the vast amount of comic book, anime, manga, and video game characters out there, possibilities are endless.
As off-handed as a comment might get, beware of shoes and boots; foot gear in general. If you know you can make a costume, and you know you can pull it off no sweat, make sure you know what you’re getting your feet into. There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re dreams have come true while waltzing around as your favorite character, but if your feet end up covered in blisters by the end of the night, and you’re unable to walk the next day, was it worth it? To some, yes. I wore 6-inch heels with a costume once. I loved wearing it, but I’ll never do it again- I have callouses on my feet that won’t go away because I overestimated my ability to walk in larger heels for vast periods of time. Beware!
February 18th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I appreciate the comments! I’m glad the article has been useful. Really, it’s such a simple topic, but as one friend called it, it’s like a PSA for those who don’t seem to really consider some aspects that to the rest of us seem obvious.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I have debated for over a week on whether or not to reply with my opinion. I was quite taken aback by your rules of following body type. Part of cosplay, whether you’re a 5 year old at Halloween or a 35 year old at a con, is that it is fantasy. I do not look like a woman from a comic book nor will I ever without serious amounts of surgery. If I let people like you keep me from cosplaying, then I’d be lacking a major part of my life. I have been fat more than I care remember, especially in my Marvel Black Cat costume and it’s simply because people like you feel everyone who wears it should look like Heather/Black Cat. I’ve seen plenty of paunchy Spider-Men in day too but I would never pretend that I have some sort right to judge whether or not they are “worthy enough” or handsome enough to be in the suit. Would adding a waist cincher or corset to my Black Cat suit make me feel better or you? Her outfit classically doesn’t have one so I shouldn’t have to add it because someone else thinks I’m fat.