From CosplayWiki

Contents 1 Beginner's Guide to Cosplaying 1.1 Making the costume 1.2 Fabric & Patterns 1.3 Recognizability of Your Cosplay 1.4 Props & Accessories 1.5 Detail 1.6 Tips & Suggestions 1.6.1 Sewing Costumes and Putting Outfits Together 1.6.2 Picking your Cosplay 1.6.3 Wearing Your Costume 1.6.4 Photographing and Interacting with Cosplayers

Beginner's Guide to Cosplaying

So you're going to an anime convention, and want to be part of the costumed fun. Perhaps you just want to make a costume for the heck of it. Maybe you want something special for Halloween. For whatever reason, you've got your heart set on dressing as a particular anime/video game character, but you just don't know where to start. There are a number of websites that will make you a custom costume, but the prices are usually higher than you might think. You are paying not only for the materials, but for the time and effort it takes someone to put the coplay together. You won't have as much control over how the costume turns out and be limited on the revisions that could be done. Of course buying a cosplay saves you lots of time. Some convention costume contests won't allow you to enter unless you made the outfit yourself. If you decide you want to go ahead and make your own cosplay costume, here are some good suggestions on how to go about it.

Making the costume

Making an anime costume yourself is easier than it looks, provided you start simple. Gather a bunch of reference materials for your character of choice and take a close look at the outfit you wish to create. The first step is to break the outfit down into its component parts. Most costumes can be put together from pieces of normal clothes.

The simplest costumes require no sewing, but more complex outfits need to be custom-made. Even though an outfit looks daunting at first, start by breaking the costume into parts. If it's a human character, what does their outfit look like? Scan through the costume section of pattern books to see what you might be able to modify from an existing pattern. Many long dresses, capes, and cloaks can be made from Medieval/Renaissance costume patterns. Link's tunic might come from a modified Robin Hood costume. White/Black Mage robes can be made from an angel costume pattern (check in the back, with the religious play costumes). Remember that you can shorten or lengthen any pattern for what you need, and you can even split one piece into several colors. Don't limit yourself to the costume section, either - you can find things in both the normal clothing and bridal sections that worked great for cosplay.

Maybe you can find part of the costume at a thrift store - then you'll only need to make the missing parts. For example, a nice white turtleneck for the shirt of a Princess Leia costume, but the sleeves were wrong. Use a seam-ripper to carefully remove the sleeves along the original seams. Using these as a pattern, you could make wider sleeves that were open at the bottom. I sewed these to the original shirt, and the top was complete. The skirt was made using a very simple "normal" skirt pattern, and I found a belt at the Goodwill.

Need a costume base? Check out a shop or website that specializes in dancewear. Usually a flesh-tone leotard is a great base for building pieces onto - especially if the original character shows more skin that you'd like to. Make sure you get one that matches your own skin color as closely as possible. Unless you have a perfect body (which nobody does - the models in magazines are airbrushed to look that way), you'll probably want some extra support for your body shape (either slimming or with some padding). A leotard will also give you a smooth surface to work with, and you won't be in pain trying to remove things you've glued to sensitive parts of your body. Most cosplayers who show too much skin aren't welcomed with open arms - except by the drooling, unwashed fanboys. Quite often, their pictures are posted and mocked on humor websites. I'm just trying to save you some potential embarrassment.

A good pair of flesh-tone (to match your own flesh tone, that is) dance tights will last much longer than pantyhose, and you won't have to worry about runs. Be careful though, as some of these sites might also sell items of an "adult" nature. It is recommend against trying to find things like this second-hand - you run into the "Ick Factor" when you look at used swimsuits, underthings, and the like. You don't want to know who's owned the items before you.

Fabric & Patterns

Since fabric and patterns can get expensive (especially if you're not sure whether your idea will work or not), wait for sales. Jo-Ann Fabrics has regular fabric and pattern sales (often one brand of pattern is reduced to $1.99 or so), and they also offer 40% off coupons. Costume accouterments (makeup, gloves, wings, etc) are dirt cheap after Halloween. If you're still playing around with ideas, you should use cheap bargain fabric to make the test costume. Once you see what works, you can use what you learned for the real costume. If you have time to wait, don't buy 'real' fabric unless it's on sale.

Recognizability of Your Cosplay

Depending on where you plan to wear your costume, you should pick something that people will recognize. If you're going to an anime/comic convention, there's a chance that at least one person will recognize obscure characters. But many people aren't going to know exactly who you're supposed to be unless they're a hardcore fan of the series. Let's put it this way: chances are, many people will recognize that you're a Sailor Scout, but they might not realize that you're specifically "Ultimate Sailor Jupiter". When I was Raichu, quite a few people called me Pikachu - they knew the Pokemon part, but that was about it. Everyone knew who Team Rocket was, just as everyone's going to recognize a well-costumed Inuyasha or Yu-Gi-Oh or Naruto (but maybe not the minor characters from the series). Chances are, they'll at least get the series right. Don't be offended if they completely screw it up though. If you make a costume well, people will like the craftsmanship even if they don't know exactly who you're supposed to be.

There are two schools of thought about costuming - one group likes to dress as popular characters because they'll be easily recognized. The other group prefers obscure or minor characters because their costume will be unique. There are usually many people cosplaying as the same popular character (especially if they have an easy-to-make costume) at any given convention - and many of these are poorly put together. It's okay if you're not the only one of a certain character, but you'll have to work harder to make your costume stand out. How do you do this? Accessories and props.

Props & Accessories

Without a doubt, accessories and props are the most important parts of any costume. The difference between an okay costume and a great one is attention to detail. Any detail you can add to your costume is great, just so long as it fits the character. Make the details as real as you can - if there's a better way than using duct tape and cardboard, do it (even if it takes extra time). It will make your outfit look much better.

Detail

When you decide to make a costume, don't half-heartedly make it. Go the extra step and make the costume as close to the character as possible. It's very easy to go down the path of "it's good enough" and do sloppy cosplay, but costumes that are thrown together never look good. While you might have a few basic pieces that you already had lying around (like a pair of boots or a shirt), you should specifically get the parts of your costume with the character design in mind. You shouldn't just go through your closet and pull out clothes that kinda-sorta-not really look like the character and use them unaltered. You honestly won't look like you're wearing a costume. On a similar note, your entire costume should not be bought off-the-rack at Hot Topic.

Tips & Suggestions

Sewing Costumes and Putting Outfits Together

• If you're sewing a costume yourself, be sure to choose appropriate fabric for the character. A rugged warrior wouldn't wear crushed velvet, and a magical girl wouldn't wear broadcloth cotton. If your character doesn't wear shiny clothes, don't make their outfit out of shiny satin. Bridal satin (or Jo-Ann Fabrics' Casa Satin) is easier to sew, has better drape, and doesn't have the glare that baroque satin does. A good rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for. If your fabric is $1.99 a yard, it won't look very good when you're finished. Pay a little more for nicer fabric (or better yet, wait for it to be on sale or use a coupon) rather than "making do" with cheaper fabric that will shred, wrinkle excessively, or be transparent.

     Here are a few examples of what NOT to do (repeat: these are costuming no-nos):
     ** Royal princess gown out of broadcloth cotton
     ** Ninja gear out of crushed velvet
     ** Jedi out of shiny satin

If you want some really wild fabric, you can either wait for the Halloween fabric to arrive in fabric stores (usually around late August), or try to find it online.

• If you have a fabric that shreds at the edges (most fabrics do), go over all your cut edges with Fray-Check (which can be found in most craft stores). Be sure to test it on a scrap piece of fabric first, because it may leave a stain. I usually Fray-Check all the cut edges of a costume after I've sewn the seams. This will also cut down on loose strings.

• Hem the edges of your costumes! Unless the edges are supposed to look tattered (a battle-scarred warrior, a creeping zombie, a necromancer, etc), you should always hem your costumes. This will give your costumes a finished look, and keep loose strings from the edges of your outfit. Even the best costume will start to look scraggly after a while if you don't have the edges finished. Yes, it does take extra time, but it will complete the costume and preserve its quality.

• If your costume is white or pastel, make sure you have flesh-toned underthings. A white bra under a transparent white shirt will look like it glows in the dark. Anything tan, beige, or even light pink stands a better chance of disappearing under thin, light colored fabric. Being able to see things under a costume is just tacky.

• Don't wear sneakers with an elaborate costume! This glaring mistake has been spotted everywhere from Renaissance Festivals to Anime Conventions. This is one of the worst things you can do with a costume - all your hard work will be overlooked because your shoes are completely wrong. People will notice the incongruity rather than the rest of the costume. Could you imagine a beautiful bride wearing old running shoes with her gown? If you can't find anything that looks right for the character, wearing black dress shoes or boots will almost always look better than dirty white tennis shoes.

• Know your limitations. I tried and tried to make gravity-defying hairstyles, but it didn't work. Finally I gave up and just wore a regular wig, and you know what? Nobody insulted me for it, nobody gave me a hard time because I couldn't do the impossible. Then I saw Pokemon Live!, a stage production with a decent budget, and even they couldn't make the hairstyle work. Let's face it - no matter how good your costume is, you will not look exactly like a character. Some body types, hairstyles, and even outfits are impossible in the real world. Remember that you can't change the laws of physics for an anime costume. Just do your best.

• Put effort into costume-making. Try to make your costume look exactly like the reference picture. This will probably involve having a wig, sewing (rather than finding) most of your costume pieces, and spending extra money. Remember that there's no rule that says you can't go back later and improve a sloppy piece.

• Take a good look at other people's costumes in person. Don't be afraid to ask how they made certain parts. Photographs usually don't do costumes justice, and you can't see every angle or how the outfit was constructed. If you get the chance, attend at least one anime convention to see the incredible outfits that people come up with - that's worth the price of admission for someone interested in cosplay.

Picking your Cosplay

• Don't do a "non-costume". You can't expect to get much attention if you just throw a Duel Disk on your arm without a real costume. It's usually better to select a character who wears unusual clothes than one who looks "normal". Let's use "Chobits" as an example: you will recognize Chi, Freya, or Sumomo (Plum) because of their unique hair and clothing, but you're not going to notice a Hideki or other Persocom owner since they look like ordinary people. As the A-Kon cosplay guidelines put it, watch Pokemon: "Brock" is wearing normal clothes, but "James" is not. Phrased another way, if you can wear the outfit to McDonalds during the dinner rush and you don't get a single strange look, you're not wearing enough of a costume. The best way to do a "non-costume" character is to go with a group of characters from the same series (including a very distinctive, recognizable character in your group), and be sure to have props.

• • Want to be a Pokemon trainer? Make sure you have at least one Pokemon (plushie or someone in costume) and Poke Balls. Remember that people know the first season of Pokemon's main characters pretty well (Ash, Misty, Pikachu, Team Rocket, Meowth, etc) but as Pokemon has become less popular over the years, characters from newer games and minor characters aren't easily recognized. A lot of people at A-Kon didn't know who Lt. Surge was, even though he had a plush Pikachu, Poke Balls, and a Raichu. People generally know the most popular of the original 151 Pokemon - the ones you see products of (Jigglypuff, Pikachu, Meowth, Mew) and Pokemon that were featured in movies (Entei, Pichu, Celebi). If you go as anyone except May or Max (or possibly Brendan) from Pokemon Advanced, people probably will not recognize you unless they're huge Pokemon fans. Even then, Pokemon isn't as universally popular as it once was, and many people who watched the series or played the games in the past haven't kept up with it.

• • Want to be a duelist from Yu-Gi-Oh!? You're better off being one of the distinctive characters - Yami Yugi, Bakura, Marik, Kaiba, or one of the really well-known cards like the Dark Magician. A Duel Disk is a must for duelists. If you dress as Joey, Tristan, or Tea, nobody is going to realize that you're even in costume. Even Mai Valentine's outfit just looks like regular clothes. As with Pokemon, people will recognize characters from early in the series more than the recent additions.

• Some people try to find characters who look like themselves to cosplay as. While there's nothing wrong with this, you should also choose a character that you like. If you see a picture of a character whose costume you like, do a little research. Watch the anime or play the game that this character appeared in. Visit a few fan-created websites for the character to learn more about them.

• It's okay if you look nothing like the character you wish to cosplay as. That's what they make wigs for.

• It's better to model your costume after an official character rather than someone from fanfiction.

• Original costumes can be beautifully done, but people may not photograph you as much as if you did an official anime character. Part of this might stem from embarrassment - if they don't know your character, they might be too shy to ask who you are.

• If you're looking to dress as a character that is recognizable but not overdone, here are a few suggestions:

• • Anime is expensive. A lot of people watch the ones that are aired on TV rather than buying boxed sets. Aside from the obvious Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball series, people have a better chance to recognize a series that was (or is) on Adult Swim or Kids' WB/FoxBox (kid cartoons) lineups. These series include Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Card Captors, One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist, and others.

• • Manga is also expensive. People are most likely to recognize either very popular series (such as Chobits or Death Note) or stories serialized in a subscription publication like Shonen Jump or Shojo Beat (Naruto, One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, Hikaru no Go, Dragon Ball Z, Yu-Gi-Oh, and others).

• • You can also choose a character from a video game. Again, the most popular series and main characters are the most easily recognized. If you want to be unique, I'd steer away from the Final FantasyFinal Fantasy series since those characters are done so often. Of course, FF costumes stand a better chance of being recognized, so the choice is yours. What you may wish to do is hunt down a list (I think there was one on IGN) of the top 100 games of all time according to game fans, or fan-favorite games, something like that. These are going to be more recognizable than something really obscure. Characters who appear in many games are more recognizable than one-shot characters - the cast from Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Street Fighter series (and spinoffs like the Capcom vs. games), etc.

• • Another idea is to choose a less-common character from a well-known series. Maybe one of the villains or a sidekick who isn't cosplayed as much as the heroes. This also might help you get into some photos with a group of people dressed as the rest of the cast. You are going to see a lot of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura (Naruto), Sora, Riku, and Kairi (Kingdom Hearts), and Link and Zelda (Legend of Zelda) running around any convention. However, many of the minor characters and villains from these series are overlooked and not cosplayed as much.

Wearing Your Costume

• Make sure your costume is moderately comfortable! Maybe those 6" stiletto heels are great for your costume, but can you walk in them? If you go to a convention in a nice-looking costume, you will be asked to pose for lots of pictures. How long can you stand to wear the outfit? Comfy shoes are a must. Make sure you can sit in the costume if you're wearing it for a lengthy cosplay event (I learned this lesson the hard way). Is it an ordeal to use the restroom? Be sure you can get to a restroom in time if your costume takes a while to remove. Make sure you can breathe - don't wear a costume piece that's just a little too tight, because it will become unbearable after a few hours. Can you move easily in the costume, or are you constantly banging into people? Make sure you can see while wearing your costume, or have a partner help you down steps and escalators. There is nothing wrong with wearing a hard-to-move-in or uncomfortable costume, but you should only wear it for set amounts of time (like a masquerade contest) and have something more comfortable for your "traveling around the con" outfit.

• If you're attending a multi-day convention out of town, make sure you take some time out of costume to enjoy the convention itself. You won't be able to shop and look around freely if you're spending all your time posing for photos. It might be a good idea to set aside one whole day (or parts of several days) to enjoy the con itself without cosplaying. You don't have to be in costume the whole time! "Disguise" yourself in civilian clothes when you want to attend panels or do some shopping.

• Be sure that your costume is ironed before you wear it! Certain fabrics like cheap satin or 100% cotton will wrinkle horribly if they're stored or laundered. If you're going to a convention, many hotels have small irons and ironing boards in the rooms. If not, you may ask at the hotel front desk if they have one to lend you, or bring your own from home. In any case, you won't look good if you don a wrinkly costume. The night before, prepare what you're going to wear the next day - ironing, wig styling, etc.

• Buy a hot glue gun. These are invaluable for holding just about anything together. The glue dries quickly and is very durable on most materials. It also works well for "quick fixes" if something should break mid-convention. Don't leave home in a costume without it!

• If you wear a costume, especially a nice-looking one, you will be asked to pose for pictures. Be gracious and pose for photos unless you have a good reason not to (you're meeting someone, you are late for an event or panel, you are legitimately busy, you need to use the restroom, etc). If you must leave, do not be rude about it. You may ask the photographers to find you at a certain spot later. Remember that people who want to photograph you are paying you a compliment. If you are really shy and can't stand getting attention, you would do better to not dress up. If you want to "escape" for a little while, just go back to your hotel room and change into normal clothes. It's amazing how quickly you'll disappear.

• Do not be a drama queen. Do not be obnoxious about anyone else's costume and props - if they're better than yours, if they're not as good as yours, if you think you could have done a nicer job, whatever. Keep your comments to yourself, at least until you are out of the cosplayer's earshot. Do not make a scene if someone else is dressed as the same character as you. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and even a poorly-made costume took time, effort, and money to build. Nobody is born knowing how to make perfect costumes, and most people will improve over time. Be respectful towards everyone, because acting out is only going to make you look bad. If you cause a scene or drama, you may find yourself known as "that psycho _____ cosplayer". Remember that dressing up in a costume takes a certain amount of bravery, and ultimately, everyone looks a little silly.

• If you are cosplaying and you see someone else dressed as the same character as you, take a look at what they did differently on their costume. Maybe you'll notice a detail you missed or a technique you can try to improve your own costume. Try not to act resentful that they're "stealing your idea" of a costume - just think that they love the same character/series as you.

• Be respectful of others' costumes and props. If you're going to do a mock battle scene with another cosplayer, treat their costume and accessories as if they were your own. Do not hit their weapons/accessories with any strength - just pose to make the "battle" look good for show. Do not touch anything that is not yours without permission!

• Cosplay means "costume play", and I've always found it to be more fun if you act like the character you're dressed as. Remember when you were a small child and put a towel around your neck to become Superman or Wonder Woman - you didn't feel like it was just dressing up. You were actually "becoming" the character. This can be the same way. When you're being photographed, do facial expressions and poses that are appropriate for the character. If the character has a bubbly personality, it would look strange to see them looking angry or sullen. Likewise, a brooding, evil villain would look silly with a pleasant grin (although a gloating laugh would look just fine). Be sure to check promotional posters, game manuals, anime/manga covers, artbooks, and official artwork of the character you're cosplaying to get some inspiration for poses. Silly poses are okay, but the truly best photographs from any convention involve cosplayers acting like the characters they're representing - as if the anime or game characters were there in real-life.

• Cross-genre pictures can be fun, especially if everyone is in-character. I've gotten a lot of positive comments about the Princess Peach vs. Sephiroth battle picture from EPAC. No, they'd probably never battle in any game. But what if they did? It can be a fun way to blend series together that would never meet in real life. You can have a lot of fun with this.

Photographing and Interacting with Cosplayers

Useful Info for Everyone

• Ask permission before touching a cosplayer. Some people find it creepy when random strangers give them hugs or prod at their outfit. Some cosplayers prefer their outfits not be touched, especially if there are fragile parts like wings or spikes. You may ask for hugs/whatever, but respect the cosplayer's wishes. If they say no, then no touchy.

• Be respectful of anything that is not yours. Ask permission before holding or touching any prop. Be gentle with accessories as they took the owner time and money to put together. Do not battle with someone else's prop sword! It usually ends in tears or swearing.

• Don't insult someone's costume. Don't insult someone's looks (as in, "You're too fat to be Tifa" or "I thought Sakura was supposed to be cute"). The Golden Rule - "treat others as you would like to be treated" - is very useful here. Maybe you think the cosplayer doesn't look good. So what? Is insulting them going to change anything? You'll only make yourself look like a jerk, and hurt the cosplayer's feelings. If someone specifically asks for a critique (online, for example), remember that constructive criticism is far more effective than meanness and insults.

• Cosplay is art. Art is subjective. Everyone has a different opinion of what a good costume is.

• Feel free to ask questions, but realize that some cosplayers don't enjoy giving interviews. If they brush you off, accept that they might be tired or busy, and leave them be.

• Request a cosplayer's permission to take their photo. You will probably get a better pose that way. Also, respect the cosplayer's wishes if they do not wish to be photographed for any reason. You never know, they may really need a bathroom break or a drink of water. Would you want to deny them that? If you are going to have your photo taken, you might want to read about Posing for Photographs.

• Cosplayers are people too. It can be easy to forget that they are not paid to dress up, and they do it purely for fun. As a result, they may not feel like "acting" the character after a long day of dressing up. Remember that they want to enjoy the convention too.