It’s a new year and new conventions are popping up again. For some, it’s a new year to start cosplaying. However, doing a cosplay can be a little intimidating when you go into it without a plan. Hopefully this guide can help.

What is cosplay?

It’s wearing costumes and acting out those characters at conventions.

• Sometimes it is interchanged with people just wearing costumes but cosplay means doing the whole experience. You don’t have to act though.

My experience is still at a beginners level :

• Can’t sew and don’t know how to use a sewing machine
• Not a craft person
• And I don’t have partnerships with people to give me parts

Dispite all that, I asked and still asks questions from experienced people and do my research. I’ve cosplayed since 2010 and have 5 costumes (3 are hits and 2 are still work in progress).

However, over the years I’ve looked over other people’s cosplay and figured out a few things with my own that a lot of people forget to mention or not see themselves. Hopefully these tips will help.

KNOW YOUR SIZE!!

In the real world we saw that not everyone can wear Jeggings. This fact goes with cosplay. You HAVE TO wear clothing that fits your body type properly. The characters that we want to cosplay as have unrealistic bodies. That’s why they aren’t real. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t pull it off. Don’t be ashamed that you are different. If it looks good on you then it looks good on you.

• Not everyone can wear spandex
• Not everyone can wear leather armor
• No more camel/man toe… please…

TIME

If anyone says that they can make a cosplay in a month they are either professionals who do this for a living OR they are LIARS. You have to plan your time well. Not only do you have work, school, and family, now you have to find time to gather material, try them, make them, and put it all together. You have to plan out your time:

• 3-6 months before the cons
• Plus, 2-3 weeks as safety just in case something happens and prep

When’s the best time to get costume parts?

October 30 to November 1: Everything is on sale since Halloween is over.

GETTING/MAKING MATERIALS AND PIECES

When you first start out you will want to buy everything that would work with the costume. DON’T. That is the fastest way to lose all your energy and money. Pick a look and stick with it.

• Keep yourself on a budget and stay close it to as much as you can
• Search everywhere before you buy anything so you know what options you have: Ebay, Michaels, Thrift Stores
• Get yourself multi-taksers : Things you wear have to work in real life too (You know what I mean if you are an Alton Brown fan)

Why would anyone want to cosplay if it takes so much time and effort?

There are many reasons why a person makes their own cosplay:

• Store costumes don’t  fit/looks bad
• They have not made the version(s) you want

Or

If your cosplay is done well, you can go from this:

TO:

OR

(Photo by Rich Johannsen)

AND even…

(Eat your heart out Shelldon Cooper!)

Or just plain old FUN!

If you want me to talk about my cosplays seen here, expand on a section, or tips let me know in the Comments below.

@Pearl