When I first started cosplaying I just kind of jumped in and picked up bits of information as I went along. I made a lot of mistakes when I first started out, which I guess is to be expected. I didn’t really have anyone that was more veteran than me that I knew to kind of guide me along and this was many years ago before social media and blogs and community sites really existed so it was hard to find information. As time went on though I started learning, from attending informative panels at cons, meeting more cosplayers and becoming more active online. These are the top 10 things I wish someone had told me when I was a cosplay noob. I hope it can be helpful to new cosplayers
10. Pre wash your cosplay fabric.
Natural fibers shrink when you wash them, fabric has sizing in it you need to wash out. Just do it man, it’s so worth it.
9. Finish your seams.
You don’t have to have a serger, there are plenty of methods to finish raw seams that vary from easy to more complex. All of them however will give you a cleaner overall garment and impress judges (if you are looking into competing). They also make your costumes last longer. Pinking sheers, zig zag stitch, french seams, lining… there is no excuse not to finish them so do it!
8. Always wear Makeup, yes even if you are cosplaying a male character.
I was never really into makeup so when I started cosplaying I didn’t wear any more than I normally would, which was at best some poorly applied eyeshadow and maybe mascara. When I crossplayed I figured boyx don’t wear makeup so I don’t need to! NOPE! Makeup is like a finishing piece to your cosplay, it evens out your skin tone and makes you look less shiny in photos. It’s especially crucial for cosplay because you can use it to contour your facial structure to give yourself a more masculine (or feminine) face. There are a ton of tutorials out there online from beauty application to extreme contouring and FX effects.
7. Make a mockup for your cosplay.
Muslin is cheap and chances are your fabric isn’t. Make a mock up of your costume to make sure everything is fitting correctly and it’s going to work out the way you want it to. They seem like a lot of work but once you have it done you don’t have to spend time re-fitting the actual garment. Even if you use a commercial pattern, they can be tricky at first so make a mock up.
6. Ask Questions.
It’s so easy to get connected to people these days, don’t be afraid to ask someone how they made something. Most of the time they will be more than happy to tell you. Some cosplayers even post tutorials. Go to panels at conventions and ask questions there, some of the best tips I’ve learned on construction where from sitting in on cosplay panels.
5. Learn what flatters your body.
Cosplay what you want, but also understand what types of garments will look good on you. You want to know going into a project what it might look like when you finish. There is nothing worse than pouring time and money into something you will be uncomfortable in.
4. Never be afraid to push yourself, but never be afraid to push a cosplay project back.
It’s good to challenge yourself, in fact I try to do it with every new costume I make. Learning new techniques and being creative is one of my favorite parts about cosplaying but NEVER let it get in the way of your health or your well being. If you start to get over stressed or you are just not sleeping consider putting the project off. If you get frustrated with something consider taking a break. I like to watch trashy TV to clear my mind
3. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
Its really easy to typecast yourself when you cosplay, especially if you do a lot of group costumes. Don’t let yourself fall into the same pattern over and over again, unless it’s what you really want to do. Don’t be afraid to push yourself whether it’s by the type of character you choose to represent or the skills needed to make the costume.
2. Cosplay is about what you want it to be about.
If you are in the cosplay community you’ve heard “cosplay is supposed to be about fun.” I don’t believe that statement is a good one because while it’s trying to be inclusive it’s actually very exclusive. Cosplay can be about fun, but it can also be about learning, modeling, crafting, creating, sweating, crying, competing…I could go on forever. Everyone cosplays for their own reasons, and no ones reasons are better or worse than anyone else’s. Cosplay because YOU want to cosplay, whatever your reason may be.
1. Cosplay what makes YOU happy.
It’s really easy to get swept up into the hype of a new series, or the excitement of a group. Don’t let yourself get talked into something that won’t make you 100% happy as you make and wear it. It’s ok to turn down an offer to join a cosplay group and it’s ok to choose something obscure. It’s also ok to cosplay as a 12 year old magical girl when you’re nearly 30 and 5′ 10″ if it makes you happy. Remember that inevitably someone may say something negative about your choices, but if you choose something you really love, use that love to overcome the negativity. There will always be negative people out there, but there are also really awesome and amazing supportive ones.