Kristie Good - Epic Cosplay Costumes: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Sewing Your Own Costume Designs

To my wonderful husband, Dave, who encourages me and helps keep me inspired to keep creating!

Greetings, and welcome to the world of cosplay! With this book, you can take the first steps toward making your very own costumesor simply learn new techniques for creating them.

If youre not already familiar, cosplay means different things to different people, but a common thread connects them all. Cosplay is about dressing up as a character. The term comes from the blending of the words costume and play, and originally referred mainly to costumes related to Japanese media, including animation and comics, that were worn to conventions.

These days, cosplay encompasses all sorts of costuming, but what it really boils down to is people portraying their love of characters and stories through costume. When it comes to getting a costume, some cosplayers may want to purchase or commission a costume, while others prefer to make it themselves (theres nothing wrong with either).

You might think costumes are just a Halloween thing, but in the world of cosplay, it goes far beyond that.

Probably the most common location to wear and see cosplay is at a convention. But just what is a convention?

A convention is a gathering of fans, typically lasting from two to four days, offering events focused around a particular genre or topic, including anime, video games, or a movie or TV series, such as Star Wars or Star Trek. Recently, all-purpose conventions have become popular. They encompass multiple genres and are often categorized as pop culture or media conventions because they may include comics, TV, movies, artwork, and more.

These gatherings can range in size from very small events taking place at a local hotel, attracting several hundred people, to shows attended by tens of thousands. If the latter sounds a little intimidating, dont fret! There are plenty of conventions that fall somewhere in the middle. (With a quick Internet search, you can usually find attendance figures for the previous years of a convention you are interested in going to.)

You can attend in everyday clothing or, as many cosplayers do, in costume. (Most costume-wearers choose outfits related to the theme of the convention for ease of being recognized.)

There is absolutely no requirement to wear a costume to a convention, but it is certainly one of the best places to experience cosplay!

Great costumes beget great photos. Some cosplayers will don costumes specifically for photographic reasons, whether its to do a themed photoshoot at a special location or just to be part of the coverage of a convention. You might also wear a costume to make it easier to meet up with other characters from the same media source, or to have a photographer snap a few shots of you in your character.

Poh-tay-to, Poh-tah-to

Conventions can go by many names. They are sometimes called shows or expos, and often convention is shortened to con. For the most part, these terms all refer to the same type of event: gatherings of people around a certain topic or genre.

Sometimes an event issues a casting call for cosplayers to help advertise or promote it. Not only do you get to wear your costume, but you can also help spread good will and excitement. As always, double-check the fine print, especially in regard to payment or reimbursement (it never hurts to be careful), as well as any rules regarding the event.

Cosplayers can be called on to help in a variety of ways: assisting at industry booths at conventions, for example, or appearing at charity events. Costumed characters may also be needed at the opening night for movie releases, geeky-themed concerts, outside events endorsed by conventions, even costume parties and picnics.

Its worth mentioning another place people cosplay is in competitive environments! A subset of cosplayers enjoy the thrill of competing against their fellow crafters for prizes and prestige. Usually cosplay competitions occur at conventions; they can be a main event for participating in or viewing.

Competitive cosplay lends itself to more detailed and intricate costumes that have been mostly (or entirely) made from scratch. The cosplayers who fall into this category pride themselves on re-creating the artwork as precisely as they can or performing on stage. Every competition is slightly different, but if youre interested in competing with your costumes, check out the rules for the convention youre attendingand give it a try. (.)

Everybody derives fun and enjoyment from different experiences, and cosplay is no different. Cosplay for the reasons you want to, and dont let anybody else tell you otherwise!