Cosplay 101Cosplay 101

An introduction to fan An introduction to fan costumingcostuming

What is “cosplay”?What is “cosplay”?

Cosplay = costume-playCosplay = costume-play Generally, fandom-related costumingGenerally, fandom-related costuming

A (Very) Brief HistoryA (Very) Brief History1939: At the first World Science 1939: At the first World Science

Fiction Convention (aka Worldcon), Fiction Convention (aka Worldcon), Forrest J Ackerman and friend Myrtle Forrest J Ackerman and friend Myrtle R Jones wore SF costumesR Jones wore SF costumes

1984: Inspired by Worldcon 1984: Inspired by Worldcon costuming, Japanese journalist Nov costuming, Japanese journalist Nov Takahashi coined the term “cosplay” Takahashi coined the term “cosplay” and the hobby was adopted by and the hobby was adopted by Japanese anime and manga fansJapanese anime and manga fans

1990’s: popularity of Japanese media 1990’s: popularity of Japanese media rises in North America, and cosplay is rises in North America, and cosplay is re-imported as part of anime fandomre-imported as part of anime fandom

Costuming vs. CosplayCostuming vs. Cosplay

Historically:Historically: Costuming has heavier focus on creativity, Costuming has heavier focus on creativity,

making your own costume, detail and making your own costume, detail and embellishment; original creations are encouragedembellishment; original creations are encouraged

Cosplay has heavier focus on looking exactly like Cosplay has heavier focus on looking exactly like a character, acting and speaking like your a character, acting and speaking like your character, purchasing/commissioning costumes character, purchasing/commissioning costumes is OK; recreating costumes of established is OK; recreating costumes of established character designs only character designs only

Realistically:Realistically: Same sh*t, different nameSame sh*t, different name

The bottom line?The bottom line?Have fun. If you’re not enjoying Have fun. If you’re not enjoying

wearing your costume, it doesn’t wearing your costume, it doesn’t matter whether or not it’s home matter whether or not it’s home made, whether or not it’s accurate, or made, whether or not it’s accurate, or if your wig even fits on your head; if your wig even fits on your head; there’s no point.there’s no point.

The rest of this presentation will relate The rest of this presentation will relate to feeling comfortable and looking to feeling comfortable and looking your best in your costume, but it is not your best in your costume, but it is not the rules you the rules you havehave to follow to cosplay to follow to cosplay

So, you want to cosplay?So, you want to cosplay?

Decide on a character or conceptDecide on a character or conceptBreak-down the costume and plan for Break-down the costume and plan for

what you needwhat you needBuy and/or make what you needBuy and/or make what you needTest-drive your costume before Test-drive your costume before

taking it out in publictaking it out in publicHave fun and show off!Have fun and show off!

Pick your characterPick your character

Usually best to start out with one of your Usually best to start out with one of your favoritesfavorites

Break-down the designBreak-down the design

Break-down the designBreak-down the design

Things to considerThings to consider

BudgetBudgetDeadlineDeadlineSkill levelSkill levelModificationsModifications

Based on the aboveBased on the aboveBased on physical realities (gravity)Based on physical realities (gravity)Based on your comfort level (modesty, Based on your comfort level (modesty,

body shape)body shape)

Pick Two:Pick Two:

FAST

GOODCHEAP

Getting StartedGetting Started

Make sure to bring Make sure to bring your reference with your reference with you when you when shopping!shopping!

Introduction to fabricsIntroduction to fabrics

Recommended:Recommended: TwillTwill Broadcloth (lining)Broadcloth (lining) Quilting cottonQuilting cotton FlanneletteFlannelette Satin (dull)Satin (dull) TaffetaTaffeta

FleeceFleece Cotton knitsCotton knits

Not Not Recommended:Recommended: Broadcloth (main)Broadcloth (main) Satin (shiny, thin)Satin (shiny, thin) Lining fabricLining fabric ChiffonChiffon OrganzaOrganza Vinyl, PVCVinyl, PVC

Swimwear spandexSwimwear spandex

SewingSewing Pattern – self made or commercialPattern – self made or commercial

Easy to alter: length of sleeves, pants, skirts; Easy to alter: length of sleeves, pants, skirts; fullnessfullness

Hard to alter: necklines, armholes, crotchHard to alter: necklines, armholes, crotch Read Read allall instructions before starting instructions before starting Lay out pieces carefullyLay out pieces carefully Mark front/back, right/left etc on Mark front/back, right/left etc on

your pieces with chalk or your pieces with chalk or

disappearing markerdisappearing marker PIN EVERYTHINGPIN EVERYTHING Press (iron) at every stepPress (iron) at every step

Avoiding SurprisesAvoiding Surprises

Try it on and make Try it on and make adjustments as you goadjustments as you go Wear the underwear Wear the underwear

you will be wearing you will be wearing with the costumewith the costume

same for layers, same for layers, bindingbinding

Don’t just rely on a Don’t just rely on a mirror – take a photo mirror – take a photo of the back or have an of the back or have an honest friend take a honest friend take a look for problemslook for problems

WigsWigs

Wigs > real hairWigs > real hair Wear a wig capWear a wig cap Avoid “party” quality Avoid “party” quality

wigswigs Look for “kanekalon” Look for “kanekalon”

or “heat resitant” fiberor “heat resitant” fiber Style using hairspray; Style using hairspray;

gel won’t workgel won’t work Colour using alcohol-Colour using alcohol-

based colour; hair dye based colour; hair dye won’t workwon’t work

Good Wig ResourcesGood Wig Resources

arda-wigs.comarda-wigs.comepiccosplay.comepiccosplay.comstores.ebay.com/cosplayanimewigsstores.ebay.com/cosplayanimewigsstores.ebay.com/cosplaywigstores.ebay.com/cosplaywig

Cosplay.com/wigsCosplay.com/wigs

MakeupMakeup

Basic makeup (foundation, concealer, Basic makeup (foundation, concealer, powder) for everyone – male or femalepowder) for everyone – male or female

Use darker and lighter shades to Use darker and lighter shades to shadow and highlightshadow and highlight

Facepaint/bodypaint – Aquacolor, Facepaint/bodypaint – Aquacolor, SnazzarooSnazzaroo

Contacts – theatrical and circle Contacts – theatrical and circle

lenseslenses

Shoes and BootsShoes and Boots

Often very hard to find Often very hard to find exactly the right exactly the right footwearfootwear

Something close or at Something close or at least appropriate is least appropriate is better than something better than something way off way off

An alternative is to make An alternative is to make a fabric cover for a base a fabric cover for a base shoe aka “boot covers”shoe aka “boot covers” Can be removable or Can be removable or

permanentpermanent Check the-cosplay-Check the-cosplay-

scion.deviantart.com for a scion.deviantart.com for a simple tutorialsimple tutorial

WeaponsWeapons Check convention or event rules for their Check convention or event rules for their

weapons/large prop policyweapons/large prop policy Generally, con-safe materials include wood, Generally, con-safe materials include wood,

foam, plastic; metal weapons are often foam, plastic; metal weapons are often bannedbanned

AccessoriesAccessories

Consider adding a coordinating bag Consider adding a coordinating bag to your costume if it doesn’t have to your costume if it doesn’t have functional pocketsfunctional pockets

Hats, gloves, glasses are all better Hats, gloves, glasses are all better off purchased and altered than made off purchased and altered than made from scratchfrom scratch

Masks – make sure you have clear Masks – make sure you have clear vision or a friend to be a “handler”vision or a friend to be a “handler”

Dollar-store toys are great starting Dollar-store toys are great starting points for creating props (just ask a points for creating props (just ask a steampunker!)steampunker!)

BeforeBefore going to the Con going to the Con

Put on all the pieces togetherPut on all the pieces togetherMake sure everything fitsMake sure everything fitsMake sure you can moveMake sure you can moveLook for strained seamsLook for strained seamsComfort of footwear, head-wearComfort of footwear, head-wearPossible wardrobe malfunctions Possible wardrobe malfunctions

(the “YAY” test)(the “YAY” test)

BeforeBefore going to the Con going to the Con

Make a list of all the partsMake a list of all the partsFigure out packing (and long-term Figure out packing (and long-term

storage)storage)Pack an emergency repair kitPack an emergency repair kitPractice poses for photosPractice poses for photos

If you have a group costume, practice If you have a group costume, practice togethertogether

Time to Show Off!Time to Show Off! Get in character!Get in character!

Meet people in the hallway!Meet people in the hallway!

Enter the costume contest!Enter the costume contest!

Do a photo shoot!Do a photo shoot!

Do a video interview!Do a video interview!

Share your creativity with the world!Share your creativity with the world!

and get a little more advanced…and get a little more advanced…

Crossplay vs. GenderbendingCrossplay vs. Genderbending

CrossplayCrossplay

Female to MaleFemale to Male Binding breastsBinding breasts

Tensor bandageTensor bandage Compression vestCompression vest

Facial shading Facial shading (makeup) for more (makeup) for more masculine features, masculine features, facial hairfacial hair

Minimal “fashion” Minimal “fashion” makeupmakeup

Pad out waist to create Pad out waist to create straighter figure from straighter figure from shoulder to hipshoulder to hip

Male to FemaleMale to Female Tucking genitaliaTucking genitalia False breastsFalse breasts

Stuffed braStuffed bra Silicone prostheticsSilicone prosthetics

““fashion” makeup to fashion” makeup to feminize features feminize features (lipstick, eye shadow, (lipstick, eye shadow, false lashes)false lashes)

Opaque flesh-tone Opaque flesh-tone tightstights

Waist cincher for Waist cincher for hourglass figurehourglass figure

Working with BodysuitsWorking with Bodysuits

Spandex is unforgivingSpandex is unforgiving Buy a “zentai suit” on eBay, or Buy a “zentai suit” on eBay, or

a unitard from a dancewear a unitard from a dancewear shop (Bal Togs)shop (Bal Togs)

Cheaper to make your own, but Cheaper to make your own, but takes intermediate to advanced takes intermediate to advanced patterning and sewing skillspatterning and sewing skills

Get the right underwearGet the right underwear Think about accessibility (how Think about accessibility (how

will you eat? use the will you eat? use the bathroom?)bathroom?)

Good Luck,Good Luck,Now go and make amazing Now go and make amazing

costumes!costumes!

Images used belong to Venture Brothers and Images used belong to Venture Brothers and MetalocalypseMetalocalypse

[adult swim][adult swim]

Photos belong to Mai SheriPhotos belong to Mai Sheri

Jennifer “Mai Sheri” Wynne 2012Jennifer “Mai Sheri” Wynne 2012For The Rusty GearFor The Rusty Gear