Comic-Con events have become popular around the globe, and more conventions of this kind are being hosted in different countries periodically. If you’ve always been drawn to cosplaying, and you’ve finally decided to portray your favourite character, you’re probably worried that your costume won’t raise up to your expectations.
Buying an entire cosplay costume online, and one that looks good at the same time, can be extremely expensive, and you might not be able to afford to make that splurge yet. Well, you should know that you can prepare your own outfit at home, with less money, as long as you know a few useful tips and tricks on the matter.
Keeping up with cosplay pros is possible, even if you are a newbie. So, what exactly should you know on the subject? Here are a few useful pointers that will help you with your costume preparation:
Invest in a quality wig
It’s very unlikely for you to pick a character that actually has the same hair as you. So, one of the first things you should purchase for your costume is a wig. You may be tempted to pick out the cheapest option you come across, but you should know that a wig of poor quality could ruin your entire costume. This element will become a focal point of your entire outfit, and it should look great.
Investing a bit more money in a quality wig is recommended – you will be able to wear it more than once, and it will be kept in great condition over time. If you want something affordable, without compromising on quality, you can go online on sites such as Amazon. However, make sure that you read product reviews before placing an order. You can also look for recommendations from more experienced cosplayers since they already know where to find great wigs at the best prices.
Learn to improvise
Because you are not buying an entire costume from a cosplay store, but you’re creating your own, you should learn to improvise. Just because your character has specific details in their costume you couldn’t find in actual stores, that doesn’t mean that you can’t adapt by finding some replacements for your needed accessories.
You can find a wide variety of useful supplies at craft stores. For example, you can get affordable ribbons online if you need them for your hairstyle or you can make armours and masks out of craft foam – the options you have available are endless. You just need to improvise properly, and to not waste your time searching for those perfect-match costume elements and accessories.
Be detail-oriented
One of the golden rules for successful cosplaying is to be detail-oriented. If you decide to join a costume contest at comic-con, for example, each detail can make a difference. The people that usually draw your attention at these events are the ones that have added enough details to their overall look, and haven’t opted for a basic assemble solely.
Accessories, props, and makeup are all equally important. Whatever you think would make your entire look pop, you should go for it. The right makeup, for example, can completely upgrade your costume, making it seem far more authentic. The trick here is to carefully analyse the character you want to portray. Look over enough pictures and see what others have done to come closest to how that character looks like. Don’t be afraid to go overboard with details and to choose dramatic makeup. Go for costume details that you know will make people remember you.
Adopt a ‘thrifty’ approach
Go inside a few thrift stores and you might stumble upon some great finds that will help you complete your costume. Thrift stores are great for finding cosplay elements at low prices. Whether you’re looking for a shirt, a pair of boots, or a belt, a thrift store might be the best place to do your needed shopping on a budget. Since you will customize the items yourself, you don’t need to find clothes or accessories that look exactly as you have imagined them. For example, you can use craft foam and fabric paint to make any needed adjustments.
Start preparing early
A cosplay costume isn’t something you can just put together in a couple of days. If you want to have a memorable appearance and resemble the character as much as possible, without investing a lot of money, you need to start preparing with enough time in advance.
If you are cosplaying someone with multiple clothing pieces and a lot of accessories, it won’t be possible for you to create your ensemble with just a few days prior to the convention. Give yourself enough time to do it. As soon as you decide to join a comic-con event, look for supplies and start working on your character. Also, try on your entire finished costume a couple of times, to make sure you haven’t overlooked any important details.
Use your creativity and be original
The odds are that there will be a lot of people at the convention portraying the same character you’ve chosen. To stand out from the crowd, you should let your creativity run free and try to be as original as you can. Changing a certain aspect of the costume to better express your own personality and individuality is often a great idea. Gender-bending, for example, is an option worth considering. If you want to create a female version of a male character, just go for it. Anything that helps you show your authenticity is worth considering.
You’re probably excited to attend your first cosplay event if you’ve been wanting to join in on the fun for a long time. However, wanting to look your best also means you’ll deal with a few challenges when preparing your costume. Because you don’t have much experience here, it’s always best if you inform yourself on the subject properly and look for some tips from cosplay pros. The pointers suggested above could help you put together that perfect costume that you’re after. Remember that paying attention to detail matters most. So, use these suggestions to your advantage, and your first cosplay experience might turn out better than expected.
