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[OtakuDesu]

:3 Hi everyone~ i've recently decided to do some cosplays...and i was hoping to get some tips from pros about cosplaying :

1. If I'm buying a costume online, what materials are considered as "good quality" ?
2. What materials are considered good for wigs?
3. If i want to cosplay a guy, what can i do to make my chest look...flatter...?
4. What do u do if you wear glasses, but the character you're cosplaying doesn't?
5. What are some things i should be aware of when considering cosplaying?

[C. Marie]

I'm by no means a pro, but hopefully I can be a bit of help. ^^;;

1. While I don't have the best answer for this, I can say that one should definitely beware of satin costumes. Someone else who has better knowledge of fabric can jump in.

3. See this thread: http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=223461

4. You can leave them on to walk around the con/wherever, and if someone wants a picture you just take them off. If you forget, though, it's no big deal.

5.
-This hobby can cost quite a bit of money. Don't forget to factor in the cost of footwear, accessories, etc.

[totorolover]

i do believe there are quite a few threads that answer most of your questions, use the search button, many topics are brought up all the time by first timers. as for #5 consider your comfort level ( are you comfortable walking in something big and bulky, or that includes lots of props) also weather, i try very hard not to wear heavy layered costumes in the heat it just makes things miserable. good luck to you

[OtakuDesu]

thanks for the replies!!

[kiratsukai]

If I'm buying a costume online, what materials are considered as "good quality" ?

None of what you can buy online premade from China is going to be "good quality" fabric. It's going to be cheap fabric -- usually polyester, poly twills and/or satin.

It isn't really something you can avoid unless you're willing to comission, specify fabrics yourself and pay the extra cost involved.

That said -- most polyester photographs well and is wrinkle-resistant. It's a cheap fabric, but it's often a very suitable one for costuming and comes in the widest range of vibrant colors. It's cheap. It feels cheap. It won't pleat all that well, it has no texture and it isn't particularly interesting to look at ~ but it looks pretty damnned good in a photo.

Satin, on the other hand, photographs pretty horribly. Unless you're buying from someone who knows their satins, it's probably best to avoid it. Shiny satin almost always looks cheap and it photographs poorly. It's probably a good rule to avoid buying satin versions of costumes that are obviously not meant to be formalwear, nightwear or shiny in their original incarnations. Nothing screams "noob" like showing up in a samurai outfit that looks more like something a stripper would wear than a warrior.

What materials are considered good for wigs?

Most wig makers use the same three basic materials (real hair, heat resistant plastic fiber, and non-heat resistant plastic fiber). All three are good for different things and fall into completely different cost brackets. More than the material involved is what you want to do with the wig, how it's been dyed, how thick it is and how well it's cut/styled. Looking at the reviews and wigs forums can give you an idea of the wide range of wigs available and what to expect. Different wigs are good for different things. What I think is a terrible wig might represent a perfectly useable deal to someone else and my idea of a bargain might represent a rip-off to someone else. It's all in what you want from your wig and how much you want to pay for it.

If i want to cosplay a guy, what can i do to make my chest look...flatter...?

You bind.

What do u do if you wear glasses, but the character you're cosplaying doesn't?

You get contact lenses, take off your glasses for photos or suffer a bit of inaccuracy for comfort.

What are some things i should be aware of when considering cosplaying?

Nothing really. At least... no moreso than there are things you should be aware of before attending a costume party or going to buy an ice cream cone. Cosplay isn't all that complex at its core. It's all up to you how serious you want to get and how hardcore you want to be.

[OtakuDesu]

:3 Thanks again for the pro replies! I guess polyester is the way to go for costumes~ as for wigs...i was at this cosplay meetup one time as saw this amazing wig, it looked so ....feather-like... and i've been wondering what that could be made of.

[kiratsukai]

Originally Posted by OtakuDesu

as for wigs...i was at this cosplay meetup one time as saw this amazing wig, it looked so ....feather-like... and i've been wondering what that could be made of.

If you want to make your own wigs/costumes or have them comissioned custom-made, the material possibilites are endless. You'll see wigs made of felt, foam, plastic, cardboard, feathers, fur, etc. If you're curious about a particular wig or costume, it's usually alright to ask the maker/wearer what it's made from. Most people like to "talk shop", it's part of the reason they cosplay.

[Mizuki Kagamine]

1: Like they said above, beware of Satin! It rips very easily and can get the WORST stains to get out. Some material that would be good can be anything really. Cotton, PVC, demin (Good for some costumes.)

2: By materials you mean wig types? Kankelon and Tokoleon (I think it's called.) If you don't mean wig types and how to take care of a wig then here: When you get a long wig, I suggest you braid it at night because tangled wigs are a BITCH to take care of! D: for short wigs, just brush it out and keep it on a wig head. ^,^

3: Bind. Binding doesn't hurt. It can if you do it to tight. You need ace bandage and a partner to help you bind! ^,^

4: Take em off for pictures if you're ever at a con! ^,^ or leave em on. Most people wont complain. And I dont think you wanna spend money on regular prescripted contacts JUST for cosplay.

5: Lots of things unfortunately. Sometimes when you buy your costumes online, the seller can rip you off. You won't get what you wanted. When at a con, if you're cosplaying a character thats popular, people will be inconsiderate and glomp you, ruining your costume. Sometimes they dont! But those are just the basics!

I hope this helped!

[PurpleDuckie]

If I'm buying a costume online, what materials are considered as "good quality" ?

As mentioned, satin is really the biggest thing to avoid. Otherwise, anything that looks like it has a shine to it might be bad. PVC (pleather, usually also shiny) tends to be used in some costumes it doesn't need to be which leads to it looking bad.

Otherwise, standard online store bought costumes are fair quality, they usually can stand a bit of wear (going by what my boyfriend has bought) and are usually lacking in parts or details which is what makes them poor.

What materials are considered good for wigs?
Avoid "party" wigs which are cheap plastic. Kanekalon and Toyokalon are good, most wigs that advertise themselves as "heat resistant" are pretty good.


If i want to cosplay a guy, what can i do to make my chest look...flatter...?

Binding. There are various ways to do this such as ace bandages wrapping the chest, or investing in a compression vest. Which works best really depends on your chest size, your budget, and how often you plan to crossplay. One weekend? Probably fine to go with ace bandages since the cost is cheaper. More than once? Compression vest is usually good. If you are particularily well endowed you might want to use a combination, such as a tight shirt and ace bandages or ace bandages and the compression vest.

What do u do if you wear glasses, but the character you're cosplaying doesn't?

Contacts are the easier option, otherwise people just take off their glasses for photos and wear them to get around the convention.

What are some things i should be aware of when considering cosplaying?
Generally, be aware of your body type when choosing a cosplay costume just as you would choosing a bathing suit or regular clothes. While it is not a necessity, it generally makes a costume better received. If you like a character but don't feel like you would be comfortable in the outfit you can look for alternate outfits (one example would be Yoko from Gurren Lagann, who has a skimpy outfit and a more reserved schoolteacher outfit)

Time restraints, budget restraints, and your ability. If you don't have a lot of time don't choose something complex, if you don't have a big budget then don't choose something with a lot of parts that are going to be costly to make. And if you can't sew or craft it is worth looking into commissioners or a store if the project might be too big for your skill level.

[OtakuDesu]

Thanks for answering all my questions =w= I hope i can actually get something done (I have the attention spend of a goldfish)

[RickyFromVegas]

First...cosplay.
Of course, it's the first time cosplay experience.
What was I thinking.