Emma
The Ultimate Newbie Guide for Starting Cosplaying
Have you ever wanted to pretend like you’re a character from your favorite Japanese animation series? Maybe you’ve fantasized about putting on a costume and showing people your passion for a certain fandom?
Then, cosplaying is an amazing hobby for people like you! Being able to transform into your beloved characters with only fabric, wigs, and makeup is a great way for you to be able to express yourself creatively and connect with like-minded people. To help you get started with getting into cosplay, here are some nifty tips that you can follow:
Step 1: Choose and connect with your character
Bringing a character to life means you are connected with the character. Make sure that you actually love and understand the character of the cosplay you are planning to do. It makes a big difference if you’re excited and motivated to cosplay a certain fictional personality rather than if you feel forced to do it. Do more research about the character by watching the anime series or movie where he or she appears so that you will gain a deeper knowledge to help with your characterization.
Choose a character based on the complexity of the costume. If you’re a beginner in cosplay, that means you don’t have a lot of experience with regards to the creation of the costume itself. It is encouraged to choose a character with a fairly simple costume for your first cosplay. If you choose something complex like a suit of armor for your first time, there’s a chance that it might overwhelm you and you would not be able to complete the costume satisfactorily. Here’s a list of the best cosplay ideas of 2021, included are some of the easiest cosplays 🙂
Step 2: Time management and resourcefulness
This step is one of the most important ones that you should not overlook. If you’re doing your first cosplay, allot at least three to four months before the convention to complete your characterization and costume. Resourcefulness is a skill that you need not only for your costume creation but also for your characterization. Use your resources to your advantage — from Googling other cosplayers who cosplay the same character you like to looking for tutorials on YouTube on how to do the character’s costume or makeup. Not only will this skill be useful for your character accuracy, but it will also make your whole life as a cosplayer easier.
Step 3: Construct your cosplay costume
There are four methods of how you get a costume for your cosplay. The first one will be a closet cosplay. It is the most budget-friendly one that requires you to check your closet for any items that resemble your character’s costume. The second one is buying your costume from online shops like eBay and Amazon.
Make sure to research thoroughly and check the reviews if ever you decide to buy from online shops. The third method entails commissioning somebody to make your costume for you. The last method is you can make your costume yourself from scratch if you’re confident in your sewing and crafting skills already.
Some great guides for beginner costume making:
Step 4: Socialize, make friends, and have fun!
The whole point of cosplay is to express yourself creatively, show your love for a favorite character, and connect with people who have the same passion as you do. If it’s your first time attending a cosplay convention, it would be best if you go with a friend.
Once you’re in the convention, try to make conversation and socialize with others. Greet people who are cosplaying as characters that you recognize, take lots of pictures, and that’s where it all starts! Make sure to have fun while you’re at it!
For upcoming cosplay conventions near you, check out comic-cons.xyz 🙂
