How’s it going friends! Today I wanted to talk about some of my top 10 tips for beginner cosplayers or those thinking about cosplaying for the first time. Alright, let’s get started.
# 1 Don't be afraid to start
I think this is the biggest challenge for new or prospective cosplayers. I know everyone sees some amazing cosplays online and think "there's no way I could make that!" and that may be true FOR NOW! Those amazing cosplayers didn't start out that amazing. It took time, practice, and even more practice after that.
#2 If you're making your cosplay, pick a character you LOVE...like really love.
This is more for the hard times. The times you make something and it just looks not great. You get discouraged and start to doubt yourself and may not want to keep working on it. For me, this is why I always choose a character I have some sort of connection with because if I don't then I may not be inspired to continue. It's ok to take breaks as long as you come back.
Okami was on my list for years before I thought I could do her justice...even then I had some pretty frustrating moments. However, the love for the character inspired me to continue.
#3. Research, research, and research
This is the fun but also hard part. I've already gone into a bit of my own cosplay planning process in much greater detail. It may get overwhelming with all the information out there, but start with breaking down your cosplay into pieces and try to research what you need for each piece. Also for beginners, I recommend browsing the major sewing pattern makers McCalls | Simplicity | Vogue for patterns that are close to your character's pieces. For armor pieces, there are a ton of templates available online for good base pieces. Youtube is your friend and there are tons of great creators that can teach how to use different tools.
#4. Read the convention cosplay rules
This is more to save you from heartache down the line. You don't want to make a prop only to find out that you take it to the con. While every con is different, there are usually some standard rules: no live steel, no super sharp/pointy bits, etc.
#5. (Preferably) Keep it simple
I definitely didn't follow this one way back in 2006. This is more so to help keep you motivated to finish without being overwhelmed. However, if you are like me and want to jump in feet first into the deep end, then go for it! I learned so much but it was really challenging. You can do something as simple as a "closet" or plain clothes cosplay. You can even start out by altering clothes you get a thrift shop. If you want to do armor
#6. It won't be perfect, and that's OK!
You will make it and I'll be honest with you, it won't be everything you hoped and dreamed it would be. There will be flaws, you will notice them, but it doesn't matter! You did it! You made a thing and you should be proud! It takes practice and just know that the more you keep crafting, the more you will improve.
Example from my first, I'm missing the blue boot cuffs, the gold shoes don't go up high enough, wrong color belt, top of the shirt goes too high, and wrong color pink of the skirt. No one said a single bad thing to me the whole time, nor did they notice.
#7. Don't compare yourself to other cosplayers.
2009 2013 2018 2020
This one is hard both online and off. However, cosplay is a journey and you are only competing against the you from before. Keep it in mind that everyone started somewhere and it's not fair to compare a beginner to someone with over 10 years experience. It's also not fair to compare how fast or slow you make a cosplay against other people. Some people have more time/money/help to make cosplays. I've had some cosplays take years (Samus) and others go much faster. Breathe and take your time. Also, if you see a cosplayer that is cosplaying the same character, congrats! You're both fans of the same thing, now you have tons to talk about. Others might try to compare cosplayers who are cosplaying the same thing, but again; everyone starts somewhere!
#8. Expensive tools don't make your cosplay look better, practice does
The nice thing about doing simpler cosplays is they don't require any crazy specialty tools. Honestly, if I had to pick the most versatile/most-used tools it would be: a sewing machine (cheap Walmart one is fine) , a dremel, a sharp utility knife (+ spare blades). Those are my most used tools, but you can honestly sew with just a needle and thread. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that the super fancy sewing machine will make sewing the garment super easy (wrong!). Up until a few years ago, I sewed all of my cosplays with the same brother sewing machine that I bought at Walmart for around $200 after tax. So the same sewing machine for 10+ years! There are tons of materials out there and you can experiment and maybe find a new technique.
#9. Yes, you can buy your cosplay instead of making it
I know a lot of this has been about making a cosplay, but you can buy one too. Just keep in mind that for a lot of those shops, they are based in China and shipping will take a long time. It will also be of a lesser quality generally. However, this is a great and cost-effective way to give cosplay a try to see if you really like the cosplay experience before investing in materials to make it yourself. I would encourage anyone to make their own cosplay as I think it's a fun learning experience.
#10. There's no limit to who you can cosplay
It doesn't matter your age, gender, body shape, or skin color; you can cosplay whomever you want! The only good rule is to not alter your skin color to any naturally occurring skin color. You run a high risk of offending people for very valid reasons.
Cosplay is for everyone! It's about having fun and showing your fandom through your craft.
There we go folks! I hope you found these tips to be helpful. If you have any questions or see one that I missed, feel free to comment or message me on Facebook or Instagram
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