Hello everyone! I've been cosplaying for roughly five years now, and figured I'd give you guys some tips! For my fellow craftsmen who make their costumes by hand -- 1. always plan multiple design outcomes and rough sketches before, then pick the best design. it causes more fluid thinking when it comes to designing and resources used, as well as techniques. 2. always have a completed character design on hand! also, references are critical to EVERYTHING!! if you're cosplaying a cartoon character, always research the real physics of what their wearing! such as how furs drape over your shoulders, how fabric folds, the physics of their hair, how armor works, etc, because most of the time, the real life outcome will be DRASTICALLY different than the cartoon! 3. when working with foam props, wood filler is amazing! filling in the gaps in the foam adds such an amazing look of precision to the whole thing! also, heat-sealing the foam before going over everything with mod podge or primer closes the little pores in the foam, making it look solid like metal or hard plastic. great technique to use if you're making wood texture or armor! 4. be patient when waiting for your paint to dry! (this is coming from one impatient b****, and I know it's hard to be patient at times) but it will always be worth the amazing results in the end, and, you'll get less paint stuck under your fingernails. 5. always have superglue, spirit gum, a needle and thread, and makeup wipes on hand as your cosplay emergency kit. trust me, it saved me (and a friend) at the event this photo was taken at lol.
(this is a cosplay I did a couple days ago of my OC, Myrsky. made the whole costume by hand except the shoes and I'm really happy with it :D) Ignore the skeleton in the background, I was at a Halloween party when this picture was taken LMBO just some tips to keep in mind in general-- 1. when cosplaying in public, be confident! remember there are no rules saying you can't cosplay! well, there are a couple exceptions, but I don't think this community will go that far. anyways, though, confidence adds such an amazing element to the cosplay in general, so don't be too shy! 2. carry a cosplay first aid kit! as shown in the top notes, it's always worth it in case something bad and unexpected happens to your cosplay! 3. still on the topic of cosplaying in public, take a buddy with you! makes things more fun and a lot less stressful. it's even better if you're both in cosplay. heck, going as a big group of cosplayers is really really fun too! 4. if you're new to cosplay entirely, don't always go for the biggest builds and such. if you really want to get into making props and costumes, first start by buying a costume and altering it to fit the character, your body type, etc. then start taking further steps and learn new techniques! 5. when putting on cosplay makeup, pay attention to your facial features! though the tutorial online may say to do one thing, remember their face is not the same as yours, so sometimes you need to alter the techniques so that they work for you! (tip for people who are like me, lacking cheekbones or having a roman nose, use dark paint to contour, and use a s*** ton of highlighter to brighten higher points on your face. it makes things look a lot less chalky.) 6.CONTACTS. this is a big one I always get questions about. Contacts, in my opinion, are not always mandatory. they're more like a final detail to top everything off. you shouldn't feel pressured to wear them, especially if they don't react well with your eye type! for those of you who DO want to wear contacts, here is the website I always go to, they got a lot of options. Uniqso.com 7. for my people who make things by hand: set deadlines for yourself! this doesn't mean short deadlines, they can be lengthy ones so you have plenty of time, but having deadlines in general cut down on procrastination and make sure your cosplay is done in time for events, cons, photoshoots, etc. 8. Skin preparation and care is just as important as the cosplay makeup itself! making sure your skin is clean and moisturized before applying the makeup will make sure that the paint and makeup won't crack on your face or look chalky. 9. aight, I can't stress this enough, but cosplay is meant to be fun. if you're at a convention or festival or whatever, don't poke fun at other peoples costumes. in the end, all us cosplayers just do this to have fun and to represent the character we're cosplaying. remember to be kind and be a good representative of the community :D
