This is a response to Tips And Tricks To Know Before Attending Emerald City Comic Con.

So, it's no secret how popular Comic Cons are.

I find myself going to 2 or 3 a year. Since 2021, this has been frequent. And I always find myself worrying about what to wear or whether my outfit is good enough for a Comic Con.

What I have learnt is that Comic Con is a place free of judgement. November 2022 saw my first cosplay at a Comic Con, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was a great deal of fun and so many people, including the guests I met liked my outfit of choice.

So - My first cosplay was Samantha LaRusso from Cobra Kai and I fully intend to use that outfit for a convention again.

April Comic Con I did not dress up. Instead, I wore a t-shirt that correlated with the guests I was most excited to see. Example: So, I met Joseph Morgan from The Originals on the day one, so I wore a shirt relating to the show. On day two I met Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (Damon and Stefan in The Vampire Diaries) so wore my Mystic Falls hoodie.

Granted, it is always stressful when deciding what to cosplay as. In some cases, you can buy a costume. But - if you like shows such as Doctor Who, The Vampire Diaries etc, there are no really set costumes. Here, you will attempt to find screen accurate items. This has become a huge hobby of mine since 2021. I am collecting screen accurate clothing worn by Samantha in Cobra Kai.

I mostly find these items on secondhand sites such as eBay, Vinted or Depop. Despite being UK based, I am also lucky enough that I have great US friends who help me source items on Poshmark and post them out to me. Due to the show being US based, most of the clothes are being shipped from there. It takes a great deal of research, and does take a lot of time. But, by the end of it I hope to have some killer cosplays for future conventions!

However, if screen accurate isn't your thing - you can easily find similar items of clothing with less hassle. After all, cosplay is all about the fun. No matter your budget - just have fun with it. That is what is most important. Definitely try not to stress like I have been...

My next Comic Con is in August and I have been worrying what to wear like nobody's business! First of all I was going to do another Sam cosplay from Cobra Kai, then thought it was silly as none of the Cobra Kai cast will be appearing at this convention, and then I changed my mind to a completely different show... Now, I've circled back to Cobra Kai. Because ultimately, majority of people who dress up don't correlate with the guests attending. Ultimately, I want to have fun and that's exactly what I intend to do!

My advice to you is, if you want to cosplay - go for it. Do not let anyone else tell you otherwise. Have fun, it's your choice! Be creative with what you wear. Mix it up, or don't. As long as you are comfortable and happy.