What is Cosplay?

Cosplay [kos-pley]

noun: the art or practice of wearing costumes to portray characters from fiction, especially from manga, animation, and science fiction.

Why do you cosplay?

I have always been a fan of playing pretend ever since I was little. I loved the costumes that came with it and the seemingly magical ability of becoming whoever you wanted to be. As a young adult, cosplay allows me to capture this same special feeling, in a more public setting. People dream of becoming their greatest heroes, even for a day, and that is exactly what cosplay allows for.

If you have been to a convention in costume you know that to others, you aren’t you anymore. You are your costume. You are now known as Superman. It is an awesome experience to be called by the same name as your muse.

How do people make/ get their cosplays?

There are varying levels of cosplayers. There are four major types of cosplayers and how they go about forming their costume.

1. The Picasso

These are the people who have the ability to fully hand-make their costumes. They spend countless hours stitching and watching tutorial videos. They need a certain shade of light blue. Oftentimes, they are the perfectionists. They make many trips to Joanne’s Fabrics and put a lot of effort into the details. They know their way around an exacto-knife and a sewing machine.

They are artistically gifted cosplayers.

2. The Scroungers

Then there is a group, which is creative, but perhaps not as artistically talented. They are the scroungers who search for already created pieces and will put it together. They spend their money at Amazon, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and anywhere that they can find a certain piece. They are willing to do some cutting and maybe a little sewing. Their work doesn’t always come out as cleanly as the Picasso’s but they put a lot of research and work into their cosplay regardless. I would put myself in this category.

3. The Buyers

Next, there are the cosplayers who aren’t afraid to put large amounts of money into an already assembled costume. Good quality pre-assembled costumes can cost an upward of $200 or more but this cosplayer does not mind paying the price. They enjoy the act of wearing the costume most and does not enjoy the hard labor it takes to hand craft a costume. This is the most time efficient option but the least cost efficient.

4. The Commissioners

There is another group of cosplayers who partake in cosplay more so for a financial or popularity gain than for personal enjoyment. These people are sometimes models and sometimes are paid to wear a certain costume. The costume is usually provided for them in full, other times they may have to pay a fee. They can be independent with a fan base, or they can be doing it for a hired service or company. Either way, the commissioners are sure to get a lot of social media hits.

No matter which category a cosplayer may fall into, there is something amazing to be said about the act of cosplaying. Cosplay is a living form of art. If you have never cosplayed due to a fear of judgment, my advice to you is to just go for it. The experience is so much fun, and lets you play pretend in a welcoming environment. Besides, when you cosplay you aren’t Bill from the office, but to everyone, you are Superman. Think of yourself as Clark Kent.