What is Cosplay? Cosplay, short for “costume play”, is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. People often think of cosplayers as people who dress up as anime characters at conventions, but anyone can be a cosplayer!
Cosplaying doesn’t require elaborate costumes either; you could make your own fantasy version of yourself with just some basic supplies. Cosplay has grown into a billion-dollar industry and Cosplayers get the chance to show off their creativity at conventions, meet-ups, or even in online forums.
Now that Cosplay has become so popular, many people are looking for ways to make their own Cosplay character. Here is a guide on how you can create your very own Cosplay character! First of all, it’s important to figure out what kind of Cosplayer you want to be.
Do you like anime? If yes then which Anime do you prefer? You also need to consider whether or not this will be your first Cosplaying experience. If it is, don’t worry about trying too hard at first since even the most experienced cosplayers started somewhere. Once you have figured out who your favorite Cosplayer would be (it could even just be someone from one series) let’s go over some basic steps of Cosplay!
Cosplay is a hobby that allows fans of anime, manga, and video games to dress up as their favorite characters. Cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character from a show or game, either historically accurate or in an original design. This article will teach you how to make your own Cosplay Character.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Create a storyboard for your character
- 2 2. Draw the design of your character
- 3 3. Find materials to make your costume
- 4 4. Sew or glue together the pieces of fabric, so they are comfortable and durable
- 5 5. Accessorize with makeup, jewelry, props, etc., to give it more flair
- 6 6. Take pictures in different locations while wearing the costume so you can share with others on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook.
1. Create a storyboard for your character
Cosplayers are often known for creating their own unique, completely original character. This way, when you begin shopping around for different materials needed for the project, you’ll have an idea already formed!
You can create a board on Pinterest or another platform that allows you to share images in order to keep all of these ideas together in one place! Your storyboard should include details about what your cosplay is intended to be and how it will work with the costume design.
You can do this on paper or even using Photoshop. Think of the different poses that they would get into during an action-packed cosplay event! For example, if your Cosplay character is from Game of Throne, think of all the dramatic fight scenes between characters and how their costumes might look in those situations!
You can also include friends who may be portraying other Cosplayers at any events to help make your final image more interesting. This will give you plenty to work with when it comes time to create new Cosplays or designs based on these references. If you use software like Photoshop then don’t forget that there are many Cosplay templates that you can use for your characters.
There are also plenty of Cosplay forums, groups, and even apps out there where people with similar interests hang out so why not join in on the conversation? You never know who may have some great advice or a tip to help take your Cosplays up a notch!
2. Draw the design of your character
Start with designing your Cosplay character’s face. Sketch out their features, facial structure, and hair – or lack of! Next up is designing their body, clothes and accessories like swords, shields, etc. Draw these designs onto another sheet so that they are separate from the initial sketches.
Make sure all parts look proportional against each other before colouring them in later on. You can place this sketch to the side for now as you design the rest of your Cosplay character.!
Drawing your character is an essential step in the process of cosplaying because you will be able to work out how complex the costume needs to be. Cosplay characters are often very complicated, and this can make them expensive, so it’s good to plan ahead. If you want a simple outfit, things like armour or wings might not need much more than some craft foam,m but other costumes may require hours of hand sewing!
As always, there are no rules when it comes to making cosplays, so if yours turns out looking completely different from the one on TV/in games, that’s perfectly fine! You should draw what you feel comfortable wearing yourself rather than concentrating too hard on trying to look exactly like someone else. Cosplay is supposed to be fun, and this is especially true when it comes to designing your own character.
3. Find materials to make your costume
When you start looking for cosplay materials, it can be overwhelming. Cosplayers obsess over detail and spend months crafting their costumes to the best of their abilities. Making your own costume is a fun way to celebrate fandom and show off your creativity!
Cosplaying isn’t just about wearing a costume; it’s about embodying the character that you’re portraying through dress-up. With so many different ideas floating around Pinterest or Tumblr, making your first cosplay might seem like an impossible task! Here are some tips on where to find materials:
- Secondhand stores often have a selection of used supplies, including fabrics and wigs.
- Cosplay supply stores sell materials that are specifically designed for costumes.
- Thrift shops, garage sales, and even the Salvation Army can be great places to find clothes or items you could use in your costume!
- Cosplay Supply Websites: Cosplaysky is a great place to shop for fabric! The site has everything from basic cotton to spandex that you can buy in bulk at wholesale prices.
When it comes time to decorate your costume, remember this rule: the more work you put into making something look good, the fewer people will notice later on down the line. If someone does comment about how bad an accessory looks or whatnot, just let them know that cosplaying isn’t always perfect and thank them for their feedback. Remember–there’s no such thing as “bad” cosplay because everyone who loves fandom enough dresses up should feel accepted regardless of how they look. Cosplaying is supposed to be fun, and that’s what it should stay as!
4. Sew or glue together the pieces of fabric, so they are comfortable and durable
Suppose you will make a cosplay character, dress in the fabric’s color, and style your hair like it. Some fabrics will not stretch or allow lengthening, so there needs to be sufficient room for movement. You might also want to add any accessories that go with it, such as swords, hats, etc., depending on what you plan on making. Also, keep in mind when sewing pieces together, if they need extra support, sew them twice but remember, do not overdo this step as then seams become very thick and rigid, which can cause discomfort when wearing your costume all day long! Make sure everything fits before finishing your work and stitching up the final seam.
To turn your cosplay idea into a real-life costume, you need to sew or glue together the pieces of fabric, so they are comfortable and durable. Cosplayers need this step because their costumes will be worn at conventions or other costumed events where many different people try on the same outfit as them. Cosplayers have been known to have a tough time finding particular items needed in their outfits due to individual sizing preferences within that character’s universe. In addition, sewing these pieces can help prevent someone from getting too hot while wearing the piece during convention season, typically lasting from March through October, depending upon what part of America one lives in. It is best practice for cosplayers who live somewhere cold to make sure that they finish their costumes before the end of October. However, cosplayers who live in warmer climates should be mindful of what materials they use to avoid sweating too much and ruining delicate pieces like wigs or light-colored fabrics.
5. Accessorize with makeup, jewelry, props, etc., to give it more flair
Test out the Cosplayer’s makeup on yourself before applying it to your face. Apply liquid eyeliner with a thin brush after putting on fake lashes to blend in better if needed. If you’re going for a character with more enormous eyes, don’t forget to wear fake eyelashes or Cosplay contact lenses.
You can purchase them online at most websites that sell Cosplay costumes and accessories. Some characters have unique looks such as cat ears, elf ears, animal tails, etc., which may require additional props such as wigs, headbands/jewelry (such as gemstones), and faux fur tails that match the outfit of choice.
Try making these items instead of purchasing them since this will help Cosplay’s character originality. Some Cosplayers take pride in making their costumes and accessories, so be sure to support them by purchasing items from your local Cosplay marketplace or online retailers such as eBay, Amazon, etc., instead of buying directly from the manufacturer.
If you’re going for a specific Cosplayer, keep an eye out on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., for photos that may include hints/clues about makeup worn at different events. You can get ideas just by watching detailed tutorials posted online too! Test it all out before applying if needed since these Cosplayers usually get into character wearing false eyelashes and often use light-colored eyeshadow (such as white) with dark shadowing around the eyes to make them pop.
Cosplayers often wear fake eyelashes to complete their Cosplay character looks since regular makeup doesn’t usually show up in photographs very well. If your Cosplaying character is meant for Halloween, consider practicing the look before attending any Cosplay conventions or events so you can get comfortable with it and perfect your Cosplayer’s style.
Then again, if you’re going to be wearing a costume at night time, feel free to try out smoky eye shadow or darker colors such as black/grey around the eyes. These work best when applied close together but not touching each other, which will help give off that mysterious dark appearance and makes eyes appear larger than they are! When using this technique and fake lashes, Cosplayers often apply light-colored eyeshadow on the inner corners of their eye to brighten them up.
You can accessorize your Cosplay with makeup, jewelry, props, etc., to give it more flair. You can even use cosmetic enhancements on certain parts of the Cosplay, like adding decals or dying some different fabric colors!
6. Take pictures in different locations while wearing the costume so you can share with others on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook.
Cosplay is not just about wearing the costume. And it’s also getting into character. Cosplayers are encouraged to have fun with their costumes and pose for pictures in different spots around town or at special events that they attend.
Cosplayers are encouraged to take pictures of themselves in costume at well-known locations or landmarks. Cosplay is not just about wearing the costume. It’s also getting into character. Cosplayers are encouraged to have fun with their costumes and pose for pictures in differ
ent spots around town or at special events that they attend.
People love to see their favorite characters from movies, comics, and video games come alive through cosplay, so it’s a good idea for cosplayers to pose with iconic items that remind people of the character they’re portraying. People love to see their favorite characters from movies, comics, and video games come alive through cosplay, so it’s a good idea for cosplayers to pose with iconic items that remind people of the character they’re portraying.
Cosplayers should also be creative when taking pictures. This will help them stand out more on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, where others can share their photos taken while wearing costumes similar to the character they are portraying. Cosplayers should also be creative when taking pictures.
This will help them stand out more on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, where others can share their photos taken while wearing costumes similar to the character they are portraying. Take your time with each pose, you might not get it right away, but practice makes perfect!
Sharing is caring!