Ⓒosplay Ⓕemmes

People about cosplay...

You absolutely do not have to make your own costume to cosplay! Made or bought, cosplay is cosplay. Cosplay is more than making an outfit. It can include makeup, wig styling, and prop making too, besides sewing the costume. Some people, like me, style their own wigs and do their own makeup, but can’t sew or craft. Some people simply wear the costume and don’t make any of it, and that’s fine too. This cosplay elitism needs to stop, of course it isn’t wrong to buy a costume. As long as you’re having fun, you’re doing it right.

I think it is just fashion modeling in disguise. (pun intended)

Overall it is a harmless fun. As a creator (artist or writer) there is no greater honor than someone loving your show so much they would dress as your character and even try to be like them. Even against the possible ridicule.

Playing pretend can be fun. And it’s something everyone even families can engage.

But if you look at the most famous and successful cosplayers (as in Twitter famous) they are either:

A) People that could be modeling in mainstream modeling agencies.

This one is the category that gives more envy and disappointment to your average cosplayers. Of course they will get more attention even if your costume is more “comic/book” accurate or well done.

Like I said, cosplaying is basically fashion modeling. They look amazing and it’s nice to see models having a nerdy side.

B) People with awesome disguises that resemble the original show or movie.

In this category you’re judged by your amazing sewing skills.

So for being ultra famous you need to be one of those categories. But if not it’s just harmless fun you do with friends.

Think of it as early Halloween.

Sadly as a lawyer it isn’t professional for me to do this. But I respect people that do.

Absolutely not! There are exceptions, but even seasoned cosplayers who enjoy the crafting side of things will often buy parts of their costume. There’s an entire segment of the community that does commission work who wouldn’t have any business at all without the parts of the community who find skipping to the dressing up stage to be most fulfilling.

So long as you are having a good time and participating ethically (not taking credit for a costume someone else made, for example), you are doing cosplay exactly right!