Dragon Con in Atlanta is one of the best conventions for elaborate costume work — the photography, the community, and the events are all exceptional. But getting a large or fragile costume there in good condition requires planning.
Getting Your Costume There
Large hoop skirts, structured bodices, and multi-piece armor all present travel challenges. Heidi's hard-won advice:
- Pack in a large rolling suitcase — lay the skirt flat and fill the inside of the skirt with soft items (lingerie bags, socks, small accessories) to prevent crushing
- Use a garment bag for bodices and structured pieces — hang in the hotel closet immediately on arrival
- Remove removable accessories — headpieces, prop weapons, and detachable trains travel better in rigid boxes
- Steam, don't iron — a travel steamer removes convention wrinkles safely from most fabrics
At the Convention
- Carry a small emergency kit: safety pins, spirit gum, double-sided tape, a sewing needle and thread in your dress's color
- Wear the costume for a test run before the convention day — identify anything uncomfortable before you are hours from your hotel room
- Plan your schedule around the costume — large skirts are exhausting to wear for 12 hours; know when you will change
- Photograph everything before you leave the hotel room — you will want documentation of the costume in perfect condition
Heidi's Dragon Con History
Heidi has attended Dragon Con multiple times with large group cosplays: The Endless from Sandman (five costumes), Venture Brothers (Monarch and Dr. Mrs.), Star Trek TOS, and Wonder Woman. The most logistically complex was The Endless — five separate characters requiring coordination across multiple people's wardrobes.