Cosplay — short for "costume play" — is the art of dressing as a character from a film, book, game, comic, or animation. It is practiced at conventions, events, and photo shoots around the world. If you are thinking about trying it for the first time, here is everything you need to know to get started.
Choosing Your First Character
For your first cosplay, choose a character you genuinely love — not just a character who looks easy or impressive. Passion for the character carries you through the frustrating parts of construction and makes wearing the costume much more fun. Then consider:
- Complexity — for a first cosplay, simpler designs are more achievable and more likely to actually get finished
- Reference images — the more reference images exist, the easier it is to get details right
- Your body — choose designs where you feel confident and comfortable; you will be wearing this in public
Making vs Buying vs Commissioning
Making your own costume is the most rewarding path if you have sewing skills (or want to learn them), time to spare, and tolerance for the learning curve. It gives you the most creative control and often produces the best results for unusual or elaborate costumes.
Buying a costume from a retailer or Etsy maker is the fastest route to a finished look. Quality varies enormously — read reviews carefully and check the seller's portfolio. Mass-market cosplay costumes are often made from inferior fabrics and may not fit well.
Commissioning a custom costume from a professional costumer like Heidi gives you a one-of-a-kind, correctly fitted garment made to your specifications. It is an investment, but the results are in a different league from most retail options.
Your First Convention
Before your first convention in costume, do a test run at home. Wear the complete costume for a few hours — you will quickly discover if anything is uncomfortable, restricts movement, or needs adjustment. Key things to prepare:
- Comfortable shoes or footwear you can wear for 8+ hours
- A small repair kit (safety pins, spirit gum, double-stick tape)
- A way to carry essentials — a pouch, bag, or hidden pocket in the costume
- Someone to help you get in and out of the costume if it is complex
Heidi's Advice
My first major cosplay group was the cast of The Endless from Neil Gaiman's Sandman — I made all five costumes. Looking back, I would tell beginners: choose a character who wears realistic clothing rather than fantastical armor for your first attempt. It is far more achievable and often more striking in person.