If you've never cosplayed before, we're about to change your life. We'll guide you through the basics of what cosplay is, how costumes work, and the best way to get started with your first outfit.
Keep it simple
- Keep it simple.
- Think about safety and comfort.
- Consider how you will pose for pictures.
Be creative
If you’re just getting started with cosplay, then your best bet is to think outside the box. There are plenty of ways to make your costume unique and stand out from the rest.
First, look at some of your favorite costumes that other people have made. Take a good look at them: what do they have in common? Try to identify all the elements that make up that costume, and then consider how you would be able to re-create it using materials that you have lying around. If you can’t find something similar anywhere online (or if there isn’t an exact replica online), ask a friend who might know more than you do about this sort of thing!
Now that we've established some ground rules for getting started with our first cosplay project, let's get into specifics on making sure it turns out great!
Stay light and safe
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Wear a backpack
- Wear a wig, or at least your hair pulled back off your face (this is especially important for long-haired characters, who can easily lose track of their locks and trip over them)
- Wear any props you intend to use, like swords or capes, so that you don't have to hold them while getting ready in the bathroom mirror later on!
- If you plan on wearing something heavy like armor pieces or corsets underneath your costume (like Link's tunic), wear it now so that it doesn't shift around while you're trying to get dressed in the morning (or worse yet: during an event).
Cartoon quality is the goal for the perfect costume
When it comes to cosplay, the best way to get started is by going into your home and pulling out all the old toys you had as a kid. For example, my first costume was a Pikachu pajama set that I found in my closet when I was 9 years old. It looked really cute on me and everyone who saw me wore an expression of admiration for this adorable little girl dressed up as one of their favorite cartoon characters!
But what if you don't have any old toys lying around? You may be tempted to make your own costume from scratch or purchase something at a store instead of looking through your childhood things for inspiration. While this can be fun and interesting, it's not always easy—and sometimes people don't have time for such projects! In order for beginners like yourself to get started quickly without having much experience creating costumes yourself yet (or even sewing), there are some helpful tips we want to share with you today:
Cosplay is about having fun, so keep it simple.
Remember: cosplay is about having fun. It's not a competition, and you don't have to be perfect. As long as you're having fun and enjoying yourself, that's all that matters! Cosplay is also great because it forces you to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions when faced with challenges like how to make your favorite character's costume at home on a budget or how to get rid of those pesky wrinkles in your dress.
In addition to being more affordable than buying an actual cosplay costume, making your own can be extremely rewarding—especially if it means getting everyone together for some good old fashioned crafting time with friends!
I hope that this guide has helped you understand the basics of cosplay, and given you some inspiration for your own first costume. The best advice I can give is to keep it simple! If you want to get started with cosplay, don’t worry too much about making your costume perfect. Remember that cosplay is supposed to be fun—and if it isn’t fun, then what’s the point?
Cosplay photography by Fungirlwithacamera Photography
Hope from Fungirlwithacamera Photography specializes in Cosplay photography.
