Cosplay Chat

[NovelNerd]

Hello everyone,

I thought this might be a fun topic to have and discuss. I'm still new to cosplaying myself and just started before Covid and picked it back up after. Anyway, I'll go first and attach some of my stuff.

The first one is where I did a full-body painting as Sally from NBC. I also did a paint-up as the Other Mother (cannot find the picture). Unfortunately due to allergies, I can no longer use body paints.

Still, there are two big Cons in my state in Sept so a friend and I are doing punk Sailor Moon characters. I picked Wicked Lady since I love the villains in the show.

The best started out white so I dyed it pink. It was also two sizes too big so I cut out portions and put in rose fabric inserts. I plan to also do grommets on the sides so it laces.

I have more plans and will update as I go. How about everyone else? Do you cosplay? What kind of cosplay do you do? If you don't but would like to try what are some of your dream cosplays?

 

[AzaleaArt]

Unfortunately I only know the main characters of sailor moon so I’m not familiar with Wicked Lady, but punk Sailor Moon characters sounds like a super fun idea! Can’t wait to see more updates if you share them Too bad about the body paint allergy cause your Sally looks great
I’ve been cosplaying since 2013 (but haven’t done anything since 2020 cause my local con has been canceled since then), and I love it! I’ve only got 2 pics of past cosplays here on my phone but I’ll see if I can dig up some of my others later. I don’t really ever know how to pose lol so I feel like I always look super awkward but it’s still so much fun
Here’s my most recent (and favorite) Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket that I did in 2019

And here’s me as Glitter Lucky from Glitter Force (I saw the dub so I don’t know the official name but it’s one of the pretty cure series) in 2018, my first time wearing a wig for one

 

[Rebeldream]

Can’t wait to see more of Wicked Lady as it comes along. I haven’t really done cosplay myself, but my daughter does it casually. I’ll see if I can find pics.

Vox & Alastor (Hazbin Hotel)

Negan from TWD

Jerome Valeska (Gotham)

Dustin from Stranger Things

These were Halloween costumes but it’s also stuff that she just wears as regular clothing minus the makeup, lol

I took her to a ComicCon one year and we had a scavenger hunt for Sailor Senshi. Never found Mercury!

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

Ah, that's a shame about the body paint! That's cool that you've gotten to do the ones you have though! Definitely share the different ones you do! Punk Sailor Moon definitely sounds like it could be quite cool.

Cosplays aren't really something I can do yet, but they are definitely on my list! I've always wanted to get into cosplay. Two of my big dreamies are Raphael from "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" and Ouka, human manga version, from ".hack//Legend of the Twilight". Others I would totally do would be Haseo from ".hack//G.U." (though the belts would be expensive as heck) and Tsukasa from ".hack//SIGN". I would totally do Simon from Cry of Fear too but that's literally just like a plain grey hoodie. There is nothing special about his outfit, it would not be recognizable at all. :,) Maybe if I carried around a (very clearly) fake knife and an old phone, and kept the hood up....

Outside of specific characters, I also really want to do a succubus costume at some point. Even if I didn't go with a revealing outfit though it's one I'd need super special legs for, so it's pretty "yikes" to pay for. I might consider doing a harpy at some point.... Frey from Slime convinced me, and Monet from One Piece cemented it more - harpies are pretty awesome after all. There's also quite a few of my own characters, especially Karano but I need to sort out how to do her dragon/demon wings satisfactorily.

In the past I'd also wanted to cosplay as a Silent Hill nurse, Pyramid Head, and Albel Nox from "Star Ocean: 'Till the End of Time".

All of this said, some of these require much more confidence than I currently have. ouo

 

[Rebeldream]

I would totally do Simon from Cry of Fear too but that's literally just like a plain grey hoodie. There is nothing special about his outfit, it would not be recognizable at all. :,) Maybe if I carried around a (very clearly) fake knife and an old phone, and kept the hood up....

The year my daughter cosplayed Negan my son was Elliot from Mr. Robot which was basically a plain black hoodie with the hood up. So he also doubled as a Negan victim for her photos, lol

She wants to do a succubus type thing this year, we’ll see how that works out as she also has confidence issues.

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

The year my daughter cosplayed Negan my son was Elliot from Mr. Robot which was basically a plain black hoodie with the hood up. So he also doubled as a Negan victim for her photos, lol

She wants to do a succubus type thing this year, we’ll see how that works out as she also has confidence issues.

I have never seen Mr Robot.... I just watched a trailer and it looks awesome! I will have to add that to my list.

And good luck to her, as well!

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

Im going to a anime convention in a couple of weeks and im going to be a *drum roll* ..... fae

XD .. lol nothing too crazy fancy

The team is "Isekai" so ill fit in just perfectly

 

[Tak]

Please keep us updated on punk wicked lady. Love to see that!
Great cosplays @Rebeldream and @AzaleaArt
E and I enjoy cosplay, especially E. None in the works right now as I am bad with finances, but I’ll get E going again!

About the body paints, we have a few local make up companies that are all organic and vegan. They work with all E’s allergies. I know it really depends on the allergy, but might be worth looking into some small companies if you really want to.

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

Im going to a anime convention in a couple of weeks and im going to be a *drum roll* ..... fae

XD .. lol nothing too crazy fancy

The team is "Isekai" so ill fit in just perfectly

That description is super duper broad in my own understanding ouo Do you mean a fairy? Fae includes everything from fairies to elves to banshees, lots of really cool stuff.

 

[NovelNerd]

@AzaleaArt
I love your cosplays! The fruit baskets one is adorable and I love your plush. I don’t know the second character but that’s a creative cosplay.

I never know how to pose either and I feel self conscious actually getting into the role of the character and acting parts out so I understand. Any conventions you plan to attend in the future?

@Rebeldream
Your kiddo has some great cosplays! I’m a huge fan of Hazbin and Stranger Things. Any particular characters she plans to do next?

That’s a shame there was no Mercury. She is my favorite inner senshi


@Glistening Rainlight
Thank you, and those sound like well thought out cosplays. I think if you wanted to do the one that was more simple that might be a good starting cosplay to help build your confidence maybe? You could kinda test the waters and see how you feel about it.

If you ever do a mythological creature I would love to see the progress of it. I’ve seen some of the legs people have created before for costumes and cosplays. I had a student one year dress as a faun for Halloween and did the legs. It was very labor intensive from what I was told. The end result was fabulous though.

I think part of making cosplay is taking the time to do it even if it takes a while. I’ve been pushing myself for a year to actually stop procrastinating and work on mine.

@Sassarazzmadazzles
Oh what kind? Please post pictures when you have it ready to go. I want to go to a Ren Fair in Oct and I would love to do a fairy but I don’t have the right parts yet.

@Tak
Thank you, I hope to have another update by the end of August because we plan to put in spikes, grommets, and some vinyl for the cosplay before the con.

I might try body paint again someday. But the experience was just terrible. Usually my process was to put on primer, then body paint (it’s the mehron water color type body paint specially for cosplay) and then I seal it. I did not get enough primer and sealant underneath because when my make up came off I looked like I had chemical burns for weeks down my face, arms, and legs. I just have so many skin sensitivities. But I won’t say I’ll never try again.

Also a picture of regular non pink wicked lady for reference for those that don’t know her.

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

Oh it’s not gonna be fancy at all, some deer antlers and nice clothes lol

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

Thank you, and those sound like well thought out cosplays. I think if you wanted to do the one that was more simple that might be a good starting cosplay to help build your confidence maybe? You could kinda test the waters and see how you feel about it.

If you ever do a mythological creature I would love to see the progress of it. I’ve seen some of the legs people have created before for costumes and cosplays. I had a student one year dress as a faun for Halloween and did the legs. It was very labor intensive from what I was told. The end result was fabulous though.

I think part of making cosplay is taking the time to do it even if it takes a while. I’ve been pushing myself for a year to actually stop procrastinating and work on mine.

That's definitely true, though when I mention confidence I am mostly referring to body confidence. Raphael's would be the simplest to do, and by extension the cheapest - I already have the wig, the only essentials left would be a white tube dress and a huge matched white sash. I'd need invisible shoes if I wanted to go out in it, and blue eyebrow liner and mascara if I wanted to go the extra mile.

Eeehhh, I guess we'll see. The succubus one is like my oldest wishlist item, it's like a bucket list or a grail item and on top of that I love horse legs so I am extremely picky about the style. Most DIY styles just don't even come close to cutting it, if I did that one and I really committed to it, I would break the bank and go digilegs. I've wanted them for so long.

-nods- I've definitely heard similar quite a bit. I've seen people take around a year to make some of the more complex ones. One day. One day. Right now I don't have the funds, the space, or any place to actually wear them to.

 

[shes-so-unusual]

I'm looking to get into cosplay again! A fun fact about me is that I was a child cosplayer - I actually won 2nd place in the kids' section of the Bronycon 2013 costume contest. I really should put that on my resume.
My next cosplay plan is to make a Lady Amalthea from the Last Unicorn costume. I haven't sewn in a while and haven't worked with patterns in... maybe ever? But I really hope to make her beautiful dress so I can wear it to some local comic conventions! My boyfriend is also hoping to make a Schmendrik costume to go along with it.

 

[AzaleaArt]

@AzaleaArt
I love your cosplays! The fruit baskets one is adorable and I love your plush. I don’t know the second character but that’s a creative cosplay.

I never know how to pose either and I feel self conscious actually getting into the role of the character and acting parts out so I understand. Any conventions you plan to attend in the future?


Also a picture of regular non pink wicked lady for reference for those that don’t know her.

View attachment 74796

Thanks so much! It was really cool that they had a fruits basket photo op set up, I didn’t even know they were gonna do that when I made my costume ^_^ and thank you again I love how my Kyo plush came out, he’s a bag so that I can carry my phone, money and some other little things around with me in a way that matches the cosplay! (I always try to match my bag to the costume).
The second one is from a super cute fairytale themed magical girl anime (it’s probably for kids but I loved it anyway ^^; )
I usually go to this one called Bakuretsu con cause it’s the only one close to me and it’s finally coming back after shutting down in 2020 but I’m not sure I can afford to go this year. Id really love to do a table at an artists alley at anime nyc (the one I went to in 2019) but again expensive to get there and stuff so I might have to skip any cons this year :/
What are the 2 cons you have coming up?
Also thanks for adding the pic of Wicked lady, she’s gonna look so cool in punk form!

 

[Jellybean]

Do you cosplay? What kind of cosplay do you do? If you don't but would like to try what are some of your dream cosplays?

::baseball slides into convo:: Someone said the magic worrrrrrrd!!
Yes, I dooooooo cosplay, allow me to shower you with links!
I've been making costumes since I was a kid and cosplaying seriously since I started teaching myself to properly sew in 2007-ish?? I don't produce as much as many of my friends, but I really enjoy trying to make things as accurate as I can. It's been my biggest artistic outlet for over a decade and I'm still learning new things. It's helped me meet sweet friends and led to some amazing experiences. As I'm getting older I'm slowing down even more on making them but I still enjoy it a lot and really missed going to cons during lockdown. I just was helping a friend in crunch mode finish a costume from Titanic so she can wear it at Costume College this weekend.

I've done a bunch of Legend of Zelda cosplays, mostly obscure or rarely-done characters: Majora's Mask (boss fight version), Volvagia the lava dragon boss (a 3-year endeavor with articulated neck, jaw, and claws), Zora Queen Rutela, Zora Princess Ruto, Traysi from Breath of the Wild..
Several costumes from or based on Riven, the sequel to Myst (yes, the 1997 CD-ROM point-and-click game)
Ned & Cat Stark from Game of Thrones (Cat got accepted into an official compendium book of fan-art, which I am so proud of)..
Sarah's ballgown and a fae dancer from Labyrinth..
Princess Mononoke and her mask..
Silly ones like the Sesame Street Martians that go "yip yip yip uh-huh", and a Victorian Medusa with a snake updo, and steampunk/historical looks...
Some I'm working on include Lisa Tepes from Castlevania, and Sophie Hatter from Howl's Moving Castle. I'm hoping to be able to do some photoshoots with friends later this year.
So yes, I am happy to talk about cosplay, love seeing other people's costumes, talking shop, giving pointers, Let's gooooo!

Here’s my most recent (and favorite) Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket that I did in 2019

And here’s me as Glitter Lucky from Glitter Force (I saw the dub so I don’t know the official name but it’s one of the pretty cure series) in 2018, my first time wearing a wig for one

You're so cuuuuute!! I need to watch the new Fruits Basket, it's been so long since I saw the old one!

Dustin from Stranger Things

THIS IS GOLD, omg! I love it!

harpies are pretty awesome after all. There's also quite a few of my own characters, especially Karano but I need to sort out how to do her dragon/demon wings satisfactorily.

Harpies are awesome! So are dragon wings!! I hope you'll do this!

im going to be a *drum roll* ..... fae

Excellent. Eeeexcellent.

My next cosplay plan is to make a Lady Amalthea from the Last Unicorn costume. I haven't sewn in a while and haven't worked with patterns in... maybe ever? But I really hope to make her beautiful dress so I can wear it to some local comic conventions! My boyfriend is also hoping to make a Schmendrik costume to go along with it.

Awww, Last Unicorn cosplays! Couples cosplays are so fun if your partner is willing. I've been wanting to make a Molly Grue costume for a long time and just haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Rebeldream]

@Jellybean

WOW!! Wow wow wow! Your work is stunning! Thank you for sharing, the Labyrinth dresses are amazing!

Your Princess Mononoke cosplay reminded me of the costume I made my daughter when she was 3 because of her love for the movie.

 

[NovelNerd]

Oh wow! This topic is exploding and I love it!

@Sassarazzmadazzles
Even if it's nothing huge you should still totally post pictures. I have a variety of headpieces like antlers, ram horns, bat wings, or even a tiny top hat that I wear with outfits just because I like to.

@Glistening Rainlight
I cannot understand your exact situation, but I can relate. I'm not even close to 100% happy with my physical appearance to cosplay some things I want to do. Even with this punk outfit I originally picked to do more fishnet and a tube top/cut-off situation, but I'm not comfortable with that fully. Also, for myself personally, being NB I tend to feel masculine one day and more feminine the next or a bit of both or neither. Either way, though it's been difficult to find a style I think fits me on a regular daily bases let alone one on cosplay. For example, I would love to do something different than the traditional bun hair. I think for the moment though it would be the most recognizable for the character. I do want to eventually do some sort of pink mohawk with metal incorporated into it. It's hard to explain what's in my head, and I'm terrible at drawing to even put it on paper. If you do decide to cosplay though I'll totally be a cheerleader here for it!

@shes-so-unusual
That sounds like a wonderful couple cosplay idea. I know what you mean, if I have a pattern I'm solid, but I'm terrible at making patterns. I've seen some people do it before where they use plastic wrap or foil around their body to get the dimension and then use that as a pattern template. I've never done that though and would have to watch many youtube videos.

@AzaleaArt
You're very welcome. I might totally ask you for advice on bag-making at some point if you don't mind. I want to make the characters Luna P accessory into a bag for conventions at some point. I know I won't be ready for it the first go around though. NYC must have really large conventions. What would you say the average count of people is for those? I live in Arkansas, so more of a small southern state. There is one convention just called Comic Con at the capital that usually has a big showing and one called Spa-Con in an area of the state known for natural springs. It also usually puts on a good show, but I bet both are small compared to what you've attended. I do hope to eventually make it to some bigger conventions.

@Jellybean

Those are amazing! I'm so jealous of your skills, and yes, please, I have so many questions about things I want to create and what might be the best way to tackle those projects. I would love to pick your brain if you don't mind. Would you mind if I followed you on Instagram? The work you put into them is just beautiful. How long did it take for the Sarah ballgown? That looks like a ton of beading.

@Rebeldream
She looks adorable! One year I went as Sally to take a friend's kid trick or treating and we did her up like Zero. She hated the red paint on her nose though and rubbed it off.

 

[Jellybean]

@Jellybean

WOW!! Wow wow wow! Your work is stunning! Thank you for sharing, the Labyrinth dresses are amazing!

Your Princess Mononoke cosplay reminded me of the costume I made my daughter when she was 3 because of her love for the movie.

View attachment 74819

Thank you so much!! Ohhh noooooo your kiddo is too adorable!! And she loves Princess Mononoke? Good taste!! That's awesome that you made that for her. My mom helped me make a lot of things up through my teens and it really kindled my love of dressing up. Thank you, inspirational moms!

Also, for myself personally, being NB I tend to feel masculine one day and more feminine the next or a bit of both or neither. Either way, though it's been difficult to find a style I think fits me on a regular daily bases let alone one on cosplay. For example, I would love to do something different than the traditional bun hair. I think for the moment though it would be the most recognizable for the character. I do want to eventually do some sort of pink mohawk with metal incorporated into it. It's hard to explain what's in my head, and I'm terrible at drawing to even put it on paper. If you do decide to cosplay though I'll totally be a cheerleader here for it!

One of the great things about cosplay is it provides a chance to wear something you wouldn't normally wear. You can stretch your comfort zone and change skins, so to speak. Maybe it would help you settle on something if you looked at the costume as not so much "you" but as a character you're wearing? One whose style you like even if it isn't exactly yours? And I will join the cosplay cheerleader squad for all of you who want to do it!

Those are amazing! I'm so jealous of your skills, and yes, please, I have so many questions about things I want to create and what might be the best way to tackle those projects. I would love to pick your brain if you don't mind. Would you mind if I followed you on Instagram? The work you put into them is just beautiful. How long did it take for the Sarah ballgown? That looks like a ton of beading.

Aw, thanks!! Please, pick away! And I'd be honored to have you follow! I've been abysmal about updating Insta the last few years, but it's still where I post my work the most.
Sarah took about 3 months or so of planning, research, and fabric searching, and I spent around 7 months constructing her. It was a ton of beading and hand-stitched lace applique. But the part that took longest was all the structural work, getting the shapes and proportions right. And I did all her hair ornaments, jewelry, and styled a whole wig, so yes, TONS of work. It's a straight-up couture wedding ensemble. It was worth every stitch, though. I'm so proud of how it turned out.
Did you see the miniature version I made as a halloween costume for a pony? I made myself laugh so much. XD

 

[Glistening Rainlight]

@Glistening Rainlight
I cannot understand your exact situation, but I can relate. I'm not even close to 100% happy with my physical appearance to cosplay some things I want to do. Even with this punk outfit I originally picked to do more fishnet and a tube top/cut-off situation, but I'm not comfortable with that fully. Also, for myself personally, being NB I tend to feel masculine one day and more feminine the next or a bit of both or neither. Either way, though it's been difficult to find a style I think fits me on a regular daily bases let alone one on cosplay. For example, I would love to do something different than the traditional bun hair. I think for the moment though it would be the most recognizable for the character. I do want to eventually do some sort of pink mohawk with metal incorporated into it. It's hard to explain what's in my head, and I'm terrible at drawing to even put it on paper. If you do decide to cosplay though I'll totally be a cheerleader here for it!

To be honest you're not the only one who can't understand my exact situation right now, hah. It's pretty confusing so I'm still trying to figure that out. As for style, personally I've pretty much taken on a mindset that "if I like it, then it's also my style" and just trying to figure out how to work with that. My goal is to get to a point where I genuinely don't care if it "belongs" in "daily life", and just to wear what I want regardless, even if it means going prairie girl one day (on the rare times I could handle that) and cyberpunk the next. I guess since I like such a wide range of styles, it's easier for me to focus on character accuracy rather than on if it fits my own style.

Well, if you ever did want to get the design "on paper" my commissions are open, haha. That's the sort of thing I tend to like doing. That aside, thank you!

 

[Sassarazzmadazzles]

Working on a simple cosplay, should have all the pieces tomorrow.

Now just to get some black nail polish and possibly some faux white fur