Absolute Basics of Cosplay

Tips To Cover Most Basic Cosplay Needs

What Even IS Cosplay?

Cosplay is a mash-up of the words Costume and Play, which is another way of describing "Dressing Up," usually as a specific character from a piece of media. This is considered distinct, but not isolated from other forms of fancy dress or dress up such as for a Halloween party or something non-specific like for a Themed festival. The difference is vague and ever changing, but usually implies a level of specificity beyond a generic archetype costume or Personal Character. This specificity can be intimidating for beginners, but doesn't have to be.

Where Do I Cosplay?

There are many places and events where one can Cosplay, such as movie premieres, book releases, and conventions, to name a few. Some events are specifically intended to be open to cosplayers and fun outfits, but if you aren't sure, having a backup outfit to change into is a good idea. Some outfits or cosplays, (such as from military or horror settings), can cause a stir, so keep in mind the rules of the environment when planning your attendance.

General Rules for Cosplay Events

Courtesy

Beginner's Guide to Wearing A Cosplay

Where Do I Start?

General Rules for Cosplay Events

The wide variety of cosplay events makes it nearly impossible to catalogue a full list of expectations that covers every eventuality, but entering a cosplay venue with some basic etiquette rules in your toolbox will cover most situations until you can get more information.

Dress Code

The most common problem a cosplayer can encounter is usually regarding the dress code. A good rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution and be sure to investigate and follow any rules set by the Host Venue.

Each location can have vastly different rules for what is considered appropriate, so make sure to check and have a backup plan, just in case. This includes increasing the coverage of skimpy clothes, shoes on barefoot characters, or even strategically placed "battle damage" bandages for modesty on more exposed characters. It is a generally accepted rule among the cosplay community that any modifications you make to a cosplay to fit the rules or for your own modesty and comfort will not be held against you as a whole. It is understood that sometimes a piece of art will simply not work the same way in the real world without causing a scene.

Courtesy

The next most common problem should be observed in all spaces, not just cosplay events, but still bears mentioning. Remember that at any event, everyone there is a person and deserving of basic courtesy. The cosplayers are not mascots, they are not props, and they are not your beloved character-crush. You are more than welcome to interact as a fellow fan of the character but it is important to always treat them as a fellow guest above all.

Inappropriate conduct can get you removed from a venue, banned, and even involve law enforcement if taken far enough. Do not touch or photograph a cosplayer, costume, or props without permission, and be aware of your surroundings to avoid accidental or careless damage to delicate elements. Of course, accidents happen, but being aware of your surroundings will help reduce the risk.

It is also important to remember that we are all in cosplay for the love of the media and character depicted. It is not our place to pass judgement or make disparaging comments towards any other cosplayer without express invitation from the cosplayer. There will always be different levels of skill and execution, and no two cosplays will be the same, but that should never be held against the cosplayer. Whether you are in cardboard and sharpie, or have a fully realized professional cosplay shouldn't matter; at the end of the day, you are in the presence of someone who loves the same thing you do and have the chance to make a positive connection.

A small exception to this rule is the Minute-Fix rule: if it is an issue that can be fixed in a minute or so with on-hand tools, or is helping them avoid an incident, we can support one another by offering a hand. Pointing out a popped safety pin, or a twisted belt, or loose accessory can help save the day before something important is lost or broken.

Anything beyond that, don't get involved unless you intend to support the fix or change personally.

Pat Knapp

CassiopeiaCostuming

General Do

Keep to basic modesty requirements; cover all parts that ought to be covered in public. The character might get away with showing that much skin, but you won't.
Keep to basic hygiene requirements; cosplays can gather B.O. in unexpected ways, and keeping the clothes and yourself clean will help.
Put your health, safety, and comfort above all else regarding your cosplay. Use aides, take breaks, and go at your own pace.
Keep to basic courtesy requirements. A common phrase you will hear is "Cosplay does not equal consent." Remember, every cosplayer is a guest like you, not a mascot or actor or your character-crush.
Ask permission for photos of cosplayers. Crowd-shots are usually fine, but snapping a creep-shot of a cosplayer can range from annoying, to disrespectful depending on circumstances. Besides, asking will usually get the cosplayer to strike an awesome pose which looks way better than a blurry picture of them in a crowd.
Treat the venue and event staff with respect.
Offer compliments to other cosplayers. At cosplay events, you wear your love of a character or series quite literally on your sleeve. Enjoy that connection instead of focusing on style or skill.

General Don't

Use the cosplay or character as an excuse for inappropriate behavior. Underneath the outfit you will still be held responsible for any choices you make. Even if you're dressed as a villain, you don't need to be in character while interacting with non-guests.
Ignore common courtesies. Everyone at an event is still a person and should be treated with basic respect. Some cosplayers enjoy play-acting when dressed as rotten characters, but please use caution and make sure you are always observing appropriate boundaries.
Ignore your health needs. Food, water, rest, medications, accessibility needs, and comfort will make the difference between a fun cosplay event, and a regrettable one.
Touch or grab any part of a cosplay, cosplayer, or prop without express permission. We pour our love and energy into these projects and it can be heartbreaking if someone accidentally or carelessly damages our hard work.
Offer unsolicited critiques or judgement on other cosplays. Pointing out issues or shortcomings in another cosplay is just rude and unnecessary. A good rule of thumb is to identify if they could fix it in under a minute with basic, on-hand tools. If the answer is "no," wait for them to ask before saying anything.

Beginner's Guide to Wearing A Cosplay

Tips for Comfort in Costume

New cosplayers may forget that they continue to have very human needs when planning a cosplay or attending a cosplay event. The following guide can help act as a mental check-list to make sure you end the day feeling as healthy as possible.

Basic Daily Needs in Cosplay

Travel Tips for Cosplay and Overnight Events

Have a dedicated bag or suitcase for your cosplay and accessories for the event to make it easier to keep track of all the pieces, and hang up or fold the cosplay as soon as you finish wearing it to keep it nice for the next time.
- See our section on Wigs [Link] for possible ways to transport styled wigs, and long wigs.
If making large props you plan to travel with, take the dimensions of your mode of transport into consideration when designing the prop and consider ways of sectioning it into smaller pieces for travel and storage.
Pack a back-up set of clothing. You never know when you might need to get changed for some reason and it's nice to have the option.
Bring a day bag. It doesn't have to match the cosplay, no one will care that it isn't 100% lore accurate, and you will appreciate having an easy way to carry your various supplies. If you're concerned about the bag messing up the look of the cosplay, you can always set the bag down for photos.
- Some cosplayers really enjoy finding creative ways to disguise or include a day bag. If you enjoy the extra effort, it can be very fun to find a way to incorporate more utility, but it is never necessary to compromise your safety or comfort for "accuracy".

Day Bag Packing List:

Water bottle
Granola bars, goldfish crackers, fruit gummies, or other "lunchbox snacks"
Personal First Aid Kit
- Daytime medications, Band aids, moleskin, pain medicine, hand sanitizer, wet wipes etc.
Cosplay First Aid Kit
- Safety pins, bobby pins, needle and thread, detergent wipes, double sided tape, etc.
Wallet / Phone etc.

Food and Drink

Not just snacks! Set aside time to eat something solid.
- Some cosplayers choose to bring a disposable poncho or an apron in their day-bag to protect their cosplays from accidental spills.
Hydration will be extra important if you are warmer than usual. Cosplay events can be toasty with so many people in a venue together, and certain fabrics don't breath which doesn't make it easy to regulate your temperature, so you may be sweating more than usual and losing fluids.
Granola bars and other snacks can be life savers when you lose track of time at an event and realize you haven't eaten anything in a long time.

Taking Breaks and Other Comfort Tips

Test how easy it is for you to sit down in costume. Consider that if a standard chair won't work, you might invest in a collapsible camping stool or similar to let you get off your feet for a time.
If you don't have a handler or companion to help you in and out of cosplay, make sure you plan around how you will be able to get yourself out of the cosplay in a hurry. There's nothing worse than struggling with an intricate outfit while you try not to pee your very expensive pants.
Wig breaks and Shoe breaks are valid and it's important to give yourself that comfort before it tips over into pain and ruins your event experience.
- Check out our section on Wigs [Link] for tips on wearing and modifying wigs for more comfort.
Give yourself time to wear any new shoes to test the comfort and fit. Moleskin pads, gel pads, and pressure cushions are much easier to install before you're on the con floor.
Use any mobility or personal aids you need for your comfort and health. No one will care if your version of a character has a cane or wheel chair or glasses. They will care if you hurt yourself or have a preventable incident because you left something important behind for "the look."
- Some cosplayers enjoy the challenge of incorporating their medical or physical needs into a cosplay. It is optional for those who like the extra effort and by no means considered necessary.

Care and Keeping of Cosplays for Multi-Day Events

Fabric-refreshing spray or the like is very helpful in the short term, but don't rely on it for the totality of your odor-mitigation. Research your fabrics to find out how best to clean them properly between events to keep them in good condition.
- One option is to take a page out of history and wear easy-to-clean layers under the fancy layers so you can wash your undergarments and keep the delicate or specialized fabrics clean longer.
  - Linen, cotton, or an athletic blend is ideal, it wicks sweat away from the body and is usually easy enough to clean and let dry overnight.
  - Avoid synthetics as they tend to trap sweat which can feel and smell gross.
Consider investing in cheap garment bags, and a portable garment steamer to reduce wrinkles and creases in between wearing.
- Or hang the cosplay in the bathroom with you while you take a hot shower to steam wrinkles out.
- Be sure to research your fabrics and materials to make sure this is safe for your outfit and perform a test on scrap fabric before making ANY cleaning or steaming decisions.

Where Do I Start?

First-time creator's guides
- Shopping guide for beginners
  - Tools, machines, good-to-have supplies
- Research and tutorial resources
  - Basic terminology and vocabulary to look for
- Basic material guide
  - Good Fabrics to start with
  - Foam overview and purpose
  - Paints for general use
  - Wigs for beginners
    - Wig caps, bobby pins, hair spray, dedicated combs etc.
    - Care and keeping

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