by Connie Nuttall
Thought Bubble, Comic-con and Gaming and Anime Con are just a few of the conventions that Leeds is the epicenter for. With many more is surrounding cities and towns. With conventions all year round one of the main things that anyone in attendance will notice are cosplayers. Whether they are seasoned cosplayers or beginner, we at Leeds Creatives want to share the tips and tricks for creating great cosplays.
1. “Start by looking up some tutorials”
YouTube is a treasure trove for tutorials, with loads of different videos on making weapons, armour and little accessories. Tutorials also give a visual help guide to walk you through the steps. They tend to go into depth on various materials, tools, and the process. The visual learning process that videos offer is more desirable since you are not swamped by heavy formal texts and keep you more entertained.
@KamuiCosplay
2. “I suggest starting with the basic making of clothes/armour”
Not just the basics of the costume but also the basics of your current skill level. If you try doing something complicated to start with it will most likely not look right. Detail can always be added later once the foundations are perfect and are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, as this will be the base for the rest of the outfit.
3. “Keep it lightweight”
Conventions can get unbelievably hot when there are many people in one space and having heavy material can make you overheat and get dehydrated. Craft foam is an essential material for cosplaying according to advanced cosplayers since it’s lightweight, easy to craft and can be used for amour, masks, shields and weapons. Craft foam can be painted too, so cosplayers can stay cool while looking it.
4. “Leave yourself loads of time”
Something is bound to go wrong when you’re creating an outfit, like some materials might not be available or your sewing machine doesn’t work, leaving yourself time will take the pressure of finishing the costume in time. It’ll give you time to access what you have already created and then decide if any adjustments are needed. It gives you the opportunity to create the best costume you can.
5. “Have fun”
As cheesy as it sounds, having fun is essential to making a good cosplay. If you’re not motivated, then you’ll struggle to create something, and the simplest task can become a barrier. Choosing a character that inspires you or you’re passionate about will make the long process of creating costumes more enjoyable. It may not be something popular at the time, but you’ll be the one wearing it, not them and if you don’t look happy in it then that will be the biggest downfall to a cosplayer.
Thanks to the members of the MCM Comic-Con page for their contribution.
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