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Ok, so the first part of my guide gave you a number of points to consider when deciding what cosplay to make. The second part will now deal with the initial planning of the outfit. Reference Drawings Before you create a costume it is important to have plenty of pictures of the person you wish to cosplay as. If possible try and find photos taken at different angles, for example, the front back and sides. These pictures can be found from a number of different sources including:
Reference Figure It can be very advantageous if you own a figure of the character that you wish to cosplay as. The figure could be just a gashapon (see glossary), but any figures are very beneficial as they give you a 3D perspective of the character's outfit. Design Plan After you have gathered all of the reference materials, it is time to break down the costume into smaller parts and consider how it will be made. At this point it is important to decide on these things:
Materials to be used |
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I would highly recommend that any material that you use to make a
costume is breathable such as cotton. Remember that you will
be cosplaying for hours at a time so your costume needs to be
comfortable as possible. |
However, another piece of material which I paid more for did not do this at all. I would also recommend that after buying the material you wash it at least once. This is particularly important if the colour is bright or is going to be sewn to any white material, as it will stop the colour from running onto the rest of your clothes. Patterns
One thing that can make a costume much easier to make is a pattern.
It is advantageous to use a pattern as the resulting garment will often be better
fitted than if you try to make it without one.
Furthermore each pattern comes with instructions in how to make each
garment. Patterns usually come in a variety of sizes, for women
this
is often typical UK sizes i.e. 8,10,12 etc whereas with men
it goes by chest and waist measurements, so make sure you know your
size before buying a pattern. The cost of patterns can vary
from £5 to £20.
Shoes |
These can often be the most trickiest item that you need to buy.
The only way that you can find the perfect shoes is basically by
hunting through every single shoe shop until you find the right
pair.
eBay is another good place to find shoes, however,
remember that if you are buying from abroad the sizes do vary from
the UK, so make sure you don't buy the wrong size as it will end up
costly! |
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As mentioned in part one the best place to buy a decent wig is on eBay. Try and avoid buying party wigs, they maybe cheap but the quality is poor. On eBay party wigs are often represented by a picture with a person wearing the wig, whereas, the higher quality wigs are often sitting on a model head. To make sure that the eBay seller sells quality wigs, I would recommend checking any feedback that they have. Accessories A character may have accessories such as jewellery, and you may find that it is possible to buy these items online. However, this is not normally possible. If this is the case you will have to consider how to make the item yourself. Weapons
So far I have been lucky and not had to make any weapons for any of
my cosplays so far. It is important that before you design the
weapon you research the rules of the convention or expo that you
wish to attend. Many of them have strict rules on what these
items can be made of and their size. Consider this before you
start making your weapon otherwise you maybe disappointed if the
organisers take it away from you. |
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