Cosplay

Cosplay is a term combining the words “costume” and “play.” It essentially means creating and wearing a costume for a character. The word was first used in Japan, but the activity originated in the U.S. For many, cosplay is a form of self-expression – even if you are roleplaying as someone else, you can learn something about yourself from that experience.

If you are interested in learning more about cosplay, you should check out YouTube. There are lots of creators who share how they created their cosplays and give advice for those just starting with cosplay. 

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The first step in doing cosplay is choosing a character. You may want to choose a character you love or even identify with because it might be easier to roleplay to be them, but it can also be fun to act like someone who is your complete opposite. But, if you are a beginner, the real answer might lie in finding a cosplay that is easy to do, or doesn't require too elaborate a costume. This way, you can test the waters without spending as much time and money.  

While you can absolutely purchase items for your cosplay, a lot of people love cosplay because of the crafty element of creating their costumes. 

Some people like to sew their costumes, but you can just as easily create an outfit with items you already have. For example, revisit old items in your closet and see how they can be repurposed for your costume. You can also ask friends and family if they have a specific item that you are looking for.

Another popular way to add to your cosplay is to create props or armor with EVA foam. This foam is cheap and easy to work with, so you can carve out shapes and paint them to go with your costume. If you want a template for using the EVA foam, MyPaperCraft has a cosplay section with templates for tons of characters across fandoms. For more on crafting with EVA foam, check out this extensive guide from Instructables.com. 

To put the final touches on your cosplay, you will also probably want to purchase a wig and maybe even do some elaborate makeup. Look at a photo of your character to figure out how to best recreate their look for your costume.

Cosplay is an activity you can do in the comfort of your home, but it is always nice to share a hobby with others. To do this, many cosplayers attend conventions in costume. At these conventions, there are often cosplay competitions complete with categories and judges, or performances done in cosplay. You can meet people who like the same shows as you, or even are dressed as the same character as you.

To find a convention with cosplay near you, check out https://www.cosplayconventioncenter.com/. This free resource allows you to search for conventions by date, region, state, and theme, and all of them should have some sort of cosplay element. They are a great place to bond with fellow fans of your favorite pop-culture phenomena!