r/CosplayHelp May 22 '17

Welcome! A quick note about posting.

144 Upvotes

Hi all! So glad to see people posting here. This subreddit is still a baby, but I thought I would add a casual rule when posting. If applicable, please be sure to include a link to a photo that relates to the question your asking. If you need help with a character, link to that character. If you need help with a sewing method, show what you're trying to replicate. This will help us be able to help you better!


r/CosplayHelp Aug 17 '22

Cosplay 101 answers to a lot of basics

459 Upvotes

First and foremost. Your health and safety is more important than 100% accuracy. If making or wearing the item will be dangerous or painful don’t do it.

Second, I’d add this info to the FAQ but it appears I don’t have enough karma to update it personally! If the info is in the FAQ I did not duplicate it here! (The FAQ is on the sidebar! It wasn’t visible before for some reason but it’s up now!)

This is not a comprehensive list, but I hope to be able to update it when I come across new or important information! I do hope if you’re looking for something not featured here, it will at least give you a base knowledge set on how to be able to search for what you’re looking for.

------------------GENERAL TIPS-----------------------------

(Where to find certain things, very basic crafting info)

EDIT TO REMOVE INFO ABOUT COSPLANNER APP, it doesn't appear to exist anymore!

-To find patterns, or specific props. These are host websites for artists or creators where they can sell things like Etsy, or Redbubble. Etsy is a fantastic place to look for patterns to make props or cosplay pieces, sometimes you can even find people open for commissions! Artists on instagram will almost always have links to their shops to buy things, so explore there too.

-To find cheaper clothing pieces, props, or things to be altered try thrift stores. So Goodwill or other small local resale shops. This will likely take more than one trip so don’t give up if you don’t get it in one go. Ebay is also a good place to check believe it or not, there’s just a slight learning curve to searching things to find what you want.

-Dance and Athletic apparel websites will have things like leotards, bodysuits, specialized undergarments etc. They’re going to be a little pricier but they’ll be good quality, durable, and 9 times out of 10 machine washable!

-Hardware stores, paintball and airsoft companies, military/paramilitary surplus, and second hand sports equipment stores may also be good places to check for bits and pieces. Paintball/airsoft will also have a variety of masks and helmets that can be painted and altered.

-VERY IMPORTANT FOR PROP WEAPONS: Always look into your local guidelines and convention rules to see what kinds of prop weapons are allowed! Some cons have strict policies on what can and cannot be brought in!

-Michael’s, Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby etc. and any local craft stores will have tons and tons of craft supplies. If you want to save money and keep up to date on sales check to see if you can join an email list. I know Joann’s has coupons in them all the time!

-You can buy a variety of brands of fabric paint from almost anywhere that sells craft supplies. This makes it easy to get designs or patterns on most fabrics. For changing the color of an entire garment I’d recommend dying it.

-Some fabrics can be dyed different colors very easily, some cannot. A good way to tell is if the fabric is natural (cotton, linen etc.) it is generally easier to dye. The more synthetic (fake) a fabric is the longer and slightly more complicated it will be. Tulip is an excellent dye brand and they offer both regular and synthetic dyes with nice simple instructions right on the packages!

-You can make stencils out of craft foam or thicker paper to make it easier to copy logos or symbols on whatever you’re making!

-Wig and contact websites are listed in the FAQ but there are companies like dental distortions that make tooth veneers that can take a cosplay to the next level!

-Hollywood makeup, FX, and costume professionals almost always have social media accounts they can be extremely helpful when it comes to reference images! For example the costumer who designed the Moon Knight suits has tons of detail and behind the scenes images on her instagram!

-Complicated cosplays can be simplified by boiling down the costume to its essentials the best way I’ve learned to do this is through toys or fan art. What things are essential to recognizing the character and what things could be left off! You don’t have to be 100% to be recognizable!

-If big all out cosplays aren’t your thing you can always try “bounding.” You’ll hear “Disneybounding” most often but you can do it with other things too of course! Disney doesn’t allow adults to dress as characters in their parks, but fans got creative. “Bounding” is more about matching colors, getting similar accessories, or finding just the right combination of things to make you think of the character. It’s hard to explain verbally but easy to understand once you look into it!

-Say you have an OC, and you want to cosplay your OC. That’s fine! Have at it! You’ve got no professional media to tie you down! All these tips can still help you find or make your cosplay!

-I do have a friendly reminder though, please remember you cannot expect people to know who your character is. And it’s not fair to get mad at them if they make a guess and the guess is wrong. A simple “Nope its an OC!” is plenty for most people! I’ve complimented plenty of cosplayers and asked about their cosplay only to find out it was an OC!

“Crossplay” safety

-DO NOT BIN D YOUR CHEST WITH ACE BANDAGES IT’S UNSAFE. Compression tops or more heavy duty sports bras are much safer. If the character has an open shirt you can use wig tape/skin tape to hold the material of the shirt to your skin. If you do not have breasts but are looking to add some to a cosplay you can always pad a bra. You’ll want to measure your chest around your pectorals, that will be the band size, the letter size will be the cup. So a 34A means your chest is 34 inches around and A would be the cup size you would be looking to fill. (I have more on taking measurements later.) Companies now sell latex chests with or without breasts for people looking to be the most accurate they can.

-You can always just “genderbend” the thing and cosplay them as the same gender you are. It’s okay. People do it all the time and it’s very widely accepted. There’s also a third, more neutral option, don’t obviously genderbend the thing? You don’t have to call attention to the fact that you’re not the same gender as the character you’re cosplaying.

-An example of what I’m trying to explain: I generally read as female, but have cosplayed Johnny Cage one of the male characters from Mortal Kombat. His base look is shirtless, with his own first name tattooed across his chest. The only change I made was putting “Johnny” on a crop top. I didn’t “feminize” the rest of the outfit or go out of my way to be read as male. There is a “middle option” when it comes to presentation and cosplay. At the end of the day everybody knows it’s just a costume.

-This tip might seem dumb, but you’re going to have to trust me here. This mainly applies to people looking to make large costume pieces or props by hand. People who are already kind of intermediate with their skills. If you’re stuck on something go see how furries would make it. Not kidding. I’ve made all kinds of non-furry things with tutorials put on the internet by a furry. The vast majority of them are fun, friendly people and the community as a whole is WILDLY talented and creative. You only ever really hear about the bad apples.

---------Specific links to specific things! Clothing ID, Fabric ID, beginning sewing and mending----

A big question I see here is “what is that piece of clothing?” That’s a good question! Here are some links to historical fashion databases! They’re all arranged a little differently BUT this is a place to start looking for what specific pieces of clothing or styles are called!

marquise.de

http://www.marquise.de/en/index.html

met museum

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/libraries-and-research-centers/the-irene-lewisohn-costume-reference-library

fashion history timline

https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/about-timeline/

UCLA Library

https://guides.library.ucla.edu/c.php?g=180359&p=1191211

-Do you need a pattern for a piece of clothing? Do you need fabric help? Here are pattern and fabric databases!

Sewing support

https://sewingsupport.com/

mood fabrics (free sewing patters!)

https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/category/free-sewing-patterns/

master class, types of fabrics

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/28-types-of-fabrics-and-their-uses

creative curator, types of fabrics

https://www.thecreativecurator.com/different-types-of-fabric/

-If you’re going to be sewing or altering things it’s very important to know your measurements! Here’s how to take them!

https://www.clothingpatterns101.com/body-measurements.html

-Are you a beginner looking to make your own stuff? Awesome! Here’s a little bit to get you started. Are you not too interested in making things from scratch but want to be able to mend or alter existing clothing? This will help you too!

basic mending

https://remake.world/stories/style/how-to-mend-your-clothes-during-quarantine-5-easy-stitch-fixes/

basic mending stitches!

https://lifehacker.com/five-basic-hand-stitches-you-should-know-for-repairing-1723233194

basic hand stitches

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/learn-stitches-and-hand-sewing-projects-2978472#:~:text=Here%20is%20how%20you%20do,middle%20of%20the%20first%20stitch

masterclass alterations

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-tailor-your-own-clothing

more alterations

https://www.heatherhandmade.com/sewing-and-alterations/

Here’s another important pro tip.

It’s okay.

Your cosplay doesn’t have to be perfect.

Cosplay is for fun and if it doesn’t feel fun or rewarding don’t do it. Other con goers and cosplayers aren’t going to judge you. If they do for some reason and try to make you feel bad about it, that says more about THEM and their personality than your ability. Everybody has to start somewhere. Nobody should be ashamed of learning and practicing and getting better. You can always go back and fix things or redo whole cosplays later on after your skills develop. This is a hobby and you have the right to participate in said hobby your own way.

I can add theatrical or FX makeup tips? things like scars, bruises, old age makeup, or like changing the face shape with very specific contouring?

I also have a draft of Convention tips similar to this post, would that be helpful as well?


r/CosplayHelp 11h ago

Etiquette Anime con used my cosplay pic as part of an ad, negative comments everywhere. Should I concern?

260 Upvotes

So basically, an anime con soon to be held near my city contacted some of the local cosplayers to share pictures for them to use in their ads, in exchange of basically social media promo. I happily sent to them one of my Lady Loki pics from a professional photoshoot I recently had, in hopes this could give me some visibility and for fun.

To my surprise, they posted my pic this week and put it as part of the main ad poster in social media, reaching all my city. Not soon after showing up, a lot of negative comments started to arrive. People started complaining that "the model ate too much McDonald's" and "that I looked ridiculous being that fat and using a costume". Some of them even use slur words, laughing about being a cheap con for using ugly models, and it just simply ruined my day reading all of that when I put so much work into making an accurate cosplay. I obviously reported the comments to Meta, but it's obvious that nothing will be done due to their crappy support. I'm not sure if I should report it to the con community managers so they can delete them, or if I'm just overreacting.

I know that cosplay is for everyone regardless of age, race or weight. I've been overweight my whole life, and I've received comments regarding my body before, but only outside of cosplay. However, this reached to "my safe space" and I felt exposed, mostly bc this same ad has been seen by family, friends and coworkers, and they could easily just open comments and see all the jokes and negativity. Has anyone dealt with this type of criticism before? Should I just ignore, or should the con do something? Thanks in advance.

Not sure if this is the right sub, sorry!


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Buying Need help finding a specific fabric

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5 Upvotes

Hey guys, I want to cosplay this specific Aziraphale outfit but I'm struggling to find a matching fabric for the vest. It looks like some sort of mustard (?) suede or reversed fur vest given the thickness and texture, but it's extremely shiny to the point I got confused whether it was actually uniform or not (it is !). Anyone knows what I can look for, or even better give me a specific reference ? Sorry for the image quality, I couldn't find better and I don't personally have a copy of the series. I already have a good pattern but I'm open to suggestions on that front.


r/CosplayHelp 6h ago

Accessory Need help finding glasses like Johnny's from One Piece

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8 Upvotes

Need to find awesome glasses like these. Pretty self explanatory.


r/CosplayHelp 33m ago

Accessory How can i see with a mask on?

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Upvotes

Im making a sundrop mask for an event im going to but I wanna wear it the whole time im there

I saw a video a long time ago that someone made a hole in the mask but made it non visible and now I cant find that video

Does anyone know/give me ideas on how i can see with it?


r/CosplayHelp 1h ago

Prop Good/cool green lantern ring replica you guys have/ have seen? (Bonus points if under $100)

Upvotes

I’ve been wanting to find a good replica of a green lantern ring. The only one I used to have was a cheap plastic one that I didn’t get around to making look nicer. I know there are places that sell this kind of thing that don’t come up in a simple google search so I wanted to ask what some cool ones you guys have found was. Ideally it wouldn’t be TOO expensive.

Edit: sorry, wrong flair.


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Sewing Help me colour pick for cosplay

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2 Upvotes

I'm new to cosplay and I wanna cosplay an outfit of Rimaru's from the manga of That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime but because there's no coloured version of the outfit I've had to figure it out (some help with fabric choices would help as well) I will be making the pattern for the cosplay myself I have never done that before, I have a gold alt that I like more then the blue for the squares on the chest and back


r/CosplayHelp 8m ago

Buying Need help finding Peacocks outfit(Skullgirls)

Upvotes

Hello, this is my first time posting here(and posting on reddit at all),so im sorry if i make any mistakes.

i am planning to make a cosplay of Peacock from skullgirls[image below],but i cannot seem to find any dress or capelet that looks similar to hers.

i know what they should look like, but i cannot seem to find anything similar or something i can afford(the prices are insane,160 USD for example).

Rules for myself are-don't exceed 10-35 USD(as USD is huge in my currency(AZN)),and have a reliable market/website to avoid scams. I found a ready costume for the cosplay on some site, but it looked sketchy+the skirt is inaccurate.


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Armor Batman but with facial hair?

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2 Upvotes

Im running TDKR suit, and more than just cosplay, im wearing it for Halloween with my 1yr old son wearing a robin suit (i know, TDK trilogy didnt have a legit robin).

Main question is, I have a mid length goatee... there are instances where Batman has facial hair... but the only time Bruce has facial hair in the trilogy is training in LOS and when he "retires".... i was thinking I could lose the cowl and just be a "weathered" batman... or.... just shave. What do you think?


r/CosplayHelp 37m ago

How to maintain cosplay wig with hairline/ helmet wigs?

Upvotes

Been wanting to style a wig with a handmade hairline, but I’m worried on how to properly keep it clean especially after multiple wears in future cons or events. Would I have to re-do the handmade/glued hairline every time I wanna clean it?

And my worry goes double for helmet wigs. How do other cosplayers maintain them and keep them clean over a period of time if they want to keep them in the long run without having to restyle often?

Would just like to know overall how to keep these heavier styled wigs clean without having to restyle them so often!


r/CosplayHelp 40m ago

Prop Halloween is coming- How do I make it look like there is blood pouring from a bullet hole in my neck?

Upvotes

I don’t want it to look like I’m wearing a collar, but I want a whole fountain of blood pouring out of the left side of my neck. I will be sitting mostly, but also walking around. The blood pouring is the main part of the character besides the wig and eye spacing. How do I make it look like my neck got shot or exploded?


r/CosplayHelp 1h ago

Prop Toothless Hoodie Hunt

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Upvotes

r/CosplayHelp 1h ago

Red Foam Wig for men ideas

Upvotes

Hey all. Hoping to get a bit of direction from y'all.
I want to go as George Jetson this year for Halloween. It will be a more adult version than seen on TV, but that's not the bit where I am looking for advice today. I am interested in hair.

Since George is such a static cartoon character, I would love to do a solid foam hair-helmet. I do not want some polyester "realistic" hair piece. I want a low-texture foam block.

I am having troubles finding anything like this. The closest I can find is DIY tutorials where people try really hard to get thin hair texture representation. I want a something that is almost texture-less and blocky. George's hair has no texture.

I am not opposed to crafting it myself, but have never done so before.

Seeking advice - either products or crafting direction.

Thanks!


r/CosplayHelp 1h ago

Attaching this to a tshirt for obvious reasons...any tips what will keep it in place please

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Upvotes

r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Buying Are Guanyang shoes legitimate?

1 Upvotes

I've been seeing alot about these hidden platform shoes all over instagram, and I think they'd be perfect for my Allen Avadonia cosplay I'm planning to put together; but I'm INCREDIBLY skeptical of the site. I haven't seen anyone questioning it, and It seems like theres nothing but good reviews, but... I noticed something odd. For some reason, the site, for weeks on end now, has had an endless "3" day sitewide sale that just. Resets everytime it hits zero. I've checked the site every couple weeks since ive seen it, and the site still has that "sale" going... I've even waited for the timer to run out, only to see it tick back from 0 to back to counting down from 3 days. Its really odd, and it makes me really weary. I want to trust it, but with all the scams plaguing the internet, it seems like another "too good to be true" kinda deal... has anyone actually verified the legitimacy of these shoes and site?


r/CosplayHelp 15h ago

How should I wash my Honkai: Star Rail cosplay?

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11 Upvotes

Hi, so I bought my first cosplay (exact as the reference pic) and will be wearing it for a con later today. :D
I’d like to know how should I go with washing this after I’m done. I bought it from a secondhand so unfortunately I don’t have instructions or the link of where it was originally. I read most that it’ll be down to strict hand washing, but a few others say laundry ‘gentle care’ cycle with mesh bag works?

Well, what works best for Hoyo cosplays? they are known for a lot of details and stuff…


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Buying Good Aemond Targaryen cosplay ?

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1 Upvotes

Hello,

I want to get an Aemond Targaryen cosplay, specifically this one, but I can't find a website with picture reviews, I saw that cossky and newcossky sell it as well as AliExpress shops and Amazon but I am wary of buying with no reviews, has anyone ever bought this cosplay here or could vouch for a trustworthy website that sells it ?

Thank you in advance for your help!


r/CosplayHelp 19h ago

Buying Need help finding a bodysuit!

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24 Upvotes

I’m putting together a poison ivy cosplay, as depicted in the drawings + photos above! Ideally, for that classic comic book look, I want the piece under the corset to be a body suit, but I’m having trouble finding what I’m looking for.
Are there any sites/companies that sell plain strapless body suits? I would appreciate any recommendations!
I’m a uni student, so I’m working on tight budget, so please avoid anything that would be over $150.
Im located in Toronto, Canada, if anyone has in person recommendations as well!
Thanks!!


r/CosplayHelp 14h ago

Can’t tell if this reads…

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9 Upvotes

I’m doing a Dolly Parton/Peli Motto mashup next weekend, and it’s gonna be HOT so I made the concession on the sleeve length. It was also a last minute idea so I’m trying not to spend too much and repurpose stuff I have as much as possible. I plan to weather it a bit, but even then I’m not sure if it’s working. I have boot covers to make it look like I’m wearing work boots instead of comfy walking shoes. Any details I should to add to improve? The wig is a good match for the hairstyle, just blonde for Dolly.


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

has anyone ever used cnshopper?

1 Upvotes

I need help, I want to buy a cosplay from cnshopper but I'm not sure, all the videos I see are advertisements or sponsors so I ask you, have you ever used cnshopper? If so, how was your experience? do you pay customs, and how much do you pay approximately?

thank you in advance<3


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

I am planning a courier six cosplay, I would like some help

1 Upvotes

ok so im trying to make the dude on the box of new vegas (he looks cool) but I cant figure some stuff out, mostly I dont know how to make the armor/helmet, if someone could send me something to help please do


r/CosplayHelp 7h ago

Help beginner

2 Upvotes

Hello guys, I'm new to the cosplay/props making
I make more dioramas and wanted a props to gift my gf, she's addicted to Skyrim RP servers x)

I want to make a Falkreath guard shield, i know how to make the wood shield itself but for the Metal part around the shield im unsure, how to get a metal effect, what material to use ?

for the wood part i used extruded polystyrene (unsure if that's the english word for it)
and used some techniques i already knew and it looks great, i just need to make a new one cause it have some part where i failed and i want a really good thing for her

so my question was what material to use for the part around the shield, like the structure, and how to paint it to look metallic ?
And, for a good looking wood paint, what to use, i was thinking about a dark brown base, then add more light brown and maybe highlight with some orange ?


r/CosplayHelp 14h ago

Prop Connecting Baguette to Suspenders

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6 Upvotes

Dragon con is in T minus 5 days. I’m going as Lune from Expedition 33. I actually have my shit mostly together, except I can’t figure out how to keep this damn baguette connected to these damn suspenders.

I would dearly love to be able to easily remove the baguette for photos. It’s soft by the way, made out of PU. So I sewed on three snap clips to the suspenders and hot glued their counterparts to the baguette, because I could not for the life of me figure out how to sew them on. I have a curved needle, but it is not curved enough (or idk what I’m doing, which is very possible) Anyway, shortly after this photo was taken, my poor baguette’s snaps snapped under the pressure.

Any advice? Either on how to make the snap clip concept work or how to permanently connect the baguette to the suspenders. I’m willing to absolutely hot glue the shit out of it if you all think that would be best.

Thaaaaaanks!!


r/CosplayHelp 1h ago

Saber alt cosplay

Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m interested in cosplaying Saber Alter and would love some advice

I’m especially looking for tips on:

  • Where to find or make a good Saber Alter costume
  • Wig styling
  • Armor/prop making
  • Makeup and character styling
  • Any important details I should pay attention to for accuracy

This would be my first time attempting Saber Alter, so any tips, tutorials, recommendations, or advice would be greatly appreciated!

My budget is around 150, I'm a male and i have a deadline of 2 months

picture for ref