1) Thrief Shops are your friends! Instead of going to Wal-mart or JC Penny's and buy those expensive pants just to cut them up and dye them, you may want to try some thrief shops and Good Wills. Not only are they cheap, you don't feel bad tearing them up or resewing them into the style you want or need! A good example, I needed a pair of peather pants for my Sephiroth costume but I was running low on money and I really didn't want to get something I'll wear only once a year, so I went to a Good Will. I spent about an hour in there, found only three pairs of peather pants I liked and thought would work. The only pair that fit were three or four sizes too big, but I bought them anyways because they were $5.40. I took them home and and took the sides in and put a new zipper in and bam! They were like new!
2) For the items you can't find, EBAY!!!! Swords, headbands, wigs, you name it! You'll find just about anything there! For you Naruto fans; you've been in Hot Topic, seen the expensive ass headbands they have. Ebay. You can get one for under $10, with no hassle. All I advise is CHECK THE FEEDBACK! Don't buy from someone who has 42% postives, that just says you aren't getting what you're asking for.
3) If you can't buy it, make it! For those who can't sew, ask a friend who does! Most of the judges at conventions (or wherever you're doing your cosplay) look for the amount of work you put into a costume. Let's put it this way, last year at A-Kon, I saw plenty of Narutos with the cheesy jacket with Naruto's picture and name on the back T_T. Shoes, jackets, pants, shirts, those all can be altered and changed into the piece of clothing you're shooting for!
4) RESEARCH! I cannot stress this enough! Do some research on your character before you start. Yes, there will be some difference in your costume and the orginal character's, but make sure you get as close as you can. Inuyashas, don't overdo the sleeves on your shirts. It never hurts to have reference pictures. I can't tell you how many of each cosplay costumes I have XD.
5) Weapons. Be careful on this subject. Weapons at a con are iffy. No real working weapons will be allowed at a con, so makeshifts are welcomed. No points, no sharp edges are allowed either.
6) WIGS, WIGS, WIGS!!! Yes, wigs are great! I have learned something about wigs too! If you want a certain color wig, but can't get that color... DYE IT! Yes, you can dye wigs! My best friend needed a pale pink wig for her Sakura cosplay costume and I couldn't find one close enough for it... So I took the wig I originally was going to use for Sephiroth and a thing of pink food coloring and dyed the s.o.b.! It worked! It's the same color we needed for Sakura and I only spent three more bucks on it! |
