Costuming Cosplay

Cosplay, short for "costume play", has grown from its origins at fan conventions into a billion-dollar global dress phenomenon. Costuming Cosplay takes us from elaborately crafted DIY costumes to online fandoms, examining how the practice of portraying fictional characters from popular culture through dress and performance has become a creative means of expressing and playing with different identities. With an approach that ranges from admiration and role-play to gender performance, this is the first book to fully examine the subculture and costume of the Cosplay phenomenon. Drawing on extensive first-hand research at conventions across North America and Asia, Therèsa M. Winge invites us to explore how Cosplay functions as a meritocracy of creativity, escapism, and disguise, and offers a creative realm in which fantasy and new forms of socializing carry as much importance as costume. Illustrated with color photographs of both celebrity and amateur Cosplayers, Costuming Cosplay is essential reading for students and scholars of fashion and costume, popular culture, anthropology, gender, and media studies, as well as global players and fans of Cosplay.

"Cosplay is one of the most physically, emotionally and socially intense hobbies in the world today. It involves months of time, ceaseless attention to detail and a dedicated commitment that dwarves almost any other recreational pursuit. The myriad skills, knowhow and effort that must be iinvested cannot be underestimated. ... Split into five principle parts, this book introduces and instructs upon the various skills needed to convincingly undertake cosplay. Giving homage to the hobby's origins and history, the experience of the convention, and the means of costuming on a budget, the authors seek to please all who seek to undertake the hobby." --

Bring your cosplay dreams to life with your own two hands! The Best Cosplay Tutorial Guide Ever! Get ready to impress ordinary mortals with your superhuman costume-making skills. You can do it no matter what your experience level with this, the first full step-by-step technique book on cosplay--with no sewing! Internationally known cosplayer Kamui Cosplay (a.k.a. Svetlana Quindt) shows you how to easily create elaborate costumes and successful props out of items available at your local arts and craft or hardware stores: turn foam into a realistic axe, create a breastplate from scratch and use a glue gun to modify just about anything. You will even learn the best and most accessible techniques for working with specialty cosplay materials such as Worbla! Packed with more than 30 step-by-step demonstrations that teach the skills you need to bring all your favorite characters to life no matter the genre, Kamui Cosplay deconstructs the work that goes into making a complete costume, from the first thought to the final photo. Tutorials cover design planning, fabricating body armor, 3D painting techniques and more. Best of all, you can adapt every lesson to use in all future fandom projects spanning video games, books, anime, movies and even your own original characters! Includes: • How to choose a costume and find good reference art • A short shopping list of necessary materials and tools for beginning cosplayers • Basic safety tips • A beautiful photo gallery featuring inspiring images from other cosplayers • Next steps--how to grow your workshop, take professional photos, participate in contests and join the cosplay community

Elevate your costume-making skills to the next level! Getting exactly the look you want and achieving knock-out special effects can be as simple as weathering or painting on fabric, but strategically damaging or adding paint to your costume can be intimidating - what if you get it wrong?! Many cosplayers are adept at sewing up costumes but have no idea how to add details and effects that help tell a story. Marquise Cubey (Julianna Franchini), a veteran cosplayer and industry expert, demystifies paint, tools, and techniques to help you add fabric painting and weathering to your arsenal of costume effects! Learn how to manipulate paint on fabric and add weathering to your arsenal of costume effects Create special effects like metal, dirt, burns, blood, wear and tear, and rust, plus shading techniques, with detailed how-to instructions Enhance your tiny details and give your props and costumes more dimension than ever

The Ultimate Guide to Cosplay, Costumes and Conventions! Presented in a kitschy, comic-book style, Epic Cosplay Costumes combines fantabulous illustrations with all the how-to information you need for creating your own cosplay designs. Award-winning artist Kristie Good (aka Karmada) shares techniques for making must-have pieces to mix and match into original costumes--from hand-sewn garments to armor made with Worbla and EVA foam. In addition to her step-by-step instructions for pulling together attention-grabbing designs, she shares expert advice for making the most of conventions, striking a pose, and strutting your stuff at costume competitions. Whether you're a hero, heroine, villain, or sidekick, Kristie gives you the power to create the most talked-about designs with Epic Cosplay Costumes! KAPOW!

The cosplay producer and co-creator of the Women Of Marvel podcast weaves together the history of Marvel cosplay with practical tips, advice, and instructions on how-to create your own cosplays based on popular Marvel heroes Black Panther, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Phoenix, and Loki. An officially licensed guide to learning about and creating Marvel cosplays, Cosplay the Marvel Way walks readers through every step of the creative process—from choosing a character, gathering your materials and tools, building your cosplay using items in your closet or from the thrift store, and showing off their new look at a convention or photoshoot. Whether you are just starting out or have a whole closet jam-packed with amazing cosplays, this book is perfect for anyone Marvel fans that are interested in or love dressing up as their favorite super heroes. Cosplay the Marvel Way is a reminder that cosplay is more than making and putting on a costume–it’s about community, about finding who you are, and expressing it through the intersection of comics and fashion.

The authoritative guide to cosplay written by a legend in the community, and packed with step-by-step advice and fascinating investigations into every aspect of the art. Cosplay—a portmanteau combining "costume" and "play"—has become one of the hottest trends in fandom . . . and Yaya Han is its shining superstar. In this guide to cosplaying, Han narrates her 20-year journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her self-taught methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the community. Each chapter is information-packed as she covers everything from the history of cosplay, to using nontraditional materials for costumes, to transforming your hobby into a career—all enhanced with expert advice. Illustrated throughout and easy to use, this practical manual also delights with fascinating stories from the past decades' global cosplay boom. It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in learning (or improving their skills in) the art of cosplay.

An inspirational guide to sewing cosplay Boldly enter the world of cosplay and gain the confidence to design the costume of your dreams! Award-winning cosplayer Amanda Haas helps you translate your ideas from fiction to reality as you research costumes, shop for fabrics, mash-up patterns, and present your cosplay at a competition. A gorgeous photo gallery will have you frantic to join the cosplay community, while the author’s seasoned advice will give you the courage to take the first step. Bonus project: Sew a bum bag to carry your keys and other essentials to a con. Learn the art of making and wearing designer-quality costumes that will transform your persona. Turn fiction into fashion! A step-by-step guide to designing your own cosplay Dive into the fun world of cosplay with the author’s trusted advice Step up your cosplay costumes with inspirational photos, techniques, and more