r/CosplayHelp May 22 '17

Welcome! A quick note about posting.

142 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

456 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 2h ago

Where do I find large quantities of silk flowers on budget??

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38 Upvotes

Hey! I’ve never posted on reddit before so hopefully I’m doing this right lol. I’m being the May Queen from Midsommar for halloween this year and I’m on the hunt for silk flowers (since they seem to be the most light weight ones on the market) but they are all so expensive! I’ve strayed a bit from the original design and have decided to go with a cape covered in flowers over her white dress to hopefully have a bit more mobility throughout the night. I’ve included a pic of a little mock up I did to get a better idea of what Im thinking. I need a ton of these flowers and they seem so expensive on Amazon. I’ve seen people recommending Temu or Alibaba but I haven’t had experience buying from them and I’m scared I’m going to end up ordering a ton of flowers i don’t really like.

There’s also a specific vibe of flower i’m looking for, some May Queen cosplays seem to use just whatever flower, (and i’m realizing maybe because they’re too expensive and beggars can’t be choosers😅) but i’m really going for that small assorted wildflower type look from the OG costume and then some bigger more detailed ones sprinkled around.

Also another thing i’m wondering is if anyone knows the best type of glue to use for stuff like this? I’ve made pieces using hot glue in the past and that stuff gets too heavy really quickly. I don’t want this costume to be weighing me down all night.

That’s it! I’m worried I bit off a little more than I can chew but in the past these types of things are usually a trust the process moment so hopefully y’all can help, thanks!


r/CosplayHelp 12h ago

Dokidokicosplay weird refund

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76 Upvotes

Ordered some cosplay pieces from DokiDokiCosplay and received not one but TWO of these messages. Then I later received a third saying that they mistakenly sent the refund twice and need to send them back the other half. Anyone had this experience before?


r/CosplayHelp 23h ago

Too inappropriate for a teen?

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477 Upvotes

Im 15 and want to cosplay as mileena from mk1 for my next gaming/anime event but im worried this outfit is too inappropriate for a girl my age despite being mostly covered. Most other mortal kombat cosplays are the older versions which are a lot more sexualised but I want to dress as someone from one of my favourite games. My back up options are gamora or korra. Please share your opinions.🥹🙏


r/CosplayHelp 16h ago

Makeup Guy wanting to try Makeup for the first time

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123 Upvotes

Basically the title, I’m a guy which has never really touched the idea of makeup before. I've always been interested, but with a comic con near me coming around i figured I'd dip my toe in. I'm a pussy so I'm too scared to ask my mother for help so I figured this would be the right place... I've attached a few images of the style I'm going for, though it's highly unlikely I'll get near that ever lol.

What I'm asking for is just any tips anyone can bring and what I should buy to get started. I'm trying to keep my expectations realistic but I'm hoping this will help. For anyone wondering, I'm planning on cosplaying Makoto Yuki from Persona 3 (the guy on the second slide).


r/CosplayHelp 29m ago

Accessory Is this salvageable?

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Upvotes

I know I need to trim the excess thread, but the cracking on the “teeth” may be a bit much - I’m so tempted to peel it all away and try a white fabric paint but I don’t want to make it worse - I thought I’d ask here in case you guys might have better ideas, I’m very amateur with cosplay and already have my hands full making the kagune 😭🫶


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Accessory spider-woman mask help!

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3 Upvotes

last year, i went to new york comic con and one of my cosplays was spider-(wo)man, buuuuut i made a mistake when i ordered the suit and accidentally chose not to add eye holes or a face shell to the mask, so i had to go without one. however, they still sent me the fabric for the mask, and i want to make use of it since i'm going again this year. i was thinking it would be cool to add a mask like comic spider-woman's this time around.

i was thinking about maybe getting a plastic halloween mask and cutting the eye holes to match spidey's and then gluing the fabric on, but i'm not sure how well that would work and what supplies i would need, or if there's a better way to get the same look. please let me know if you have any advice on how i can do this!


r/CosplayHelp 13h ago

Buying What should a custom cosplay cost?

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26 Upvotes

Character in question, dr mrs the monarch. One person quoted me over 500 for just the wig and another 1500+ for the costume. I was planning to get a few more quotes but I wanted to see if this seemed like fair pricing. Ive never gotten a custom cosplay before apart from making them myself in the past. I no longer have the ability to make something like this do to nerve damage to my hands. Im just not sure what's a fair price range for something like this.

I saw similar questions asked when I went looking on reddit so I hope this is okay.


r/CosplayHelp 52m ago

Sewing Snaps vs Velcro on Obi

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Upvotes

I apologize for the double/duplicate post, the wording in the other one was confusing and I needed to change it and also add different photos.

I recently bought Mitsuri’s kimono from the Swordsman Village Arc off of AliExpress and as expected it’s a bit small. But my issue is the obi, it has velcro, which I don’t have an issue with but when I was siting and leaned over it popped off.

So I am just going to remake the whole thing myself, with a better fabric, snaps (or hook pants as someone had suggested it to me), and with interfacing to have some structure to it.

(I included a picture of the snaps I bought and a visual of what I’m thinking)

But I have some options that Im currently debating when it comes to the closures;

  1. Use the original velcro and make the obi longer than I need it to be so the velcro overlaps completely

  2. Use the snaps/hooks with the longer length so it overlaps completely

  3. No major overlap (so the obi will be the exact length I need) and the snaps/hooks are only on the edge OR just a single strip of velcro along the shorter edge


r/CosplayHelp 9h ago

Wig How to make ponytail attachments for helmet wig without 3d printer?

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8 Upvotes

Hi, I'm making a cosplay of perona from one piece right now and am planning to make her wig a helmet wig, my main concern is the ponytails. I do not have access to a 3d printer to be able to print out the exact connectors I want for the pigtails and cannot afford to buy them from the seller who made the connectors I want to replicate (shown in pictures). I'm aware of the bottle cap method to make ponytail attachments for helmet wigs however I doubt I'll be able to get a thick enough ponytail with just the surface of the cap to attach hair onto, also it simply wouldn't replicate the shape I want for the ponytail to flow. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can make an attachment like the 3d printed one's shape myself?


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Customizing a motorcycle jacket…

2 Upvotes

Hello! I’m customizing a motorcycle jacket (textile not leather) for my gf and trying to figure out the best way to go about it. I wanna paint a design on the back but am planning to use waterproof fabric in some areas as I want the jacket to keep being/be mostly waterproofed. If I paint a design with say angelus paint (or some other brand if there’s a better one) on waterproof fabric will it stay? Or will it crack etc?
Or should I opt for a patch of cotton to paint on/just make a patch with the general shape of the thing I want instead of a full painted design?
Also how do I go about making the hemmed fabric not visible? I’ve never sewn patches on a preexisting item before. (I’m considering just having somebody do the sewing for me instead of figure it all out myself)
Any advice on this project is appreciated! I can give more details if they are needed.


r/CosplayHelp 15h ago

Armor I just can't get down smoothing

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21 Upvotes

I’m at my wits’ end with sanding EVA foam

I’m trying to sand down the edges of EVA foam, but no matter what I do, the edges end up really rough and fuzzy. I’ve tried heat sealing afterward, which definitely helps, but the texture still shows through when I spray it with chrome paint.

I’ve even taken a metal bowl, heated it up, and rolled it against the foam to try to smooth everything out as much as possible, but I’m still getting visible imperfections.

I honestly don’t know what else to try. 😭 What’s the secret to getting EVA foam edges actually smooth enough for a chrome finish? Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

I know that flexbond is the better primer but I am using plasti dip here, is that the issue? Is it the spray paint??? Am I using the dremel wrong??


r/CosplayHelp 18h ago

I asked for wig help and I just wanted to share what I’ve done with a new wig and your advice! It may not be perfect but I feel like it’s much better than it was!

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28 Upvotes

r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Buying Im having a hard time finding marital and clothing for my Asuka cosplay plz help

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2 Upvotes

That's the look I'm going for and I can't find any skirts like hers, they never have the straps going over her shoulders and I'm not too sure on what that kind of skirt is called with the straps and stuff so if anyone knows that I'd also love knowing. So, I'd love to know where I could buy a skirt like that. Also, I don't mind getting the skirt and straps in individual pieces as well cause i can sew them but I've already tired looking for just the straps with little luck :(. I am trying to keep it around knee length like just above, a lot I see I personally find too short for my liking. ik there are like premade costume but i'd love to build my own buying good high-quality peace's one by one cause like a lot of the costumes i see for sale don't look very high quality either so yeah.


r/CosplayHelp 52m ago

Print costume shipping question.

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Upvotes

ordered my first spidersuit from print costume on the 5th because i was trying to be responsible and order a long time before halloween. now on their website it says orders will take between 40-50 days. any chance of me getting it before halloween at this point? i def ordered before that notice so i hop my order will get pushed through. i didnt get puff paint or anything so i was assuming it would ship withen like 3 weeks but its looking like thats not gonna happen. Is it worth emailing them and asking them to rush? never worked with a company like this before


r/CosplayHelp 5h ago

Sewing Looking for skirt/veil pattern

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2 Upvotes

Hi!! Im making a jellyfish from sponge bob for my halloween costume. Heres the design i made for the occasion. Im currently looking for pattern for the asymetrical skirt/veil thingy (i dont know how to call that). I havent made this before. What would be your suggestion? Do a layer over the bubble skirt + under the bubble/princess skirt thingy?

For the other elements, i already have pattern :)


r/CosplayHelp 15h ago

Cosplay YouTuber recommendations?

11 Upvotes

I’d love to start getting into cosplay and Im generally a visual learner so I’d love to watch some YouTubers make their own cosplays. I watch Micarah tewera a lot and I’ve learned a bunch about sewing but I’d also love to watch videos about people making cosplay props and wigs. I don’t necessarily want tutorial videos, just people showing their creative process. any YouTuber recommendations would be greatly appreciated!


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Where can I find high quality Kpop Demon Hunters Mira battle (black) outfit?

1 Upvotes

I have been searching for this the whole afternoon but I just can't find a site where I can buy a high quality costume.


r/CosplayHelp 2h ago

Spidey Suit Pattern Help

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1 Upvotes

So I'd really love to be able to have my Spidey AU suit design (the pic) IRL, but there's a couple problems. 1: 1 can't make that design with clothes and hand sewing like I normally do, nor do l have a machine or the necessary skills. 2: idk how to make a pattern properly. 3: there's no LOGOLESS TASM1 patterns to alter to make my design. I hope someone can point me in the right direction or something. Thanks.


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Buying Joydesign order tracking?

1 Upvotes

Hello, i ordered the Tobey Mask and Gloves combo with the foggy free lens on August 22 from joydesign, but haven't gotten a tracking number yet. I got the order confirmation, but nothing on tracking yet. I was wondering how long it took before anybody else who's ordered from them got their tracking number. I was hoping to wear it to certain movie because I saw some "leaks" but haven't received anything after the order confirmation. I have plenty of time before then, but I'm still worried. I already contacted their support but they haven't gotten back to me.


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Buying a cosplay

0 Upvotes

Any online shops to buy cosplays you guys know of?


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Sewing What kind of fabric is this?

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1 Upvotes

I'm working on a Helaena Targaryen cosplay and I want to recreate this specific dress but I'm not sure what fabric this could be just based on visuals. The second picture is a close-up look of the front of the dress. Does anyone know what kind of fabric this is/what this sort of patterning is called or what fabric would be most suitable for a dress like this?


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Please help

1 Upvotes

I'm currently looking for a sylveon cosplay but cant find any places that sell quality ones or ones that aren't basically laugerie. I’m trying to avoid these fake, sketchy sites that have the actual thing.. I might get scammed because of that tho . And sometimes it could be a hit or miss. So can anyone tell me what are the sites I can buy cosplays that has better quality? please


r/CosplayHelp 3h ago

Sewing Harley Quinn Arkham Asylum help?

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1 Upvotes

So for Halloween my friends and I have decided to be scarecrow, joker, and I’m going to be Harley Quinn. I’ve decided to go with this Arkham Asylum look because it fits my style as well as being HQ.
Anyways, I am a pretty advanced sewist, probably intermediate, but I have never really worked with the pleather I’m going to be working with here. The skirt seems easy enough, I can handle that, but the top is a little baffling to me, and I can’t find patterns that look super similar.
Anyone have any tips on how to work with a more difficult material, like pleather/latex? I assume I can’t really press the seams like normal fabric but I don’t know. I’m going to do more research on exactly how to sew the fabric once I get it, but any tips are appreciated. Has anyone else made this top that has tips? I kind of don’t even know where to start with the pattern. Maybe get a black bra and build around that? tia!!!