Would you "cosplay" outside of a con?

[Anirac]

By "cosplay" I mean dress similarly, yet not identically to your favourite character, or even just adopting a more anime-ish style. For example: Kogal and Lolita styles. I know not all fashionistas are otakus, and that more often than not it is reality that influences fiction, but we'll adopt the western point of view, in which fiction influences reality.

So, do you have a different style? Was it inspired by anime? Tell us more about it!

I do have a different style, and it was inspired by anime; it began with the schoolgirl fashion, and then went towards Lolita, and now I'm trying to shift it to its aristocratic subgenre. I've always liked how clothes are a part of a character's personality! One day I thought "hey, why can't I dress like them? I, too, can show some of my own personality through my clothing!" and it began. First change was my hair, going from hip-length to like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yCF0JvQu0mM/T ... t+hair.jpg and now growing back to be hip-length (currently it's just below my shoulders). I adorn it with a fabric rose or a satin ribbon. Then my pants became pleated knee-length skirts, my t-shirts became frilly, lacy tops. Now I'm sobering up, lengthening my dresses and dimming the bright colours, getting rid of the clutter of accessories. My husband is a minimalist and I was introduced to his lifestyle... now I'm addicted it's hard to keep up that style during summer though; I often find myself going back to Kogal or going boho during summer days!

[Xeno]

No, I don't even cosplay at cons. I don't even attend cons. I don't dress myself based on cartoon trends.
But whatever floats your boat.

[Furen]

Personally... I'm not actually much of a cosplayer myself, so you likely wouldn't see me at a con cosplaying much less real life :/

But I think some cosplays are crazy fantastic sometimes.

[Exlon]

I did legit cosplay outside of a con a couple times as Rhyme from The World Ends With You (more to surprise one of my friends). I'm so proud of how it came out. I wore leggings 'cause it was cold outside, and I had to substitute the overalls with just shorts. But still.



once went to my classes with the wig, contacts, and beanie as a joke (I wore my own clothes that time). I had my friend believing all day long that I had cut and bleached my hair.

For general dressing, I can't afford the kinds of things I would normally like to wear, but I have this leather hoodie vest which I like to wear with black jeans and combat boots. Oh, and wristbands. It feels video game-y.

[Furen]

I did legit cosplay outside of a con a couple times as Rhyme from The World Ends With You (more to surprise one of my friends). I'm so proud of how it came out. I wore leggings 'cause it was cold outside, and I had to substitute the overalls with just shorts. But still.

For general dressing, I can't afford the kinds of things I would normally like to wear, but I have this leather hoodie vest which I like to wear with black jeans and combat boots. Oh, and wristbands. It feels video game-y.

Ha ha, I thought you dressed up as Rhyme before I realized you said that. Nice

[Anirac]

I did legit cosplay outside of a con a couple times as Rhyme from The World Ends With You (more to surprise one of my friends). I'm so proud of how it came out. I wore leggings 'cause it was cold outside, and I had to substitute the overalls with just shorts. But still.

once went to my classes with the wig, contacts, and beanie as a joke (I wore my own clothes that time). I had my friend believing all day long that I had cut and bleached my hair.

For general dressing, I can't afford the kinds of things I would normally like to wear, but I have this leather hoodie vest which I like to wear with black jeans and combat boots. Oh, and wristbands. It feels video game-y.

You look lovely! If you hadn't told me it was from an anime, I would've thought you're stylish like that on a daily basis ^^

[Exlon]

You look lovely! If you hadn't told me it was from an anime, I would've thought you're stylish like that on a daily basis ^^

Aww, thank you! It's actually a video game though, haha.

I did a brighter orange than what she wears, because the art style of the game has all the colors kind of washed out. If my normal skin tone could get away with such a bright orange, I would wear that sweatshirt more, hahaha. Alas, without facial makeup, I look awful in orange.

I do wear the hat sometimes though! But it kinda slides off my head without the wig, haha.

This is the character (sorry the picture is so huge, everything on Google keeps turning out bigger than I expect):

[Anirac]

You look lovely! If you hadn't told me it was from an anime, I would've thought you're stylish like that on a daily basis ^^

Aww, thank you! It's actually a video game though, haha.

I did a brighter orange than what she wears, because the art style of the game has all the colors kind of washed out. If my normal skin tone could get away with such a bright orange, I would wear that sweatshirt more, hahaha. Alas, without facial makeup, I look awful in orange.

I do wear the hat sometimes though! But it kinda slides off my head without the wig, haha.

This is the character (sorry the picture is so huge, everything on Google keeps turning out bigger than I expect):

...and you can see how ditzy I am XD didn't even search for the name!

I share your feelings towards orange! I have a finicky skin tone too, I can't wear a pretty colour without it overwhelming me.

Don't you love when you can re-use parts of a cosplay on your normal wardrobe? ^^

[Exlon]

I share your feelings towards orange! I have a finicky skin tone too, I can't wear a pretty colour without it overwhelming me.

Don't you love when you can re-use parts of a cosplay on your normal wardrobe? ^^

Thankfully, I didn't spend $30+ to buy a pair of white overalls to make the outfit perfect. XD Getting everything else (hat, custom pin, sweatshirt, spray paint, cardstock paper to make the stencil FOR the spray paint, double-sided tape to make the stencil stick well, contacts, wig...) already added up to something like $80, so I was like "No." I'm definitely not pulling this cosplay stuff often. xD I desperately want to do a Kingdom Hearts cosplay of some sort at least once someday.

[Anirac]

I share your feelings towards orange! I have a finicky skin tone too, I can't wear a pretty colour without it overwhelming me.

Don't you love when you can re-use parts of a cosplay on your normal wardrobe? ^^

Thankfully, I didn't spend $30+ to buy a pair of white overalls to make the outfit perfect. XD Getting everything else (hat, custom pin, sweatshirt, spray paint, cardstock paper to make the stencil FOR the spray paint, double-sided tape to make the stencil stick well, contacts, wig...) already added up to something like $80, so I was like "No." I'm definitely not pulling this cosplay stuff often. xD I desperately want to do a Kingdom Hearts cosplay of some sort at least once someday.

And my ditzyness still shows O.O you made that sweater? That's awesome! I would love to see how the Kingdom Hearts cosplay would turn out!

[Exlon]

And my ditzyness still shows O.O you made that sweater? That's awesome! I would love to see how the Kingdom Hearts cosplay would turn out!

I didn't like any of the pre-made cosplays you could buy online. They were all really cheap-looking and inadequate, and not even necessarily accurate. So I bought a sweatshirt and a can of spray paint. xD My friend helped me, I didn't trust my hand to be steady. I don't think I could actually make a Kingdom Hearts cosplay though. Those are outfits I can't just buy and modify, I'd actually have to have sewing and clothes-making skills...I'd likely just end up spending hours searching for the best outfit I could, and getting that

Example (Kairi's outfit in the second game):
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2011 ... iriKH2.png

No way am I going to make that with a random dress and a can of spray paint. xD

[Anirac]

And my ditzyness still shows O.O you made that sweater? That's awesome! I would love to see how the Kingdom Hearts cosplay would turn out!

I didn't like any of the pre-made cosplays you could buy online. They were all really cheap-looking and inadequate, and not even necessarily accurate. So I bought a sweatshirt and a can of spray paint. xD My friend helped me, I didn't trust my hand to be steady. I don't think I could actually make a Kingdom Hearts cosplay though. Those are outfits I can't just buy and modify, I'd actually have to have sewing and clothes-making skills...I'd likely just end up spending hours searching for the best outfit I could, and getting that

Example (Kairi's outfit in the second game):
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2011 ... iriKH2.png

No way am I going to make that with a random dress and a can of spray paint. xD

Hmm sewing is one awesome skill to have! If you have the time, I encourage you to learn! I don't have it myself, in fact, I've been procrastinating it for quite a while now, but would love to be able to sew my own clothing.

Now, if there is anyone who knows how to sew, please correct what I am about to say. I'm a newb and I'm just guessing:

Her dress is made of two pieces: a lacy white top (undershirt, kind of) and the pink dress. The lacy top can be found anywhere, I've seen tons at Walmart. Thinner straps, but you can hide them with your hair or you can even substitute them yourself! I've done it and by hand (the stitches look awful, but they are inside. And they survived the washing machine!). The shoes could be converse-style shoes with the laces removed. In Canada we have Ardene, they sell shoes for 5$; it shouldn't be too hard to find something in the US. Now for the pink dress. If you look closely, it looks like it is made of 3 pieces of fabric connected by zippers; you have two narrow pieces in the front and a third piece that covers the entire back. Measurements, shapes, hemming and attaching a zipper shouldn't be lessons that would take too long to learn, I think! There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Besides, learning is never a waste. Oh I just noticed she has a hood. I don't know how hard it is to make a hood...

Just found this http://urika.deviantart.com/art/Kairi-C ... -158186208 and this http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f357/ ... idress.jpg
I encourage you to learn sewing! If you don't make the white top attached to the pink dress, you can easily wear those as part of your normal wardrobe, even the hooded top!

[LastLfan]

To be the guy to jump in here, I'm working on a kirito cosplay for a con, but actually my school does a reading day where you can dress as any character as long as the book came first, technically the sword art online books were first, not in English but still, so I'll be running around school with my elucidator XD. Beyond that though I wear things related to anime, like my survey corps shirt from attack on Titan, but not specifically as cosplay.

[ClaecElric4God]

To be the guy to jump in here, I'm working on a kirito cosplay for a con, but actually my school does a reading day where you can dress as any character as long as the book came first, technically the sword art online books were first, not in English but still, so I'll be running around school with my elucidator XD.

*gasp* You must take pictures and show us, L. I demand it.
Also, I would be unlikely to cosplay at a con, let alone outside one. But I did get a Karasuno volleyball shirt at AWA that I wear a bit, so I guess that counts? Not? I dunno.

[Anirac]

To be the guy to jump in here, I'm working on a kirito cosplay for a con, but actually my school does a reading day where you can dress as any character as long as the book came first, technically the sword art online books were first, not in English but still, so I'll be running around school with my elucidator XD.

*gasp* You must take pictures and show us, L. I demand it.
Also, I would be unlikely to cosplay at a con, let alone outside one. But I did get a Karasuno volleyball shirt at AWA that I wear a bit, so I guess that counts? Not? I dunno.

I second the picture request

I'm not going to be an elitist and say it does not count, since T-shirts are a simple but effective way of making a statement. My brother has several statement t-shirts and I love them. So yes, it counts!

[Exlon]

Random--I'm trying to custom order a hoodie vest that's Riku-themed because I am a crazy, crazy fan girl.

I would marry him in real life, shh.

[Panda4christ:3]

I did legit cosplay outside of a con a couple times as Rhyme from The World Ends With You (more to surprise one of my friends). I'm so proud of how it came out. I wore leggings 'cause it was cold outside, and I had to substitute the overalls with just shorts. But still.



once went to my classes with the wig, contacts, and beanie as a joke (I wore my own clothes that time). I had my friend believing all day long that I had cut and bleached my hair.

For general dressing, I can't afford the kinds of things I would normally like to wear, but I have this leather hoodie vest which I like to wear with black jeans and combat boots. Oh, and wristbands. It feels video game-y.

RHYME <3 You look super cute~

To be the guy to jump in here, I'm working on a kirito cosplay for a con, but actually my school does a reading day where you can dress as any character as long as the book came first, technically the sword art online books were first, not in English but still, so I'll be running around school with my elucidator XD.

*gasp* You must take pictures and show us, L. I demand it.
Also, I would be unlikely to cosplay at a con, let alone outside one. But I did get a Karasuno volleyball shirt at AWA that I wear a bit, so I guess that counts? Not? I dunno.

I second the picture request

I third picture requests

Random--I'm trying to custom order a hoodie vest that's Riku-themed because I am a crazy, crazy fan girl.

I would marry him in real life, shh.

You and me should be best friends :3

[PLCDreamcatcher14]

I actually have noticed a change in my clothing style since I've started watching anime. Like, my clothes have gotten a little frillier at times. Sometimes I've even adapted a certain characters clothes or style to myself. I'd love to try lolita clothes (if they weren't so expensive) and if I were able to, I might would cosplay outside of a con mostly just to mess with people. I can just imagine the weird looks people would give. lol. X)

*gasp* You must take pictures and show us, L. I demand it.
Also, I would be unlikely to cosplay at a con, let alone outside one. But I did get a Karasuno volleyball shirt at AWA that I wear a bit, so I guess that counts? Not? I dunno.

I second the picture request

I third picture requests

Fourthing!

[PLCDreamcatcher14]

I did legit cosplay outside of a con a couple times as Rhyme from The World Ends With You (more to surprise one of my friends). I'm so proud of how it came out. I wore leggings 'cause it was cold outside, and I had to substitute the overalls with just shorts. But still.



once went to my classes with the wig, contacts, and beanie as a joke (I wore my own clothes that time). I had my friend believing all day long that I had cut and bleached my hair.

For general dressing, I can't afford the kinds of things I would normally like to wear, but I have this leather hoodie vest which I like to wear with black jeans and combat boots. Oh, and wristbands. It feels video game-y.

double post of doom

Anyway, LOVE that costume! And I don't even know the game.

[Crossfire]

Not much of a 'cosplayer' myself, though if I found some sweet Quattro-esque shades I'd totally rock them along with a red jacket.

[artisticDreamer]

I would love to cosplay in public!
Once I watch more anime. And my parents stop thinking that it's demonic.

[Nate]

I did cosplay twice.

I probably won't do it again.

[TheAlbinoMoose]

I would love to cosplay in public!
Once I watch more anime. And my parents stop thinking that it's demonic.

That last sentence totally sounds like my dad... xD

[Wolfsong]

I would, simply because I think its fun. Besides, looks no different than some of the weird fashions coming to light. So really, I'd just fit right in XD

[PLCDreamcatcher14]

I would, simply because I think its fun. Besides, looks no different than some of the weird fashions coming to light. So really, I'd just fit right in XD

True. X)

[EventualDay]

I really like wearing things where you have to really know the show to realize it's part cosplay. Makes me feel like I'm part of a secret club ^_^ Jewelry is pretty easy to be subtle about. And I've always had a hidden love for punk-ish clothes, so anything that looks a little Lolita/visual kei/etc. makes me feel fuzzy inside.

[mdmrn]

I have cosplayed once as Lupin III at a convention. Outside of a con? Most likely not. Unless my work attire looks like a character randomly...

[ashfire]

I cosplayed at a one day comic book show for the people that organized the show for local artist and dealers at a Japanese culture center. I was also there as a on site medic. The center is a large place and the people use it for Japanese drum practice and training. The group has been at different cons and the Washington DC parades.

[Anirac]

I cosplayed at a one day comic book show for the people that organized the show for local artist and dealers at a Japanese culture center. I was also there as a on site medic. The center is a large place and the people use it for Japanese drum practice and training. The group has been at different cons and the Washington DC parades.

Wait, a cosplaying medic? I'd fake being hurt or ill just so I could be seen by you XD What was your cosplay?

[ashfire]

I cosplay as a Japanese Rescue Firefighter. I even have a Japanese Emergency Medical Uniform. I have a friend in the Tokyo Fire Service who sent me one of his EMS uniforms with rank badge and hat. He has sent me booklets and patches for the different rescue operations and from that I made a rescue uniform, hats and other items I have used. I emailed him when I found his name and info in a Fire Buff book. Back then he was a Sgt. and now he is a Battalion Chief. I keep up with him on Facebook now. We send things back and forth in the mail.