Question about Cos-Play

[tsukasa]

It seems to me that there are far more Female Cos-Players than there are Male. Is this because the majority of places to buy items from are geared more towards Females? Or am I just not seeing places to buy stuff to make accurate outfits?

[Riotfug]

I guess it's cos guys are generally boring hehe no, I'm sure it's just to do with the stereotype of girls liking to dress up more than guys, then again, what do I know?

[MorbidGnome]

One factor might be that some guys tend to balk at sewing whereas it's less common for a girl to refuse to sew.

[Midnite]

If you want to be statistical, yes there probably are more girls than guys largely due to the shoujo manga and anime being put out for their sake. However the guys aren't too far behind and at my last con there were just as many guys as girls cosplaying. I don't know what you mean by places to buy things geared towards females. Most of the guys I know have their costumes made by a seamstress or they make it themselves out of things they find at thrift stores (GoodWill, Salvation Army...) or even Beall's outlet. If you want to save money, that's the best way to go. Hope this helps. ^_^

[tsukasa]

I live on Long Island, in New York, there is really nothing here like that.:(

Thank you though am gonna look up this "Beall's Outlet" place.

Plus, I can't sew to save my life, I've tried manr times before, and I can't get it right, I'm so horrible at it.:p :(

[Riotfug]

I hate living in Ireland, we don't have enough thrift stores or as we call them second-hand shops

[emmsiebelle]

I went to a convention in london about three months ago it seemed like there was more guys than gals cos-playing there.

[tsukasa]

Okay, that settles it, I'm leaving New York!
I want to Cos-Play, and I can't, cause there is nothing here.

[Riotfug]

here,here! I'm out of Ireland as soon as I'm finished school

I hope

[Noriko]

I hate living in Ireland, we don't have enough thrift stores or as we call them second-hand shops

Yeah. I visited Ireland this summer and there was only like ONE "second-hand shop" that I found. ...and it was full of scary old ladies.... O.o;;

But, I think the reason that most guys don't cosplay is because they can't sew. If you want a costume really bad and you have money, you could always commission one. XD

[Riotfug]

Yeah the second hand shops are ALWAYS full of old ladies. Weird actually......

[Juno]

ok....do you ever go to the mall for stuff?

[Riotfug]

Um, we were talking about second hand shops a little earlier. But if you must know, yeah I go to malls cept we don't call them malls

[IloveSylvie]

Do you guys know where can I find a great site to buy cosplay costumes?

[Zombie prom date]

I notice more girls cosplay than guys. In fact, I can't name a single guy that I know who cosplays. If I even say the word around any of my friends, even the grandest otaku, shutter at the idea. Guys just don't generally like to dress up. I'm a guy and I like to cosplay. I like to cross dress cosplay though. I also only cosplay when girls do it with me. Believe me its is tough facing your friends the next day after they see pictures of you in a Sailor Moon outfit on the internet. I still like to do it though. I want to do an Kanon cosplay next. Mai's schoolgirl outfit probably.

[Hokutochan]

Props to you mr.crossplayer! Isnt it intresting to glimpse the other side of the gender spectrum and be adored for it?

As for thrift stores, the best are the ones in ritzy-er neighborhoods=barely worn fab deals XD! Where else are you gonna get a red LEATHER jacket for $25- perfect for a Subaru-kun cosplay. A steal I tells you. The little old ladies just add to the store's charm; what i hate is that unnerving mildew/moldy smell some of the places have. Its like what horrors have these poor clothes gone through? That really discourages me from looking any further -_-;
I'd do my own work but I have a sewing machine i just dont know how to use :(
For those with the funds, ebay is your best bud. Or like others said, go with seamstresses who enjoy this kinda stuff. http://www.setsunakou.com/costume/costume.html is a pretty established cosplay center. Her wanky take on Sailormoon characters can be annoying but it doesnt detract from her skills.

[Riotfug]

*claps* for Zombie Prom Date!

[Rykukai]

You are a brave man Zombie *nods*

[Noriko]

I notice more girls cosplay than guys. In fact, I can't name a single guy that I know who cosplays. If I even say the word around any of my friends, even the grandest otaku, shutter at the idea. Guys just don't generally like to dress up. I'm a guy and I like to cosplay. I like to cross dress cosplay though. I also only cosplay when girls do it with me. Believe me its is tough facing your friends the next day after they see pictures of you in a Sailor Moon outfit on the internet. I still like to do it though. I want to do an Kanon cosplay next. Mai's schoolgirl outfit probably.

YAY! A fellow cross-player! Although I'm from the other side of... the....uh.... gender spectrum? I sometimes end up dressing as boys just because I'm so flat-chested. :( It's lots of fun and I really enjoy confusing the hell out of everyone... XP My favorite is when someone walks up to me and goes "oh... you're a girl?". Kekekekeke.... But I also enjoy wearing frilly-cute girly costumes of doom, also. We should pair up, zombie, and go to a con as a couple... except.... switched. XD

[mangadragon]

Hey, question: exactly what is cos-play?

[Miako]

Do you guys know where can I find a great site to buy cosplay costumes?


CosplayLab.com has a tab called "ProShop" that will give you a link to a lot of people who carry and/or make costumes. They even have contacts *you can get Itachi's Mangekyu eye or Sharingan ones* This is just a great cosplay resource to visit period.

Hope that helps!

[tsukasa]

Wow, cool, thank you, so much!!!

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

about that link you gave earlier...i, personally, woudn't use it. i might do a comission or 2 (it'd be after easter tho) if you really don't know how to sew...but, yeah, for what she's charging, i see it as a waste of money.
now as for someone asked what is cosplay...it's the words costume and play put together to = Cos-Play...aka Cosplay. it's basically where you dress up as your favorite anime, manga, video game, or Jrock character^_^
now as for crosplayers...it's more common to see a girl go as a guy then a guy to go as a girl. but hey, as long as the costume is made well, i'm happy with it ^_^

i'm looking for a better comission link, but it's not easy...i'll post one later

[Miako]

There are tons of different commission peeps on that site. Not just one, good commissions from anyone online seem to be costly tho. But CosplayLab is a good resource I think, even if some of the prices are out there. You can view lots of cosplayers and get ideas or if you want to shell out the cash *some do/can* and can't sew. I personally sew and don't buy commissions and I still find CosplayLab to be an overall good site. ^_~ But yea, I never said they were cheat but for materials and someone else's time what would you expect? Even for simple costumes you make yourself you'll probably shell out at least 50 bucks sooo if they charge 300 for something more detailed they put time, sweat and the cost of materials, it's pretty reasonable if that's your job. I've come across a lot of commission links and most of them range that high... I don't know if you can find commissions on the cheap? Unless your friends sew.*shrugs* Ebay has some premade stuff. Your fun to talk too. lol.

[Jacku]

Hey, question: exactly what is cos-play?

When a person dresses up as an anime, manga, or game character he/she is cosplaying.

I plan on cosplaying as Aya from the band Psycho le Cemu but I wonder if I'll ever get around to starting it...

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

well, Erika Door got kind of pissy bout comissioners who insisted for Yaya quality costumes but at rock bottom prices...well, what i would charge for a costume is this: cost of materials + 50% =final costume price. now, since i'm not trying to live off of comissioning, i can charge lower but still give good quality..but i don't know if i'd have time to do tons of costumes sicne good costumes take 40+ hours of work...and there are some costumes i've made that i would never make for a comisson...like my kalas i'm working on...it'd be absolute hell X.X things like EGLs and stuff i'd do. face it, for an EGL i'd end up charging bout $45 dollers (excluding shiping) now that's cheep considering that a Baby, the Stars Shine Bright EGL costs about $400 (altho, with them you get what ya pay for) and yes, that link is actually pretty cheep compared to most comissioners, but i still wouldn't pay $200 for a Ichigo from Tokyo Mew Mew made out of cheep cotton and brough satin ribbion...but that's just meh...i'm nit picky

also, i have an old account on Clab...but since their server won't accept my internet (i use safari sine i have an osx 10.4 mac) i can't really update...but yeah, Clab is cool ^_^ but i like ACP a bit better, and Cosplay.com is da bomb ^_^

[Miako]

Yaya is the girl... her costumes are so freakin awesome. I love her *sigh* I go to Cosplay.com too, good site, good site.

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

my favorite cosplayers would be: pickmen link...his marth is my most FAVORITE costume in the world...i'm a big fire emblem fan XP and Cherry. her costumes are great and just aswem XP

[sugoidesuyo]

I think the lack of male cosplayers is the fact that a lot of anime guys don't wear really distinguishable outfits. They either wear normal clothing or school boy uniform. There are some exceptions, but this could be a reason I think. ^^:

[Miako]

Guys who cosplay are hot.

[PsychoXLeXCemu]

I think the lack of male cosplayers is the fact that a lot of anime guys don't wear really distinguishable outfits. They either wear normal clothing or school boy uniform. There are some exceptions, but this could be a reason I think. ^^:
i think quite the opposite^_^ i'm not sure what animes you watch but there's tons of cool guy costumes ^_^ especially game ones! like Sora (KH),Cloud(FFVII), Sephiroth(FFVII), Reyson(fire Emblem), and many more...i think it just has to do with men sewing less then women...it's a man thing ^-^;; basically

[sugoidesuyo]

i think quite the opposite^_^ i'm not sure what animes you watch but there's tons of cool guy costumes ^_^ especially game ones! like Sora (KH),Cloud(FFVII), Sephiroth(FFVII), Reyson(fire Emblem), and many more...i think it just has to do with men sewing less then women...it's a man thing ^-^;; basically

it was a guess on my part, but i understand what you're saying. ^^ they are quite complicated costumes ... but cool looking!

[Manadevil]

I love to cosplay and i'm a guy. I guess that's just how it works though.

[Riotfug]

it was a guess on my part, but i understand what you're saying. ^^ they are quite complicated costumes ... but cool looking!

That pic is so ****in' cool!