Forums » Smalltalk » AMA: A Cosplayer for Almost a Decade

Hi! I've done various different character cosplays and have won awards in the past nine-ish years. I'm no expert, but my skills are always improving with each new outfit! Recently completed an entire hand-sewn/hand-made cosplay this year! Feel free to ask me anything!

What is the biggest project you've ever worked on?

My Ayame from Inuyasha cosplay! It took me almost 4 months to put together and buy all the materials. I hand-sewed the whole outfit and even made invisible shoes - though they need minor work to stay on for long periods. I even plan to fix the wig up properly myself since I couldn't find a suitable one.

* I made the top look like her armor but was really just two different types of fabric
* I made the entire fur skirt with matching belt to have the two dangly bits on one side
* I made both fur cuffs with string-laced corsets
* I made both fur leg warmers also with corset ties
* I made the fur cape including sewing in hooks and d-rings into the cape and top straps to keep them together
* I hand-painted wolf-tooth shaped beads to be the proper color green and used bead wire to hold them in place for her cape
* I made the invisible shoes that need work still to improve them
* and I used make-up to place a cut along my cheek like she just got out of battle

Do you do sculpting and wig making too?

I don't sculpt, but I am starting to learn the process of wig modification/making. I haven't done anything hands-on yet, but have been researching different methods of modifying and such like buying wefts or making your own wefts from other wigs, dying, styling, securing, ect, adding unconventional methods to keep wacky styles stored better (like using sockets or magnets to be able to take them apart easier), and which colors dye easier. It's a very vast field that I intend to try and explore more fully!

have you ever (considered) redoing your first-ever cosplay, just to see how it'll turn out with your now improved and seasoned skill set?

Hello, fellow cosplayer!

What is your favourite cosplay you have made so far?

Most of what I wanted to ask has already been brought up, haha... I'm enjoying reading through this thread ^.^ I guess the only question I have left is... Do you have any suggestions/recommendations/advice for beginner cosplayers? I really want to get into it, and I do have a (probably fairly passable) cosplay of a character I really like, which I'm planning to enter into a contest this month... But beyond that, I'm not really sure what I should be doing, haha...

Yes, I have! Especially after a housefire meant I lost part of that first cosplay. I've definitely considered just re-working it entirely.

Ooh. A toss up between Ayame and Angry!Bill Cipher. Ayame is the one I'm most proud of and Bill was my first, so I'm a bit biased towards it, lol.

Props! Props are your best friend and will earn you extra points! They don't need to be flashy or big. I painted a wooden cane to black, and created a pair of dream catcher handcuffs (easier than it sounds), and that instantly boosted my cosplay in judges eyes!

Also, don't stress. Even if your cosplay doesn't win anything this time, if you continue to improve it, the same judges will notice and enjoy that you're taking their advice into account!

Noted, thank you! ^.^

Of course! If you have any other questions, let me know!