Cosplay Costumes Online

Cosplay is a youth subculture originating in Japan.  The moniker is derived from the words “costume” and “play”, and is believed to have been first thought up in 1984 by a Japanese studio executive named Nov Takahashi.  When he wrote for Japanese science fiction magazines about the impressive costumes worn by attendees at the Los Angeles World Science Fiction Convention, he gradually adopted the portmanteau term cosplay, which is used to describe the trend today.

The main feature of cosplay is that participants enjoy dressing up as their favorite characters from anime, comic books, and video games.  It has developed to include, particularly when adopted in the west, people dressing up as characters from popular non-Asian fantasy and science fiction movies and games, such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who and World of Warcraft.

As a fashion concept, cosplay has also been seen to extend towards a style of dressing up not only as established, famous characters, but as characters that the enthusiast has developed themselves.  This is often a crossover into the Japanese Lolita style of dress, where girls wear a distinctive, cute style.  This allows girls who like the look but do not want to fully adopt the Lolita style as street dress to enjoy the less serious “Cosplay Lolita” style at cosplay events and venues.

Additional trends and sub-genres in cosplay include “crossplay”, which involves wearing the costume of a character of the opposite sex, and participants called “dollars”, who wear full body suits and masks to play characters without their own faces on show, rather like sports mascots.

Cosplay is usually something that takes place at parties, concerts, conventions and venues where likeminded people meet to show off their (often hand crafted) costumes, socialize, and photograph other enthusiasts.  The most popular area for these kind of activities is the fashionable Harajuku area of Tokyo.  In the district of Akihabara, a number of cosplay themed cafes have been opened during the last decade to cater to the cosplayers, and the staff all wear anime themed costumes themselves.

Twice a year, hundreds of thousands of cosplayers flock to Tokyo to visit the Comiket convention and market – the largest event in the world for cosplay enthusiasts.

The concept of dressing up and of taking part in role play based around popular characters also exists in the west, where cosplay style outfits are worn to attend science fiction and comic book conventions.  The largest of these is held annually in San Diego.

In Japan, cosplay or kosupure (short for costume play) is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Individuals, otherwise known as otakus – fans of this genre – take on the roles of their favorite characters from mangas (Japanese comic books), animes (animated Japanese cartoon shows), graphic novels, hentai, video games and fantasy movies.

The term alone is a broad overview of a much wider and more diverse culture, where these cosplayers or reiyas devote time and effort into perfecting their roles. It is not uncommon to see these individuals in public places like Tokyo’s Harajuku district for it is considered a popular meeting ground. Attention to detail from simple to elaborate wigs, make-up and costumes – many of which are hand-crafted – are the highlights of observing cosplayers as a first time visitor to the city. However, even though there are a wide range of characters, the most popular ones, and fan favorites, are maid and high-school girl uniforms.

Another popular trend amongst reiyas is the smoky-eyed look; most commonly seen with those who prefer the Lolita fashion. Although Western culture attributes the role of Lolitas to underage girls, in Japan, it is not regarded that way. Those engaged in Lolita fashion do not see themselves as cosplayers, but distinct trendsetters who take great pride in their craft, ranging from Gothic to Punk. However, the inspiration for their look comes from the Victorian era, and the ensemble is mostly composed of a dress or skirt of knee-length, a headdress, petticoat, blouse, knee-high socks and platform shoes. Lolita fashion, in Japan, was believed to have started in the 1960s, and today many high-end boutiques have devoted sections to this growing trend.

Another instance where one might see ‘costumes’ on the streets of Japan, is during the Coming-of-Age Day festivities. This is held annually on the second Monday of January, and it is a time when young people who have reached the age of 20, are officially recognized as adult members of society. Young women can be seen wearing brightly-colored furisode (a style of kimono with long sleeves) and zori sandals. Since these outfits are considered expensive, and a little difficult to wear, the women either borrow them from relatives, rent them and prefer to get prepared in local beauty salons. For the men, the traditional dark kimono with hakama is sometimes seen, although many now prefer to wear Western suits.

Last year the cosplay party hosted by Japan Society in New York City was a smashing hit with over 500 revelers who adorned costumes of their favorite anime, manga, and video game characters. Come May 15^th 2010 and you have the chance to attend Cosplay Part 2.0 which is definitely going to be bigger than the first. This year you can expect to enjoy yourself all day long with a big screen presentation of Evangelion 1.1, the anime film.

Enjoy free access to Japan Society’s exhibition Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters. Enter the costume competition and you have a chance to win prizes courtesy Kinokuniya Bookstore. The event is to be hosted by Uncle Yo and the judges include participants from World Cosplay Summit 2009 Team USA. Japan Society’s mangaka artist-in-residence will be the guest judge at the competition. Be an early bird and you have the chance to meet, and observe Mr. Otsuka as he creates a comic book based on Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters.

The j-Lounge at Japan Society is the place to be if you want to enjoy a variety of sweet & savory snacks, and of course, Japanese, and western drinks. The exhibition Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters features Japanese prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, known as the grandfather of contemporary manga and anime, from the Arthur R. Miller Collection. The exhibition runs through till June 13.

If you want to enter the contest, registration starts at 14:00 hrs, while the party rolls on from 15:00 hrs. To compete in the competition you need to have a cosplay costume from 1) Anime/Manga/Film/US Comics, 2) Videos Games, or 3) Original/Kuniyoshi/Other. You cannot use costumes rented or purchased from stores, except for props. Group entries are welcome. The lucky winner gets a $200 gift certificate from Kinokuniya Bookstore, runner up a $100 gift certificate from Kinokuniya Bookstore, while the third spot gets a gift certificate courtesy Kinokuniya Bookstore. If you want auditorium seating then you need to be among the first 200 ticket buyers and purchase tickets @$15 for members and $20 for guests. Others will have to watch the event live on plasma screens in the foyer.

The feature film Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone is a stunning rebuild of Hideaki Anno’s anime masterpiece that showcases otaku culture. The film takes you into the future where the megalopolis Tokyo-3 is the only city standing after civilization has been destroyed in the Second Impact. Tormented teenager Shinji Ikari comes to the rescue of the city to fight the onslaught of the creatures from another world who are out to eliminate the human race. Be there if you want to have a great time.

The first thing a cosplayer must do is choose a character. If you find the task confusing, an easy way is to note down your favorite characters on a piece of paper. Keep your sewing and constructing skills in mind when making a choice. The obvious choice will be one that you feel is an easy costume to make. Another important factor is your budget. The more items your costume needs like a wig, makeup, props, will all add to the cost. Many individuals like being as detailed as possible when it comes to a cosplay costume, so you will need to make up your mind on how much detail you would prefer to go into.

Often, you may find you resemble a character in a certain way. This is not important but can work in your favor. A short female may find it easy to take on the character of Sailor Saturn or Sailor Chibi moon. However, what is important in cosplay is how well you can portray the character.

Creating your own costume can be fun if you have sewing skills. You can buy the fabric from local shops and get set on creating your costume. If you can’t sew you will need to find a good seamstress in your town who is experienced in creating different designs and styles. Carry a few photos along so that it will be easy for the seamstress to create an outline.

There are plenty of readymade cosplay costumes available if you do have the budget to spend. You may even find what you want at a vintage or thrift store.

Wigs are an important part of many cosplay costumes and needs to be chosen carefully. Most often, it is the price of the wig that dictates its quality. Cheap Halloween wigs are not advisable. Do not buy an ordinary, mass-produced wig if you are planning to style it to fit in with a certain character. These wigs shed and start to tangle when combed and styled. There are several stores that sell high-quality wigs, which is a better bet if you want to create an authentic looking character.

Choose makeup brands that contain oil. In addition, make sure to check the ingredients so that you don’t end up with a facial outbreak. Many characters require hours of painstaking makeup in order to create the original look. Get these right, and you will be on your way to enjoying some memorable moments in your cosplay costume.