"Easy" Cosplay?

[Neda Marie]

Alright, bear with me while I explain something that's been bothering me. 

With my first con coming up, I'm getting more and more nervous about my costumes, and whether people will recognize/like them and all that. Now, I know the general advice people seem to give is "You're not going there to impress other people, you're there to have fun" ... which, trust me, I will. 

But that's not what worries me about this whole thing. 

There are costumes (in ALL fandoms) that require a ridiculous amount of skill and craftsmanship; costumes that probably took people months of hard work and endless hours of sewing and costume-building and all of that.


And I am so, so impressed every time I see costumes like that, don't get me wrong. The LAST thing I want is to sound like I don't appreciate people's absolutely amazing talents.


The thing that makes me a bit worried, though, is that costumes like, for example, Amy costumes or Clara costumes would go a bit more unappreciated because of those absolutely impressive things people create. Because, you know, those companions happen to be wearing "normal" everyday clothes in most episodes. I've been thinking about this since I read a post on tumblr in which some photographer at an event told a Harry Potter cosplayer, "“Good to see something British that’s not Doctor Who. People just do that cosplay because it’s cheap and easy.” (here's the link to the full post if you wanna read that)  

And uh.... that just really bothers me? Not 'cause I want people to pay attention to my costumes or whatever, but because generally, that's some really messed up mentality, don't you think? 

I mean, speaking from my own experience, it took me about six months to make my Angels Take Manhattan cosplay to look good. That includes hunting for alts (that jacket, oh god, don't get me started...), makeup and all of that. And sure, if you look at my costume breakdown, it is all off-the-rack items I found at my local mall and all that...

But that doesn't mean there wasn't any effort and time AND money involved, you know what I mean? 

I don't know if any of that makes sense... I've just been meaning to rant about that for a while. Yeah. I'm gonna stop venting now... thoughts?  

[Matt Holden]

*headsdesk*

DW cosplay certainly is not cheap and easy... It's things like that which wind me up!

Keep smiling and don't let it worry you!

I personally appreciate every DW costume I see, I fact recently I've been making a point of seaking them out and specifically asking people for picture (they seem to look quite surprised when I do this a good amount of the time? I have no idea why??)

People will love your outfits. I'm looking forward to seeing them in person

[meds]

As the blogger in the link says even the easiest looking costume does not come cheap.
Great rant by the way but honestly don't worry about it. Grab your gear and have fun.

[Nullien]

Sometimes the cosplays that look easier are the hardest one to do! I actually find pretty hard to make cosplays of "real" things. I mean, if I cosplay something of an anime, I can have the fabric choose I want, and I can improvise a lot having so much different results that can be awesome. If I cosplay something of DW, I can't improvise that much. I'm not really so obsessed yet with screen accuracy (I'll get there, I know that haha), but you have much less freedom. People should value that!

[Ace McShane]

I feel odd at time going out in the Ace Jacket as there not a lot out there that don't know Ace or think that Ace should be played by a girl, for example at the summer LFCC this year I was asked why was wearing a jacket that meant to by a girl and thought to myself that and thought he was somewhat but at the same time wrong as there was girls that played as the 11 Doctor and such so what the the harm ? so I said to the person "well Ace is a tomboy I'm just all boy ok ?" and with that he walked off.

I go out in the Jacket to show off the costume and if I can play into the character as such and like to meet everyone here if possible as such I'm still thinking about the LFCC that next week as such but I will looking to Collectormania that in November and if anyone here want to have a photo with me or have a photo taken with that would Wicked.

[tgifriday]

Sept 23, 2013 22:54:23 GMT Ace McShane said:

I feel odd at time going out in the Ace Jacket as there not a lot out there that don't know Ace or think that Ace should be played by a girl, for example at the summer LFCC this year I was asked why was wearing a jacket that meant to by a girl and thought to myself that and thought he was somewhat but at the same time wrong as there was girls that played as the 11 Doctor and such so what the the harm ? so I said to the person "well Ace is a tomboy I'm just all boy ok ?" and with that he walked off.

I go out in the Jacket to show off the costume and if I can play into the character as such and like to meet everyone here if possible as such I'm still thinking about the LFCC that next week as such but I will looking to Collectormania that in November and if anyone here want to have a photo with me or have a photo taken with that would Wicked.

you've never seen the dwas 90's fan film the few doctors then? (try you tube)

Attachments:

[Torchwood TeaBoy]

Here's the thing, "easy cosplays" are actually difficult to do well, and others will appreciate the level of attention and detail you put into your research and final costume. While it might be mostly 'off the rack', its the attention to detail that shows your commitment and love of the character.

It's actually relatively easy to build some of the crazy armor and fantasy items out there, once you procure the right materials/tools. And with it being based in a fantastical basis, it can end up looking like whatever the hell you want. It's easier to recreate a decent looking Halo suit out of foam, paint, Plastidip, than it is to try and match fabrics and colors for an item that was made to be one of a kind by someone that has far more resources than most cosplayers, like 11's purple coat.  Ask any make-up artist and they will tell you one of the hardest things to do is make someone 'look natural' with make up.

I know I've spent almost as much money on my 'easy' cosplays as I have on my intricate 'hard' cosplays, mostly because I want all of my cosplays to look as good and ideally be as screen accurate as possible.

So when someone gripes about your 'easy cosplay', feel free to launch into a conversation about the hours spent pouring over pics, doing garment and fabric research, practicing and perfecting your make up techniques, etc.  "Razzle-dazzle' them with your indepth knowledge of your fandom and cosplay.

[Ace McShane]

Sept 24, 2013 0:02:52 GMT tgifriday said:

Sept 23, 2013 22:54:23 GMT Ace McShane said:

I feel odd at time going out in the Ace Jacket as there not a lot out there that don't know Ace or think that Ace should be played by a girl, for example at the summer LFCC this year I was asked why was wearing a jacket that meant to by a girl and thought to myself that and thought he was somewhat but at the same time wrong as there was girls that played as the 11 Doctor and such so what the the harm ? so I said to the person "well Ace is a tomboy I'm just all boy ok ?" and with that he walked off.

I go out in the Jacket to show off the costume and if I can play into the character as such and like to meet everyone here if possible as such I'm still thinking about the LFCC that next week as such but I will looking to Collectormania that in November and if anyone here want to have a photo with me or have a photo taken with that would Wicked.

you've never seen the dwas 90's fan film the few doctors then? (try you tube)

ow... ok 

[Clara Oswald]

Oh goodness, how can I put this gently....COSPLAY IS FREAKING EXPENSIVE!!!!! Sometimes I feel like I have my knitting business JUST to support my cosplay hobby! Oh wait...yeah I do support my cosplay with my knitting BECAUSE TEACHERS DON'T GET PAID MUCH!

Okay, I'm done ranting. In all seriousness, I feel like the cosplay community has to take a step back and realize exactly how far we have come since our bedsheet Princess Leia days, and realize that no matter what cosplay you do, it takes time, effort, research, and cash. Just like ANY hobby!

Also, most of us have jobs or go to school, so finding time to support our hobby can be hard, and people don't think about that.  I can spend literally hours trying to hunt down an item or days re-creating a dress.

(Oh, and I do love my job teaching, it's a great ministry, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. I praise God every day for my job, I just wish we weren't worked so hard and paid so little. Sorry for the tirade. lol)

[madgirlinabox]

What people don't realize is that if you don't see spoiler pictures of filming you are trying to buy screen accurate items at least 6 months out of season. To construct 'easy' cosplays takes a lot of time on ebay and other auction/clothes swapping websites, trawling sale racks in shops and generally hoping and praying that something, anything, for the cosplay you are trying to create appears in your size. Add onto that the time and energy it takes to modify a particular item to look exactly like the screen accurate one (Clara's Journey to the Center of the TARDIS dress is a prime example of this as the dress actually comes without a collar and with a wider neckline), the amount of money you spend on screen accurate pieces because you want it just a little bit too much, and the haggling with people selling and trading items you want and the term 'easy' shouldn't enter into the equation. Harry Potter costumes are now one of the easiest to get hold of thanks to the Harry Potter World selling the robes and a shop at Kings Cross station doing the same. Those items are mass produced and NEVER go out of stock or out of season where as companion clothing does and Doctor clothing is even harder to find! I'd like to see that particular photographer put together a Doctor or companion cosplay with a £50 budget and make it look as good as any of us do.

Rant over.

[Moonflower]

I've only just started cosplaying within the past few months, and I'm convinced that there is no such thing as easy cosplay. I got my first SA cosplay item in June. To date, that is still the only one I've been able to snag. There have been several others that got snatched out from underneath me at the last minute. I know people who have spent THOUSANDS on cosplay items (the woman who owns the Rose the Bad Wolf cosplay page comes to mind). I mean, it's close to guaranteed that anything used on screen will be expensive. And it's usually sold out by the time it airs. Which only increases how much it would cost.

I am a student. I do not have a steady job. I spend what money I can on cosplay. Cosplay is expensive. I have one SA item, simply because my aunt was kind enough to get it for me. I can't afford replicas, and I can't afford SA unless I manage to get it incredibly cheap. I find the closest alts I can, simply because I don't have the money. And anyone who says that my cosplay isn't good enough...they can eat it. I do the best I can. If they want, they can use my budget to come up with something better. That is to say, probably around 60 US dollars. If they can do it...good for them. But until I have a good paying job (which is to say after college, most likely), my cosplays are going to be on my budget. If that guy would like to give me more money so that they can be more accurate, I'll take it.

...Sorry, really ranted there.

[mamabug10]

Holy crap is it expensive! I have ONE SA item, my 50th Anniversary Tenth Doctor tie, and ONLY because it's still available in the stores, so is relatively cheap (well, until you take into account shipping to the US from the UK, and currency conversions...) Still cost me around $38 USD.

It gets even more difficult and expensive if you're cosplaying British shows from the USA. For one, a HUGE amount of the clothes used, are never sold in the US, so finding them in thrift shops or in stores is near impossible. When you're lucky enough to source a piece in the UK, currency conversions can kill the budget. I think the current exchange is something like $1.65 USD to 1 GBP. And unless you have friends who are fans over there willing to do the legwork for you, or you manage to find something on Ebay or similar... Good luck even ever finding SA pieces. And replicas are spendy overall, and not always accurate.

So, yeah, the vast majority of my cosplay stuff right now is alt. I'm hoping to be in the UK at some point in the next couple of years, and to be able to hunt a few thrift shops there and see what I can find. Cause I sure can't find them over here.

[rassilon]

I think, like any other source on the cosplay scene, that unless one is VERY family with the subject you would be unaware of how accurate or 'good' someone's efforts are

Several times i myself have realized LONG after seeing someone at an event that they were even in a costume at all! Perhaps doctor who is a victim of this? Unless a costume is alien or period it can EASILY blend in as contemporary or recently shop bought.

Another aspect could be the sheer number of Amys, rivers, tens and elevens you see. If so many are doing them it MUST be easy, right?

WE know that isn't the case.

Originality is certainly rare at events!

[benaequee]

Buying SA or really good alts, is certainly not a cheap hobby.  I know, as I just spent my entire quarterly bonus on 5 SA pieces and 4 alts.  I'm still scouring eBay and online for a few missing pieces, and it is not easy.   I'm a seamstress first, so wearing costumes that are real clothing, has proven way more challenging than trying to match stitch counts per inch and Pantone swatching various shades of light blue for fabric lol. Give me a made up costume any day, and the construction will be easier for me than trying to find that darn Whistles Pineapple dress from ATCM (which is why I made mine instead lol).

Do what you love, and expect that not everyone will get it. Just remember, more people will love it than the ones who don't get it

[madgirlinabox]

I'm lucky in the sense that my 9 outfit Clara collection (of which I have 6 SA items, 2 replicas, and the rest are alts) has only (I say only knowing people have spent thousands) cost me around £450. But I'm lucky, I found pieces that people were letting items go so cheap. I love cosplaying but I wish it wasn't so expensive!