Anyone can cosplay, no matter your age, shape, or background. Still, any of the best DIY hacks for cosplay will save you money and time from laborious sewing and crafting. Take note of each of these hacks and how they can better your cosplay experience and costume design.
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Think Outside the Box with Costume Materials
Even if it’s not your first cosplay experience, you don’t need to be an expert sewer or knitter to create an elaborate piece. Instead, get creative with your costume materials. For instance, puff paint creates a great fake embroidery that will baffle others. Embroidery is not an easy skill, but you can create the same illusion using puff paint as a base. Outline the detail in puff paint and sew around this layer for the visual effect. Another trick is to use hand socks for unnatural skin colors, including green, purple, red, or blue. Instead of painting your whole body this color, have a set of colored gloves that match the desired skin tone. You’ll save precious time and energy from painting your whole body, especially if you’ll be attending a hot, crowded convention later.
Hot Glue Goes a Long Way
Another great DIY trick is to use hot glue. Hot glue guns are great for cosplay because they can create perfect miniature details. You might not be a skilled artist, and that’s perfectly okay. Consider hot glue as a cheap, easy option. Simply trace over your design with hot glue, whether armor, clothes, or accessories. Highlighting a shield or tiara is easy with this hack. Hot glue remains in place for a considerable amount of time after it dries, meaning you won’t need to fuss with the finished result.
Take Time Finding Fabrics
Every cosplayer knows the importance of finding the right cosplay fabrics for their costume. Still, at the end of the day, everyone just wants to look their best. That’s why you must take the time to find the best fabrics for your specific costume. Some of the most popular options include natural fibers, like cotton, linen, and silk, or synthetic fibers, like nylon, spandex, or neoprene. Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages, so take your time researching each one and how it fits your character. For example, a Renaissance period costume requires wool but not spandex, or vice versa for a modern superhero’s costume, depending on the level of authenticity you desire.
Save Some Money and Thrift
The final DIY hack for cosplay is to hit the thrift shop. Thrifting is one of the easiest ways to save money in cosplay, especially for those who frequently wear or create different costumes. While creating a costume from scratch is fun, materials and labor cost time and money. Do yourself and your wallet a favor and thrift shop for older or previously worn clothes, as these are cheaper than costume stores or other retail outlets. Thrift stores also have different styles and sizes that are great for experimenting with different looks.
And when all else fails, you can always consult The Cosplay Handbook and watch our video on the Top 10 Famous Cosplayers for some inspiration!