Okay, now I got your attention. This photo is totally unrelated to the topic.
Today, we will talk about cosplay.
Why will we talk about cosplay? It's because a lot of people who are jumping into this hobby are misunderstanding it, see it as a ladder to fame or simply just do it because its trending.
(For more info visit this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay)
So there's the basics, cosplayers wear costumes, accessories and don items of significance to portray a character. But it is not JUST THAT. I am telling this now not as a sort of discouraging thought but as a warning and so people who will wish to start this hobby may have a heads up.
COSPLAY IS AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY.
This is not to mock or show off, this is the reality of this hobby.
Cosplayers SPEND. We spend for our wigs, costumes, make up and contact lenses. We spend on materials, cloth, weapons we need or require for a character. We spend for transportation, entrance tickets, food for the event itself and of course, pocket money for the convention BECAUSE surely one will not leave an event without buying a few knickknacks from stalls. We take time to prepare, to practice should there be a competition, STUDY the character for complete accuracy.
For people who have been in this hobby for a long time it is not a joke or something to be taken lightly. That is where the problem comes in.
ONE CANNOT SIMPLY PUT ON....
- CONTACT LENSES
-WIG
-MAKE UP
-COSTUME
-CAT EARS OR WHATEVER
(Individually speaking.)
And be called a cosplayer IMMEDIATELY. NO, IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.
Another thing....
LOLITA =///////= NOT COSPLAY.
Lolita is a fashion subculture originating in Japan that is based on Victorian-era clothing, but the style has expanded greatly beyond Japan.
(For more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita_fashion)
Let me explain the fact that there are anime - game - movie characters who WEAR lolita fashion and its many sub-themes as costumes but it is NEVER cosplay unless you are portraying a character WEARING the specified style.
Examples are....
Rachel Alucard - Blazblue and Chii - Chobits
Do you see the outfits? Rachel is more on Gothic Lolita and Chii on Sweet Lolita.
Meaning they are characters wearing Lolita Fashion.
Moving on....
This is Legitimate Lolita Fashion.
Yes, I used myself as an example. I am wearing a set composed of Sweet Lolita clothes. Pink and white, I am not cosplaying I am simply displaying a fashion which is... Lolita.
(I am not a hard core lolita enthusiast, this set was lent to me.)
^ .THIS IS NOT COSPLAY. ^
.THIS IS LOLITA FASHION.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Cosplay is has MANY components. It is not easily achieved by simply wearing a wig, contacts, putting on make-up or wearing a costume ON ITS OWN.
I admit I went through the phases of not having enough for a wig, lenses and whatnot but what we're talking about is NOW.
Again, excuse my not selfie photo ready face.
A lot of people put on cat ears and lenses and say IM A COSPLAYER.
Much like the derp photo of me in cat ears. NO THAT IS NOT COSPLAY. It is JUST A PHOTO.
No cosplay, just photo. A normal NOT cosplay photo.
Cosplay is composed of a costume, wig, lenses if you can, accessories, items for which the character is known for, KNOWLEDGE ON THE CHARACTER and of course his or her personality.
That's my Kokonoe Mercury cosplay from Blazblue.
If you look at the photo reference and my costume... I dunno.. There's effort in it. EFFORT. LOVE. SERIOUS AWESOMENESS COZ I WANT TO GIVE JUSTICE.
Not counting that I wore lenses for her FOR THE FIRST TIME. My boyfriend and I spent a hefty amount to complete this set.
From head to my freaking toes. I'm glad to say I won my first competition with this costume and has brought me good memories.
Whats good is that people remarked that I got her attitude down right, her tone of voice during the performance and the acting. A cosplayer's greatest pride is probably when people around him/her say YOU NAILED IT.
So straight to the point....
I'm not saying cosplay is for chosen people but it is for EVERYONE. So as long as you know what you are doing, RESEARCH, UNDERSTAND and have passion for the hobby. It takes time, effort, love, the cruel reality of money and passion. If you want to try, GO FOR IT! There will always be people to SUPPORT YOU in this amazing hobby, whether they are your relatives, friends or people on the internet. I will be one of them.
