It's a lot of fun! I'm really extroverted but also really shy, so it's a nice way to meet people and make friends. Since there are so many people at conventions there's a good chance you won't run into someone again if things get awkward, and I find this really liberating. It's also amazing to cosplay an obscure character that you love and find someone else who knows who you are and also loves them. I have found that a lot of friends that I've made this way have several mutual interests and are some of my closest friends. We all keep in touch and hang out even when there are no conventions coming up.
In terms of cosplay I've been wanting to do Anna's coronation dress (Frozen), Asami Sato (Legend of Korra), Zevran (Dragon Age) and I'd like to figure out a Zaphod Beeblebrox costume (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy). I also have to remake a lot of my Fenris costume and repair and resize a lot of my Femme Loki costume.
The Fourth Doctor- Doctor Who Femme K-9 - Doctor Who Jamie McCrimmon- Doctor Who Loki - Thor (Movie) Femme Loki- The Avengers (Movie) Lily Evans- Harry Potter Fenris- Dragon Age 2 Radical Edward- Cowboy Bebop Steampunk Radical Edward- Cowboy Bebop Enjolras- Les Miserables (Movie) Zombie Enjolras- Les Miserables (Movie) Ferral Disney Princess Jane - (Based on this artist's work http://jeftoonportfolio.blogspot.com/2009/02/twisted-princess.html) Zero- Nightmare Before Christmas Femme Donatello- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Femme Charles Xavier- X-Men First Class (Movie) Femme Jayne Cobb- Firefly Tina Belcher- Bob's Burgers Ms. Frizzle- Magic School bus
It's a good way to show your love for a character and meet other people with similar interests.
Pretty much just my friends/convention family. All of them are wonderful cosplayers. They are amazing at what they do and also very supportive. Everyone has to start somewhere and sometime simple costumes are the best ones. They were really welcoming and friendly when I first met them and I hope that I embody that as well. Cosplay is awesome regardless of skill level. It's about having fun and showing your love for a character.
Be kind. Everyone has to start somewhere. Don't tell people how their costume could be improved upon unless they explicitly ask for the advice. If you are just starting out, don't be afraid to ask for advice. Also, this is an incredibly useful resource: http://cosplaytutorial.com/list.php. I really wish I'd found it sooner.
I struggle a bit with body image, so a lot of the time I feel like I can't do a certain character because I don't fit their body type. I often end up with a female version of a male character so I don't have to show too much skin and can feel comfortable. (That doesn't go to say that there is anything wrong with showing skin if you want to. The beauty of cosplay is you can do what makes you happy.) We are usually our own worst critics, but I have heard other cosplayers bad talking someone because they don't have the right body for a character or because they don't like the representation of the chosen character. I feel like this kind of negative attitude is toxic, and I try to make sure that I am not contributing to this.