Hey guys! My name is Shelby and I just recently stepped into the cosplay world! This year for my local con, I made my own Shiro cosplay and it was more simple and fun that anything I could imagine! Cosplaying is such a freeing experience, I recommend it to anyone who has considered it. For a while, you get to be someone totally different. You can even be someone's role model if they hold that character high enough. But the greatest thing about cosplay is you can be ANYONE you want regardless of your skin color, your height, weight, ink/no ink. The thing is, everyone in the cosplay world is so wonderful and all they see is a person's passion for their character. I highly recommend making your own costumes as I have started doing this year. I have ZERO experience making anything of my own, but with the help of some tutorials and forums, I have found it to be quite liberating! The pride I hold in my projects is a totally new feeling all on it's own. And when I get compliments on the outfits, I feel so accomplished and just so happy that someone likes the work I do. I have been a long time sufferer of depression and cosplay has helped me step out of my shell so much. Doing cosplay allows me to escape into my fantasy world and knowing I made it possible to bring myself there has worked wonders for my self esteem. I really hope this has all helped persuade some of you to just get into it! Don't worry if your outfit isn't perfect or if someone's looks better or worse than yours. The point is you can take pride in what you've done and you can appreciate others who have done the same. I hope to see you all out there soon and happy cosplaying!
My next goals are to move on to more challenging and more complex costumes! I want to try my hand at prop making, it seems like so much fun!
Last year I bought a Daenarys Targaryen Halloween costume for my local con. This year I'm going as Shiro from Deadman Wonderland and also a "naked" (pixelated) sim!
Cosplay for me is a total escape into the things I'm most passionate about. Honestly, it's been wonderful for my self esteem. I've had some pretty bad views of myself for a while, but cosplay has let me escape from that. When I dress up, I feel like no one is judging me or making ridiculous assumptions about me. Being tattooed and pierced I get a few odd looks from customers now and then, but cosplay has let me see the beauty in everyone. It allows you to be literally anyone you can think of. And not only this, but the best thing about cosplay is the pure passion of it all. These people love and adore their characters so much that they want to be them if only for a while. And the reactions and praise you get from fellow fans is an amazing feeling. Cosplay brings people together.
I know many people will be surprised by this but Yaya Han and Jessica Nigri have been my biggest insights. Some people don't like them because they mostly do "revealing" cosplay. But the way I see it is that's how they feel comfortable. It doesn't mean I have to enjoy it, but it's that they take pride in what they do and they don't let other people's opinions of them stop them from doing what they love. I also am very into shows such as Face Off and Cosplay Heroes. I know these are large scale costume builds but it's a great place for inspiration! To see people create something with their own two hands is just awesome!
I say if you have even thought about doing it, just do it! Don't be afraid to go out there and take on the cosplay world. Use some of your characters' will and bravery to drive you to do it! It's such a freeing and magnificent experience, I highly suggest you do it at least once! And don't worry if you can't make your own costume. It's much cheaper and I prefer it, but that's my opinion. You can buy yours or do whatever you like! That's the beauty of it. You do what you want and you don't care what others think, even though most of the time they just think you're awesome :)
The only negative experience I have had is with some of the con-goers getting a little too friendly. I don't believe this to be strictly related to cons, I just believe people need to learn how to treat each other better.
I want to shout out to my friends and family who have helped me see that I can bring myself happiness by doing something I love. And I have said it before in almost every answer I put down, go out there and start cosplaying! I promise you won't regret it :)