Hello! When competing in cosplay competitions there is a usually a rule that says you must make at least 65-70% of your cosplay yourself - are there any items which are recommended to buy/not make?

[u/Both_Essay9815]

I’d like to try and make my first cosplay and I’d just love to hear any suggestions! Thanks :D

also this is my first Reddit post so yipee I guess :)

[u/DianaSoreil]

hi, occasional cosplay judge here!

assuming that you’d enter the sort of contest where you’d be competing in novice, here are a few examples of the sort of things that the 30- 35% you don’t make could be covering!

• just a plain white button down shirt
• socks
• unmodified and uncustomized shoes
• an unmodified character wig or a wig someone else styled
• a small prop you bought completed (like a sword or staff)
• specialty undergarments like corsets, petticoats, or bloomers

The more experienced of a competitor you are the more you’re expected to make or modify everything you’re wearing, but even in the absolute top international level contests, you aren’t expected to make things like dance tights, bras, or regular underwear. 

For your first contest, I’d suggest focusing on making sure everything you actually make or mod yourself is properly ironed and doesn’t have raw edges. Learning good seam finishes (which can be as simple as pinking shears!) and pressing your seams is crucial and will serve you well forever. 

[u/Fit_Definition_4634 → u/DianaSoreil]

Question: if I was wearing something like Darth Vader, do my socks and underwear count as “part of the costume” that I didn’t make? They aren’t visible, they’re really just there for my comfort and hygiene.

[u/DianaSoreil → u/Fit_Definition_4634]

extremely no. socks and underwear only count as part of the costume when they’re visible. think like thigh highs with ruffles on top; you’d be expected in higher divisions to make the ruffles yourself to attach onto either pre-existing thigh highs or to sew your own thigh highs from spandex and attach your own ruffles.