Where to get materials for Cosplay costumes?

When you decide to jump into the world of cosplay, the players you find online or at cons may intimidate you with their elaborate costumes and seemingly endless detail, however don’t get discouraged! Many of them started where you are, a vague plan, little idea where to start and a small budget!

The key to finding great cosplay materials is to think outside of the box. What can you manipulate to replicate? In other words, what can you use to “fake” the look?

Obviously hand crafting a leather skirt of armor might be a little out of your price range, but a quick trip to the local thrift store and a few bucks later, you can walk out with an arm full of leather belts you can them disassemble and recreate into your desired piece!

Thrift stores are full of great opportunities for materials (and very affordable too) like old prom dresses, old leather and fur coats etc!

Additionally, look around your own house. Do you have any clothing, craft supplies, old kitchen gear you don’t use any more? You can strip down items and find interesting pieces to repurpose.

For many costumes, we have “builds” to make that require framework and heft, so never count out your local hardware store. Some even have scrap bins they are happy to let you look through for free where you might find the piece of odd pvc you needed for a frame.

Of course local craft stores are also ripe with fabric choices, notions, buttons and feathers you might find useful!

The easiest way to discover a find is to keep a list of pieces you are working on handy, then as you come across something interesting you can check your list (which would ideally include a rough sketch) then you can compare it to see if you can use it somewhere!

Cosplay has no hard and fast rules, so your costume building shouldn’t either! Let your imagination guide you and keep an open mind! The key is to have fun, relax, and the more you do it the more you’ll know the next time around!