@Rayray:
You brave thing.... I could never do that. Ooooh, have fun! Have you decided on a costume yet? If not, then my advice is keep it ismple. Only do that you think you can do and buy if you have too. And try and talk to someone who knows how to sew so they can help you.
http://www.cosplayisland.com/costume/list/MadameLapin <--- Here are my costumes. It's pretty easy to follow. Do note, one of them is AWFUL (my first costume ;_;)
Nnotice in planned Matt Freeman is in there? TOLD YOU ALL I'D DO IT!
@Gypo: Becuase it's fun!
But.... for more depth. Well, it helps if you're kind of geeky anyway because you realte to it a bit better.... but here it goes.
Once someone puts on a costume... it's often more than just wearing it, they often adopt the personalities of the characters they're portraying. We can be anything from actors, performers and models. It's also an incredibly creative challeng,e with some people really love to do.
It's a social benefit too, if you see someone in a costume you love you're gonna tell them that, and cosplay is a huge icebreaker. If I am dresses as an anime character for example, it says a lot about the culture you're into, and fans of the series/character, want ot meet you, congratulate you or even hug you. It's a good feeling ^^
You cna forget aobut your regular life for a day and be someone else for a change. People who are shy can tap into their charatcers and come completely out of their shell. Tthe simple act of wearing a costume can infuse a cosplayer with a level of energy and confidence which is greatly empowering. Also, naturally confident people can take on a new level of self-expression.
It's almost like dressing up at a nightclub and someone complimenting your outfit.... only multiply that by 100. It's hard not to feel like a celebrity in a costume.
It is a creative outlet. People make costumes from scratch, style wigs and even sculpt aromour. So much creativty is involved in one costume, it's hard not to enjoy it. And some people buy thier costumes and simply do the roleplaying side.
Through cosplaying, I managed to discover the hobby that I want to turn into a career (photography), as cosplay itself attracts many creative minds and creative effects.
There's no limit in cosplay. Some people generally think it's resticted to anime. Yet I'm cosplaying Matt Freeman. Some people cosplayed as the charatcers from Merlin, whilst someone else did Al Murray. If you want to give it a go, then do it. It's all it takes really.
Uhm.... yeah... I don't explain cosplay very well xD
