Cosplay, which is a mash-up of the words “costume” and “play,” is a performance art in which people wear costumes associated with a given character or even an idea. An example of the latter would be somebody wearing a red costume decorated with spikes to represent anger.
Many cosplayers are also roleplayers who dress up like their characters. A classic example would be Star Trek cosplayers who dress up like Klingons or Starfleet officers. Many cosplayers are similarly inspired by characters from anime, comic books, manga, or live-action films.
Although the word “cosplay” was coined by Nobuyuki Takahashi in 1984, the hobby itself has American roots. American science fiction fans dressed up like favorite characters as far back as the early 20th century. Back then, they called it “costuming.” Historical reenactments are even older and go all the way back to the time of the ancient Romans, who liked to recreate famous battles.
Sources of Costumes
Cosplayers have two main choices when it comes to acquiring their costumes: Buy them or make them. Simple or common costumes, like those of Disney princesses, can be bought in a store. Other costumes can be bought on-line or at a convention.
Most cosplayers, however, prefer to make their own outfits. Many take pride in the meticulous detail of their creations. Cosplayers associated with historical reenactments, Renaissance Faires, or the like will go to great lengths to track down the materials used to make their garments. In the process, they will educate themselves about such matters as textiles and fashion design. Some cosplayers will become known for their skill in a specialty such as making wigs. There is a particularly high demand for wig-makers among cosplayers in manga or anime fandoms since these characters are especially likely to have outlandish hairstyles or colors.
For more information on cosplay costumes, see the Cosplay costumes for sale page.