| As an aspiring cosplayer, you should have at least one | | | | make your cosplay "accurate." But let's face it, with all |
| cosplay idol. Why? Because nearly everyone who has | | | | the L cosplayers nowadays and the omnipresent Misa |
| ever been successful at anything was first inspired by | | | | misa, Sasuke, Axel and Roxas cosplayers running |
| someone else. Someone who motivated them to be | | | | around, an "accurate" cosplay sometimes just aren't |
| just as good or even better someday. Hey, dream big | | | | enough to stand out at a convention anymore. |
| anything is possible. Who knows, eventually you could | | | | So, how do you create a cosplay outfit that |
| become so good at cosplay that you can make a | | | | transcends all others? That makes fellow congoingers |
| living from it. Imagine spending the rest of your days | | | | stop and stare in awe, crowd around you to |
| attending conventions around the world and being paid | | | | complement your creative cosplay costume or ask to |
| for it! Yeah, you heard me. Such a thing exists . . . and | | | | take photos of you and then glomp you so hard your |
| no it's "not somewhere over the rainbow." | | | | ribs break and you die? . . . okay, maybe not that last |
| Random fun fact: | | | | one . . . |
| In Japan, they have what are known as professional | | | | But my point is that if you want to stand out at a |
| cosplayers, or cosplay models. Yes, here people are | | | | cosplay convention, maybe even win one (or all) of the |
| paid to dress in costume and get their picture taken. | | | | costume awards, then you must have a costume that |
| Sounds like a sweet job, ne? But they take their work | | | | turns heads. How do you do this? First, find a Cosplay |
| very seriously, and they must because professional | | | | Idol. This is someone you will be looking up to, to better |
| cosplayers demand $150 an hour on average, and | | | | yourself. Ask yourself "What makes them so good?" It |
| even more every 30 minutes after that. Also, the fact | | | | is their accessories? Or their eye for detail? Their |
| that professional cosplaying does not require a degree | | | | choice of fabrics, or the way their poses and |
| in school or any special training makes it a highly | | | | personality shine through in photos? Pay close |
| competitive field. | | | | attention to the costume you are trying to recreate, |
| We all know the importance of screen shots for | | | | use your imagination and add a little of your own |
| cosplay references. They help you get it "right" and | | | | personality to your cosplay. |