# How can I cosplay on a small budget? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796 "2003-04-10T15:00:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/1 "2003-04-10T15:00:24Z")
Seriously, I’m getting set up for Halloween. Short story is that I basically stopped being interested in Halloween years upon years ago and therefore don’t get any candy. I don’t like candy. But I thought, why not? I can wear a costume! So, I want a costume. How can I make one? I do not have any notable sewing ability, sorry. How could I go about making a “Lucius Malfoy” costume or “Kagato/Illpalazzo” costume? (Harry Potter 2 and Tenchi Muyo/Excel Saga respectively) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/2 "2003-04-10T15:34:53Z")
I’ve heard of “Christmas in April,” but I think this is taking the whole move-holidays-around-for-the-less-fortunate thing to an extreme. And what does “cosplay” mean? ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/3 "2003-04-10T15:40:28Z")
Try the forum at [http://www.cosplay.com/](http://www.cosplay.com/) Plenty of experience cosplayers there. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/4 "2003-04-10T15:44:35Z")
“Cosplay” ?? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/5 "2003-04-10T15:48:10Z")
Stick to the costumes that are just a swimsuit and a wig/hairstyle. Unless you’re male. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/6 "2003-04-10T16:21:55Z")
Well, the costume for Malfoy is a black suit, long (cheap) cape that you should be able to get at any costume shop, and slicked-back white hair, so that shouldn’t be too spendy. Assuming you have a black suit and have blonde hair or are willing to bleach it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/7 "2003-04-10T22:54:10Z")
And a cane. Don’t forget the cane. Ya gotta have something to slap your inferiors around and gesticulate with. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/8 "2003-04-10T23:02:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*“Cosplay” ?? \*\* Cosplay is when people dress up as characters from TV shows and Movies; normally when going to a fan convention or similar event. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/9 "2003-04-11T01:57:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*“Cosplay” ?? \*\* It comes from ‘Costume Play(ing)’. In Japan, the term frequently implies a sexual aspect. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/10 "2003-04-11T02:08:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > \*\*In Japan, the term frequently implies a sexual aspect. \*\* Ah – just like a Science Fiction/Fantasy convention here in the U.S. implies a sexual aspect. 😉 Er … so I’ve heard. :o ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/11 "2003-04-11T02:20:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smiling bandit \* > \*\* > How could I go about making a “Lucius Malfoy” costume or “Kagato/Illpalazzo” costume? (Harry Potter 2 and Tenchi Muyo/Excel Saga respectively) \*\* If I were you, I’d go ask this question at the forums [here](http://www.animeondvd.com) or [here](http://www.megatokyo.com). If you make an Illpalazzo costume, I want to see pictures. But make sure you’ve got yourself a Gameboy with a dating sim cartridge loaded. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/12 "2003-04-11T04:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*Ah – just like a Science Fiction/Fantasy convention here in the U.S. implies a sexual aspect. 😉 > > Er … so I’ve heard. :o \*\* Ok. The first time I ever heard the term was in Japan, so I didn’t know it still carried the full implications after crossing the pond. Btw, the usage here isn’t usually wrt SF cons, but to the various cosplay ‘salons’ and ‘lounges’ that specialize in having female staff dressed in nurse, schoolgirl, stewardess, etc. costumes, who then, umm… ‘play’ with the customers. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/13 "2003-04-11T04:29:18Z")
If you don’t sew, hunt thrift stores for things you need. I once found a great shirt that looks just like Ranma Saotome’s, except it’s black instead of red! There are other treasures just waiting out there, I’m sure. I made my daughter a Lina Inverse (from The Slayers) costume for Halloween. The most difficult part was the shoulder armor, which I created by gluing craft foam together with a hot glue gun. (This trick would probably work for creating a lot of anime costume pieces.) Oh, and for whatever reason, no one was selling orange wigs last Halloween. I took an old white one that I had and used the orange hair spray paint on it. It looked great! The rest of the stuff, we bought or used what we already had–pink sweatsuit, yellow tank top, gloves, boots, cape, etc. The finishing touch was the plastic sword with a red jewel on the pommel. It looked great! Hardly anyone knew who she was supposed to be, of course, but that was no fault of the costume :). ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cosplay-on-a-small-budget/167796/14 "2003-04-11T21:28:53Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve heard of “Christmas in April,” but I think this is taking the whole move-holidays-around-for-the-less-fortunate thing to an extreme. I want to get an early start. I’m not sure how long it will take me. > [@](#): > > Stick to the costumes that are just a swimsuit and a wig/hairstyle. > > Unless you’re male. No way and yes, in that order. Thank you all very much!