1. Fall in love

With a costume design/character/game. Immediately know you HAVE to cosplay it. YOU HAVE TO OR YOU WILL DIE. (Not literally).

That bolero, the sleeves that pouf!

Or get wrangled into it by a friend who absolutely needs you to be the Panty to their Stocking, the Falcon to their Captain America (eee best bromance EVER!).

Or if you’re unfortunately tall, the Colossal Titan to their Eren.

 

2. Underestimate how complicated the costume will be…

and overestimate your ability to finish on time. 

 I can totes do this. It’s like a dress and a jacket. Easy peasy.

And leggings… and a turban thing.

And applique, and gradient dying, and piping, and macrame… OH GOD. This was supposed to be the EASY costume!

3. Gather supplies

Fabric, trim, zippers, worbla, scotch (ahah i bet half of you think I mean the tape!)

Not pictured here: Threads. DAMNIT.

…and helper cat/human, if applicable.

4. Procrastinate

by ‘researching’ the character on youtube, napping, cleaning your workspace.

Not pictured here: Progress.

The possibilities are endless! Your time is not.

ಠ_ಠ

ಠ_ಠ

ಠ_ಠ

 

5. Begin construction

and quickly realise that you’ve forgotten some key material. Or you’ve got the wrong kind, or don’t have enough.

Or you make a (many) mistake(s) and use too much of something. Whoops!

5. B) Panic.

 

6. Replace said material, resume construction.

 

Older, wiser, bitterer.

7. Despair

Realise the cosplay will never get done.

7. B) Despair leads to anger, anger leads to hate & hate leads to the Dark Side. 

Get angry at yourself (to varying degrees) for choosing the cosplay.

Why.

Hate the character designer for making such fiddly bits. 

why?!

Promise yourself to the Dark Side if you can get the costume done in time.

 WHYYYYY?!1!!

8. The Cosplay Gods take their Blood Sacrifice.

You have no choice in the matter. But once the blood has been offered, progress will speed up.  Ignore that burning hollow feeling in your chest. Shh. Shh. You’re one of us now.

Ruffles and pleats. EVERY. F*cking. TIME.

 9. Work through the night

Fuelled by your caffeine of choice 

 Timmy’s: The unofficial sponsor of Canadian Cosplayers.

10. As light breaks through yonder window, step back for the cosplay is done!

Or rather done enough.

None of us have slept in three days! WOOOOOO. COSPLAY.

10. B) Realise that you’re going to do this allll over again.

xox, Calamity

Who is currently in step 7 B of Otakuthingy.