Anime Costumes?

[Prince Asbel]

I haven't been able to find an anime costume site that sells costumes for Castle In The Sky or Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. In actuality, it seems like getting the patterns would be much cheaper... But anyway, does anyone know of any places I could find those?

[Raiden no Kishi]

Why not do what cosplayers have been doing for years and . . . y'know . . . make your own costumes?

.rai//

[Prince Asbel]

Wow, you make it sound so easy!

You can't just MAKE your own costumes. To a certain extent you can, but the detail required... I just couldn't do it myself. It would require such study and time that I just don't have. That's why I'm looking for costumes or at least patterns.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Wow, you make it sound so easy!

You can't just MAKE your own costumes. To a certain extent you can, but the detail required... I just couldn't do it myself. It would require such study and time that I just don't have. That's why I'm looking for costumes or at least patterns.

Wow, thanks for the pointless sarcasm. That really helped the discussion. <_<

Just pick something simple and work your way up. There's also multiple large communities for cosplay. Check them out and ask some questions. The people in these communities can do it. So can you. It's not like they have oodles and oodles of time for costumes. Take some time where you'd normally be goofing off on the Internet and work on a costume. Maybe a show you like is on. Work on the costume while you watch. There's no "to a certain extent" - buying a costume is the exception. Making it yourself is the rule. And you'll be proud of it that way.

.rai//

[yukoxholic]

Here's the tried and true equation for making or buying cosplay costumes. I'll use Mac n' Cheese as the example:

Do you want to just add water and microwave an Easy Mac pack? Or make your own noodles, boil them, grate your cheese, etc..? Sure, homemade is always best but the Easy Mac packs taste just as good! Ok, now I'll get to the point you want help with! XD


I don't believe there are patterns for those costumes but you may want to check out ebay. Some cosplayers sell their outfits off for a reasonably good deal or you could just buy patterns that resemble certain pieces of the costume...

Like in Castle In The Sky the main character Sheeta: She wears a yellow button down shirt and red, puffy-ish, pants. If you bought a 'simple' pattern on how to make a button down shirt (there are many and you should chose ones that closely resemble the sleeves of the blouse) and choose a yellow fabric you already have half of the costume! Though buttons are very difficult for those just learning how to sew. She also wears a navy dress, a simple long sleeved dress pattern in the correct fabric and color would do just fine for creating her dress.

Male clothes are the same way take Pazu as another example: He wears pants that resemble jeans almost (heck! you could even wear a pair of your own jeans since he also wears a brown belt and get away with it!) with a brown patch on one of the legs, across the knee, a white button down shirt, and brown vest. If you get a button down shirt pattern, vest pattern, and pants pattern you're basically set if you're just beginning how to sew and wanting to cosplay. It's how most people start out. Instead of focusing on making it look exactly like the characters add your own unique touches to it. It doesn't have to be perfect it merely just has to resemble what the character wore. Basically if you put on the costume and someone goes, "Oh my gosh! That's Pazu from Laputa!" you know you did a good job! That or they go to a seamstress who will show them how to construct there own patterns.

I make my own patterns but I've been sewing since I was 8 years old and I probably wouldn't recommend attempting to make your own pattern without the help of someone with experience. It may not come out right! ^__^

Another idea is choose a character you can buy most of the pieces for. I know it's a no-no to some cosplayers but I don't find anything wrong with it at all! Actually, I think it's a great idea because even some people with lessons aren't so good at sewing and a lot of people have hectic schedules so it is hard to find time to make your costume. So, buying it is the simplest option because in everyone there's a cosplayer waiting to break loose! At least that's my theory. Sure, it's not as rewarding because you didn't make it yourself but give yourself time to develop your skills! My friend went as the Cat Baron and all he did was make the cat mask himself (which turned out awesome!) and rented a white tux, cane, top hat, etc. He looked incredible and was stopped quite a few times for pictures.

Yet, another idea. My best friend is obsessed with ninjas, every year she does something ninja-ish. It's gotten pretty elaborate over the years but the great thing about Ninja costumes is 1.) they sell them everywhere and 2.) If you wish to make a Ninja costume they have wonderful patterns for it!

Also, at last year's con I saw about a hundred (looked like a 1000 though!) Bleach/Naruto cosplayers some made their costumes while others bought them. Actually, I believe the majority bought them. You can come by those pieces at alot of retail stores. Suncoast sells the Naruto and Kakashi jackets, Hot Topic sells the Naruto gloves and Bleach accessories, and various other websites sell the Bleach hats and Shingami robes. Also, I think the FMA Alchemist robe you can find at certain Hot Topics as well and if not there than at amazon.com

But if you really have it in you to make a costume than I suggest you may want to ask around at your church. I'm sure there are many people within your congregation that know how to sew and will help you out. It doesn't hurt to ask!

[Maledicte]

You could buy similar pieces that aren't costumes, mix-and-match, and modify them. For example, for my Rip van Winkle costume, I bought my coat, pants, and glasses at a thrift store, shoes at a shoe outlet, shirt at Kmart and dyed my hair black. "Thrift store cosplay" is actually very common.

I'm not familiar with the Nausicaa costumes, but if worse comes to worse, 1: take a sewing course/have someone teach you, and practice; 2: join a cosplay forum, and ask around. A lot of people there are veterans and they'd be happy to help you.

[RobinSena]

Sure, homemade is always best but the Easy Mac packs taste just as good!

That's culinary blasphemy right there. I know it's off topic, but making macaroni and cheese the real way tastes far better than using the packages. 0_0

[yukoxholic]

I'm not familiar with the Nausicaa costumes, but if worse comes to worse, 1: take a sewing course/have someone teach you, and practice]

You have to be careful though with the cosplay forums. Alot of the "cosplay elite" dwell there. They usually will refuse to help you. Don't get me wrong there are plenty who will try and help you out. I'm just warning you a head of time because I'm on quite a few of the cosplay forums and have seen a newbie to cosplay cast to the net-wolves!

That's culinary blasphemy right there. I know it's off topic, but making macaroni and cheese the real way tastes far better than using the packages. 0_0

Haha. Powdered cheese or real cheese? I don't know... ^___~ Yes, homemade always tastes best but remember when you eat at Boston Market and you ooo and coo over the Mac n' Cheese...it's VELVEETA!

[mechana2015]

I agree with thrift store cosplay, especially for characters who wear almost normal clothes or easily modifiable clothes. Its actually usually considered more impressive to make your own stuff or modify clothes because in many cases the mass constructed costumes look a little off from the official models, and often don't fit properly if you have a body thats different from the character or the mannequin they used to design the costume it'll fit wrong.

[minakichan]

...

I LIKE INSTANT MAC AND CHEESE MORE THAN THE STUFF IN RESTAURANTS! *RUNS AWAY*

If you really don't want to work on it and can't find them retail, there are some super-cosplayers who take commissions. Even tailors and stuff, if you pay them enough-- I have a friend who's getting his cosplay made for him by a seamstress apprentice friend. For a full costume, it'd probably be pricey...

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Costumes from a Miyazaki film are garanteed to be some of the easier costumes you can make. And actually you CAN just make your costume. Thousands of people make tens of thousands of costumes every year for conventions. Most cosplayers I know make two or three in a year. Get a friend to teach you sewing (It's easy, I promise) and give it a shot!

As a point of cosplay etiquette, most of the Cosplay community actually look down on people who buy their costumes. Not saying it's right or wrong, just what the popular opinion is.

[Maledicte]

As a point of cosplay etiquette, most of the Cosplay community actually look down on people who buy their costumes. Not saying it's right or wrong, just what the popular opinion is.

Well, so much for that

The point is, though, you're cosplaying to have fun. That's all there is to it. It's all in how you wear it, so if it looks great go for it.

[Roy Mustang]

First, its going to be hard to fine any mass constructed costumes for Miyazaki film.

The best thing to do is, do it on your own or hire an ace cosplayer/seamstress does commissions. There are people out there that will do it, but you will have to pay for it.

As a point of cosplay etiquette, most of the Cosplay community actually look down on people who buy their costumes. Not saying it's right or wrong, just what the popular opinion is.

The only time that I see the Cosplay community look down on people that buy their costumes is the ones that enter into a cosplay contest. Which is wrong to do, because that is cheating. At cosplay.com there people that are happy to make costumes for people as long as you don't go around telling people that you made it.

I can name one that I deal with that makes a living out of cosplay commissions and that is limebarb.

But she make custom made costumes for you and they are pricey for some people.


I think for you, it would be best if you made it. Since Miyazaki film costumes should be easy to make.

But if you feel that you need help, I know a few cosplayers on here that would give you any help if you need it.

Also, if you really want to get into cosplay, then I think you should go to this place.

http://www.cosplay.com/forum.php

The people there are very friendly from the times that I posted.

After doing one of my own costume for a cosplay contest, I quit doing it. It just wasn't for me and I wanted to cosplay only at the con for fun, so I just hired another cosplayer to make custom made costumes for me. That way, I help out a cosplayer and I have something to wear at the con.


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[GeneD]

As for places to find the costumes you're looking for, sorry I don't know any.

I made a Rukia (from Bleach) summer school outfit from scratch for a con in April this year and a friend of mine made a Yoruichi (also Bleach) outfit from scratch too. She also has a home-made Naruto cosplay. It took us about two weeks and more money than I was bargaining for, but it was still cheaper than buying one would have been. It's easier than you think.

I did actually check out places on the net that sell these costumes and they were not very accurate and would need some customising, which you would have to do yourself anyway.

Some advice: get a friend to cosplay with you and work together to make the outfits. It's easier if you're both looking out for pieces of the costume and working out the details. The whole process is more fun this way too.

Good luck with your cosplay!

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I can name one that I deal with that makes a living out of cosplay commissions and that is limebarb.
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Limebarb is a sweet lady! Very cool.

[Prince Asbel]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I guess I know what to do now. Special thanks to yukoxholic, you've given me something to think about!

[yukoxholic]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I guess I know what to do now. Special thanks to yukoxholic, you've given me something to think about!

You'll have to keep us posted on how everything turns out with pictures! 'Cause hey, you can't be an official cosplayer without them! ^___^ I mean what cosplayer doesn't google themselves after a con? ]
The only time that I see the Cosplay community look down on people that buy their costumes is the ones that enter into a cosplay contest. Which is wrong to do, because that is cheating.
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Ahh! I've had that happen twice in my life (-cough-I should've won LAST YEAR! -cough-). It didn't bother me so much (well, not so much so after an hour of letting it sink in) but I think they should split the division and do two separate contests. One for people who made their costumes and others who bought theirs.

[Prince Asbel]

[quote="yukoxholic (post: 1223649)"]You'll have to keep us posted on how everything turns out with pictures! 'Cause hey, you can't be an official cosplayer without them! ^___^ I mean what cosplayer doesn't google themselves after a con? ]

Considering my financial situation, it will be a while (as in year(s)) before I get it. But hey, if I'm still hanging around here I will definitely post the picture. I know how cool it can be. I saw this picture of a girl with a Nausicaa costume, and man, she looks so cool! Here, I'll get the link...

Here's the thread talking about Hayao Miyazaki cosplay - http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=79123

And here's the actual picture - http://flickr.com/photos/8821476@N04/911787289/in/set-72157601032307295/

Is that amazing, or what? I hope my costume is just as good if not better.