Cosplay 101 Presented by, Abbycat Cosplay
Creative From the Start
“I remember when I was maybe 4 or something my aunt gave me this little wicker basket of dresses, hats, and gloves, all from Goodwill probably but it was the best gift ever.”
I got to sit down with Abby while I was in Portland a few months back and talk everything cosplay with her.
“My first cosplay was actually Rainbow Dash. I made a little blue dress, had a rainbow wig, and wings that I borrowed from a friend. After that I was hooked. I still stand by that costume, it was my very first one and I think it’s cute.”
Steps to Obtaining Your new Best Friend
“You should know a little bit about your character though. People will try and make references or jokes with you and it’s more fun if you know what’s going on.”
“The best though, is when you wear an obscure costume and someone else gets it. I was at Rosecity Comicon last year and was wearing my Windranger costume. Someone walked by and complimented it and I was like, you’re my best friend now, yes!”
Thanks for the Garbage
Abby told me how she has always been creative stating that she even used to make collage art purses out of Tide boxes and old paint cans.
“One year for my birthday my friends gave me a bunch of magazines, packing tape, and paint cans, saying ‘here you go, here’s a bunch of garbage’ and I was so excited.”
Sew Much Progress
“I’ve been sewing since I was a kid. I started with elastic waistband skirts, pillow cases, and then that transitioned into quilting. Eventually your family members and friends have enough quilts so it’s time to transition out of that.”
“I got really into vintage fashion for a while, I started with a vintage sewing pattern, which was a terrible idea because in the 60s everyone knew how to sew so the directions were minimal.”
“I made dresses, I had so many dresses, so I transitioned to costumes but now I have so many costumes.”
Abby even mentioned sewing menswear for her husband to Cosplay as Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series.
Creative Coping; Cosplay Edition
Abby says, “It has become pretty much vital to express myself through my art. People ask how do you have time to do this? It’s pretty much all I do.”
“If I’m not at work I’m at my studio working and if I’m not doing one of those things I’m doing what my husband calls power relaxing where I just need to nap all day.”
“When working on the projects that are hard that are outside my comfort zone, to relax I work on other costumes, ‘oh I need to take a break from hard cosplay, I’ll work on a pinup or something easier’.”
“Even when I’m taking a break from cosplay I’m still working on cosplay.”
“I do know there have been times where I have been stressed out and I say, ‘I just need studio time’.”
Co(splay)nfidence
“I also think it can reflect what is going on, reflect your personality. I think it would surprise people to know that I do struggle with depression and anxiety because I’m usually presented in a costume.”
“I also find that it helps with confidence. If you’re struggling with something just do something you know you can do and you know you can get done and feel good about it. I’m finished, I did that, it looks good.”
“I’ve talked to other friends who may be going through hard times who will say, I just need to create something, feeding that need.”
Where to Start?
“I think so many people believe you cannot cosplay if you don’t make it all yourself.”
“I know a lot of people who cosplay and don’t do that. I have even had cosplays where I didn’t make everything myself. I recommend starting small, with a human character, think of where you can source those costume pieces, at a Goodwill, friends’ closet, dresses and wigs.”
“If you have the right color dress and the right color wig you can be the character as I did with my Rainbow Dash cosplay.”
“The costumes I always recommend people to start with are Hogwarts robes or Jedi robes. There is no tailoring, no zippers or tricks, it’s easy to make. Once you make the robes you can buy a black skirt and white shirt and tie, you can be a Hogwarts student.”
Vulnerably Free
“It can be scary to wear a costume for the first time, you are going out into the world dressed as a character and sometimes people can react strangely.”
“Sometimes there are costumes where people don’t even know it’s a costume, you can start there, or only wear the costume around cons where people are going to get it and you are going to get that positive reinforcement that you might not get on the subway or going down the street to get a burger, people aren’t going to look at you funny. It is hard for people and it does make you vulnerable.”
A Real Life Hero (Cape Included)
“I volunteer at hospitals as Wonder Woman and princesses. I’m not good with children so why in the world would I sign up for this? When you put on the costume you are somebody else, you’re really not vulnerable in some ways because you’re not you who is awkward around kids, you’re wonder woman who loves children and is great with them.”
Abby has been a major part in multiple Make A Wish Moments for Children. She has even got to be involved with Keith Tucker who is the animator behind The Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
“The community is fantastic, finding other people who like the same things and encourage you to do those things and cheer you on makes you feel great.”
“I love to cosplay because its amazingly positive. I want to encourage others to cosplay even If they don’t make it, you can source it from other places, the community is very supportive. For the most part its people who want to share their fandoms and their crafts.”
(Photography credited to: downenphotography, Pglesports, Lumonicphoto, Geekslairphotography, Dan Webb Photography)
