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What are your thoughts?

I believe cosplaying is in half. One part of it is the joy of making the costume all by yourself, without any help at all, and the second part of cosplaying it just plain out being that person. Who cares if you didnt make it? You're cosplaying as that person.
So it all depends on which side the person leans on. I sit in the middle, because I love to make my costumes. It's my passion to create.

Do you think it's unfair to allow people who don't construct their own costume's entierly to enter the contests?

If it's a cosplay contest as in a contest of whose costume is more craftmanshipish and has more effort, then no. It's a craftsmanship contest, so its more based on who really did show the best craftmansship.

If its a contest of who has the coolest costume, whether it has 50 identical stitches in the exact same spot and seam, then yes it is unfair to not allow people in. It's simply a costume on which looks cooler, even if you used cardboard. There are some people who have the coolest costumes, and they're just cardboard boxes with something on them. There's a difference between that.

Have you bought costumes before?
Never have I bought costumes, since they're so darn expensive, and with less money I can make my own, tweaked to my likings. For example, if a costume has silk, I can make my own to have pleather, or duck cotton.

Or had some kind of base head start?

I have not have a base start, unless you count outlines. For my Sakkon outfit I bought a tunic outline, and just tweaked it to look more like a naruto thing than actual clothing.

I also used another outline for the Alucard outfit. I was making a long coat for myself, and it during halloween, so I decided I would add temporary lining to match alucard's outfit, and then take it off so i could use it as clothing later on.
._.



However overall, I do not believe it is wrong to buy an outfit, since I know there are less talented people. I have done otufits for my friends, and it's good to make something and see someone else wear it. And its nice to have something that looks good that you know someone else with talent made.

THe only time its wrong is if you join a craftmanship contest.

What are your thoughts?
No. Buying cosplay costumes is not cheating. I personally think that is just as good or better. Some people just can't sew.
Do you think it's unfair to allow people who don't construct their own costume's entierly to enter the contests?
People should always be allowed to enter the contests, no matter wether they make the costumes themselves or not.
Have you bought costumes before?
No, I've never even been to an anime con.
Or had some kind of base head start?
No, I'm gonna make one myself when I go to my first con.

I agree with Sindeira.

I think either way, if you get them professionaly made, you can not enter a costume contest. Even if you can't sew.
Most contest are judged mainly on craftmanship. You can't enter with something that you didn't make.

You wouldn't enter a drawing to an art contest of somthing you didn't make yourself, so why would you enter in a cosplay contest.

I think though, if you get things from thrift stores, modify them, adjust them...actuall work on them...I think that does show one's craftmanship and should be allowed to enter in a contest.

Buying your costume is not cheating unless you take credit for the costume or try to compete in craftsmanship with it. My very first cosplay was bought online, so if I said otherwise, I'd be quite the hypocrite xd but when people asked me how I made it or even said it was really good, I made sure to give credit where it was deserved. If you do that, hurray for you!

The problem is when people try to take comissioned cosplays as their own. I've seen it first hand with a "friend" of mine who I don't really like but got stuck in a cosplay skit group with. Her sword was made by someone else, but she won an honerable mention award in craftsmanship for it because she didn't tell the judges that she didn't make it. And really, how can you make sure that people like that wont take credit for someone else's work? You can say "DON'T TAKE CREDIT IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT" until you're blue in the face, but there is no real way to track it. Although I've heard of at least one conventon where in order to be accepted into the cosplay contest, you MUST have pictures of you making the costume. I think that is a smart idea to prevent that kind of scaming.


As far as the "partially made" cosplays go...It depends on the degree. I think if the majority of the costume is made (like 75-80%) then it should still be okay. Sometimes it's easier for a very generic piece of clothing to just buy it. Especiallly if it's something that doesn't show very much (like and undershirt that only slightly hangs out), but if you've put the time and effort into making everything else, then I think it's still okay as long as you make sure the judges know.

I'm not sure what my oppinon is on altering clothes...part of me thinks "well, it's okay because you have to be good at altering it or it still will show it's bad craftsmanship", but the other part of me thinks that it's still not your own work....so I'm not sure...

An award for fine craftsmanship should be given to
the creator, although I've seen this unspoken rule
'conveniently' forgotten, many a time.

..such a pity. :c

I don't have a lot of knowledge specifically about Cosplay, but I've been working with SF Convention Costume Calls for years, both as entrant and MC. Most of the calls I've helped run had a checkbox for "Do you wish to be judged for workmanship?" If you check no, It doesn't affect your judging in the actual call, but it does disqualify you from workmanship awards.

I did a Mechwarrior uniform several years ago that was nothing more than a set of combat fatigues and boots, with the proper patches and insignia attached. Total amount of time on the costume- a half-hour. On the other hand, I once did a costume of Guilmon, from season 3 of Digimon, and that thing took the better part of a month, including sculpting the claws, paws and head out of high density insulating foam. You'd better believe I entered that puppy into the workmanship category!

I think choosing an appropriate character to do, that you can perform convincingly is more important than the costume. I have seen people go on stage and bore an audience to tears with interminably long routines, but one of the best I ever saw was a Captain Harlock who strode out t the middle of the stage, crossed his arms and glowered at the audience. That's all, but that was perfect Harlock.

Most importantly, do it for fun. If you have to buy pre-made parts, go for it. Modify a few things as you go along, and before you know it, you'll be doing full-on originals. biggrin