Beauty and Fashion Inspiration from the World of Cosplay
While keeping an eye on fashion trends is a must, beauty and style inspiration is everywhere. A great place to get your creativity recharged is the world of cosplay.
Cosplay , short for Costume play, melds performance art with breath taking make-up, hair, and fashion design. Cosplayers put together intricate looks to role play their favorite characters from the worlds of TV, movies, comic books, and video games.
Here are tips from the world of cosplay that are sure to inspire:
(picture courtesy of Pinterest)
1. Hair Pieces are Your Friend
Fantasy looks demand fantasy hair. So, wigs and hair pieces are staples in the cosplayers wardrobe. Now, dressing like mermaids, super villains, or even ponies is not an every occurrence for most of us (if it is…please send pictures), but how often do we dream about radical new hairstyles? How often do we see a look that our hair is too short for or not full enough to support? Hairpieces and the advice of a licensed hair stylist are the two most important ingredients for hair magic. Talk to your stylist about how you can create your fantasy looks with ease and without damaging your hair!
(Photo courtesy of www.etsy.com)
2. More is More
A subtle, nuanced look is great. However, sometimes you need to get away from the every day. Cosplayers use a variety of contouring, false eyelashes, prosthetics, make-up, and body paints to transform into their favorite characters. While you may not ever have the burning desire to give yourself gills or fawn ears, you can still use different make-up techniques to tweak your look in fun ways. Contouring, eyeliner tricks, and false lashes can help you become your most enchanted self.
(Photo courtesy of katafalk.wordpress.com)
3. Use Every Day Fashion in a New Way
Cosplay can be expensive. Recreating looks from fantasy and science fiction fandoms often involve more architecture than the Brooklyn Bridge. So cosplayers need to learn to be resourceful and use what they already own in new ways. Corsets are made out of pieces of felt and ribbon, armor is made out of soda cans, and yarn is repurposed for animal tails. Take a look around and see what you can do with what you own. A few safety pins, and you can give a skirt you already have a bustle for a vintage flair. Make over a pair of shoes with some duct tape and ribbon. Create your couture!
(Photo By Alex Erde at Mild Mannered Cosplay Photography)
4. Make it Your Own
Cosplayers have created some of the most artistic re-imaginings of iconic characters. Superheroes have become sequin wearing flappers, fairy tale princesses don battle armor, and…well…ponies. Let your fashion and beauty limits reside in your desire and creativity.
Make no mistake, hair, make-up, and fashion are all art; however, art is not created in a vacuum. Look to paintings, sculptures, graphic design, music, film, TV, books, and comics to expand your vision. Inspiration and creativity are all around. Expose yourself to new ideas, and let your imagination run wild.
As they say in the Rocky Horror Picture show, the movie that launched a thousand cosplays, “Don’t Dream It…BE IT!”