cosplay
Fandom costume hobby
Cosplay is dressing up as a character from fiction, video games, anime, or other media—the word blends "costume" and "play." What distinguishes cosplay from ordinary costume-wearing is the culture around it: cosplayers often make elaborate outfits, attend conventions, and pose for photos in character.
The verb means to engage in this practice: She cosplays as Sailor Moon.
Adopt another's perspective
- impersonationPretending to be another
- personaAssumed public identity
- alter egoA secondary persona
- protagonistStory's central figure
antagonist · hero · villain · portrayal · interpretation · embodiment · reenactment · avatar
Set of clothes worn together
- attirePersonal garments collectively
- garbWhat one wears
- dress-upPlay involving costumes
- wigArtificial head covering
makeup · props · accessories · armor · mask · bodysuit · spandex · contacts
Agreed standard of behavior
- conArgument against
- animeJapanese cartoon art form
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- comicsSequential art medium
gaming · otaku · masquerade · competition · photoshoot · meetup · artist alley · panels
Craft with needle and thread
- patternmakingCreating garment construction templates
- fabricWoven or knit material
- thermoplasticsPlastics remoldable by heating
- airbrushingSprayed-paint smoothing technique
resin casting · hot glue · craft foam · leatherworking · embroidery · dyeing · weathering · electronics
Conveying one's inner world
- transformationThorough change in form
- alter egoA secondary persona
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- confidenceSelf-assurance or trust
persona · embodiment · escapism · community · belonging · gender expression · body positivity · representation
roleplay
Adopt another's perspective
- impersonationPretending to be another
- personaAssumed public identity
- alter egoA secondary persona
protagonist · antagonist · hero · villain · portrayal · interpretation · embodiment · reenactment · avatar · mimicry
outfit
Set of clothes worn together
wig · makeup · props · accessories · armor · mask · bodysuit · spandex · contacts · prosthetics
convention
Agreed standard of behavior
comics · gaming · otaku · masquerade · competition · photoshoot · meetup · artist alley · panels · judging
sewing
Craft with needle and thread
- patternmakingCreating garment construction templates
- fabricWoven or knit material
- thermoplasticsPlastics remoldable by heating
airbrushing · resin casting · hot glue · craft foam · leatherworking · embroidery · dyeing · weathering · electronics · tutorial
self-expression
Conveying one's inner world
- transformationThorough change in form
- alter egoA secondary persona
- creativityCapacity for original thought
confidence · persona · embodiment · escapism · community · belonging · gender expression · body positivity · representation · empowerment
- fan eventsfan conventions, fan fest, meet and greets, fan meetups, fan meetup
- cyberculturecyberculture, internet culture, online communities, virtual communities, memes
- hobbiesknitting circles, skateboarding, model trains, write, writing
- costumeswitch, vampire, pirate, zombie, skeleton
- Japanese culturesamurai, kabuki, sumo, origami, tea ceremony
- costume eventsmasquerade, masquerade ball, Halloween party, masked ball, Halloween
cosplayundress
Remove one's garments
strip · unclothe · disrobe · street clothes · nudity
cosplaybe yourself
Embrace your authenticity
authenticity · unmasking · breaking character · self-expression · dressing down
cosplayHalloween costume
October 31st disguise
trick-or-treating · Halloween · masquerade · fancy dress · uniform
- cosplay contestEvent judging character costumes
- cosplay eventsGatherings for costume roleplay