What to do in Costume Off-Season
by collin
Maybe you’re doing exactly what I’m doing right now… you’re peering out your window at a snowstorm that looks like a little brother to a blizzard. It’s been weeks since you spent significant amount of time outside, and your cabin fever amounts to about three times the legal limit for sanity. Well, you need something to do! Don’t let the season get you down. Here are some ideas:
Costumes In The Off-Season
-The best laid plans-
If you’re planning on doing your own work this year, then make sure you plan ahead. Most cosplayers know this. However, if you’re just an average joe that wants to take a crack at the DIY thing, you should think ahead what you want to do. Some of the more intricate DIY costumes can take weeks of spare time for assembly, sewing, and painting. It’s something great to keep in the attic or basement for years to come, or to pull out at a later date. Nostalgia wins.
-Do something seasonal-
There’s just about always some kind of holiday on the horizon. If it’s not a national holiday, there could be something ethnic that would be fun to celebrate. We’ve already started talking about . Find a holiday calendar, find people you know who would be interested, and concoct a good celebration. You never know what could become tradition…
-Try something original-
This will sound foolish, but some friends and I made up a holiday once. It was called “Brownstein Day”, yeah it was strange. Long story how we made it up. However, we started traditions, which included eating Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches, drinking Vanilla Coke, and toasting to Papa Brownstein at the stroke of midnight-thirty. We did it two years in a row, but missed this last season… maybe I’ll plan something and we’ll get dressed up!
-Get into the convention scene-
Cons are all over the place for costume fans. Find something to be a part of! We highly recommend Comic Con, as it draws huge crowds, epic celebrities, and even more epic costumes. It’s not the geek-fest you’re thinking it is. Here’s a website, and you’ll find content on MyDisguises about it from time to time. Delve in head first.
There are lots more to see as well… WonderCon (later this month!), DragonCon, Anime Conventions, Fan Fests, Ren Faires, etc. Look around online and you’ll surely find one thats within a 2 week window that you can dress up for.
-Get involved with DIY, submit it to Instructables and Make-
Have you not spent time on Instructables or Make Magazine? You’ll find an endless supply of projects to get your hands dirty with. It’s one thing to dress up, but a whole different experience to wear something you constructed from top to bottom. Make a costume, submit it to Instructables or Make, and get noticed for your genius.
Hopefully we stimulated some thought. Add any additional ideas you may have down below and see if you can’t help those of us out who need a boost in creativity.
