~Looking good at the con!~

Okay, so you have spent a ton of time and energy and a costume and now it’s finally time to wear it at a con! However, there is more to successfully pulling off a costume than all the toil and drama of creating it. Here are some basic tips on how to look your best at a con.

1. Packing for the con
Pack your costume neatly! That means either fold it neatly or hang it up in a garment bag. If you ball it up it just means more ironing for you later. It is also best to put any small accessories together in a plastic bag so they don’t get lost. Make a checklist of all your costume pieces if there are a lot of separate parts.

Pack a safety kit! Even if you have the best, most well-constructed costume, shit happens! So it’s best to come prepared.

A good kit includes: -A comb -Bobby pins -Wig cap -Hairspray -Scissors -Needle & thread -Safety pins -Double-sided tape

2. Unpacking at the con
If you are lucky enough to arrive early it is always best to get your outfit out of your squished suitcase and on to hangers as soon as possible! That way it can start to air out and de-wrinkle as soon as possible.

Ironing is a MUST! I can’t stress enough that you should iron your costume before you wear it if you see ANY wrinkles on it. It just looks tacky when people wear wrinkly costumes, so treat your costume (and yourself) right after all that hard work! There is an iron in every hotel room, so you really have no excuse not to. :d

If you typically don’t do much ironing, make sure that you are using the appropriate setting on the iron for your garments. You don’t want to burn or melt any of them! Often irons list fabric types on the settings dial [see photo], but always make sure you’re using the right setting by testing a small corner of your fabric first. If you are ironing fabrics like pleather or vinyl make sure to iron with a presscloth between the iron and pleather/vinyl so it doesn’t melt. The best fabric to use for a presscloth is a yard of simple broadcloth or muslin.

3. Make-up
Putting on make-up can do wonders for your overall appearance in costume. Bright clothing and wigs have a tendency to make your face appear “washed out” or pale and sickly. They can also make your blemishes look more noticeable. Eek!

I highly recommend putting on at least some foundation to ensure that the skin-tone on your face looks even and not too washed-out. This goes for both men and women.

After foundation it’s your choice of whether or not you want to add eye shadow, lipstick and mascara, or if you want to be more theatrical and use bigger, bolder make-up and false eyelashes. Personally, I always try to wear false lashes, eyeliner and eye shadow- pretty much anything I can use to draw attention to my eyes. Most anime characters have large eyes that end up being the focal point of their faces, so I try to emulate that as best as I can with normal human eyes.

4. Posing
Once you’re totally in costume, take a moment to double-check that your wig is on straight and that you’re lint free. Now you should take a moment to practice some poses in the mirror before heading out for your con adventures. This will save you from the embarrassment of being stopped for a photo and not knowing what to do! Usually the more into your costumes you are and the more poses you can strike, the more people will want to take your picture. Why? Because you will obviously be more interesting to look at than somebody standing around like a wallflower. You have worked really hard on your costume and you deserve to be able to show it off!

5. Double-check
This may be stating the obvious, but after a few hours of walking around a con I like to pop into the bathroom or my hotel room and check on how I look. Sometimes it can be a lifesaver, as I notice my wig has shifted slightly askew or I have food crumbs on my face from lunch! It’s a good idea to take a little breather, do some make-up touch-ups if necessary, and double-check that you still look well-kept.

6. Business Cards
If you want to not only be noticed but also remembered, the best thing you can do for yourself is print up some business cards. You don’t need to have a business! Just use it as a contact card. These are extremely useful when you want to give someone your e-mail address, myspace address or other contact info quickly.

Here is an example of mine. Feel free to use the same template. I highly recommend VistaPrint for contact cards - they are inexpensive and you can purchase them in small or large quantities.

insert business pic

7. In conclusion…
Above all else, make sure you have fun! Get lots of pics and attention for you and your costume. Cons are great places to make new friends, and if you see me at a con come say hello!