A Good Fit

Today on a whim, I pulled my old Fai D. Fluorite cloak down from the top shelf of my closet. After almost losing myself in the purposely-oversized cloak, I smiled.

Which got me to thinking: forget what the costume looks like, how does what a costume feels like affect the cosplay experience?

I know cosplayers out there who can put on anything—and I mean anything—and not sweat it. But for me, the feel of the costume affects my plans from the very beginning. It determines what fabric I use, my makeup, and depending on the time of year, what costume I choose to take to the convention (with all those feathers, Trance Kuja can be quite cozy if it’s nippy outside!)

I do this because sometimes, even the good memories and experiences that happened while wearing that costume aren’t enough to overcome the simple impression that the costume leaves behind.

In strange ways, wearing the costume reminds me of the character. My Fai cloak is warm and reassuring so that I could practically fall asleep in it without worry, while my newest Kuja costume gives me the curious impression of being held back and liberated at the same time, thanks to contradictory pieces like the jacket with the tightly-belted front and almost completely open back. But then there’s a costume like my Super Smash Brothers Brawl Marth.

Marth always seemed a bit uptight to me, and that somehow got translated into my costume. Even though I had the chance to use a lot of my favorite materials and the first pair of boots and sword/sheath combo that I’m proud of both belong to my Marth costume, I’ve never worn it. Putting that costume on just made me want to take it off again.

But if you believe xxxHolic (or any craftsperson), then something that you’ve made has a part of yourself in it. So if you’re making something based on an interpretation of someone, then will that interpretation work its way into the physical final product? I don’t see why not.