Hello, everyone it is December, and that means it's my favorite time of year
I'm one of those nut cases who completely loses their mind over
Peppermint and Christmas carols and drinking hot coffee in front of a fireplace while it's gently snowing outside
What I don't like about season is how I always get sick, and I'm still fighting it cold
I had a black Friday as you can probably hear so I apologize in advance that I sound like a chain smoker
I] don't smoke. The only thing I smoke is...
...Christmas. Yeah.
420 "sleighs" it, right?
Anyway, as the holiday season is also the buying season, I figure, it's the perfect time to talk about one of the biggest
controversies in cosplay.
It's a debate that's gone on since the beginning of cosplay: is it okay to buy costumes?
Most of the time this question is asked by people who are new to the hobby and maybe don't have the skillset necessary
to make their own costumes from scratch.
Maybe it's someone who just doesn't have time to slave over a sewing machine for hours on end.
Because they already work two jobs
And barely sleep as it is. Or maybe it's someone who just doesn't like the craftsmanship aspect of cosplay,
but still wants to dress up.
Whatever the reason, a lot of these people fear that they'll be shamed or judged because they purchase their costumes instead.
And needless to say the idea of anyone being judged for how they choose to cosplay really rustles my jimmies.
So let's settle this debate once and for all. First and foremost, let me make this clear:
Absolutely never feel bad for buying costumes.
Newsflash: people enjoy cosplay for different reasons! Some people really like the craftsmanship aspect.
Others really like the performance aspect, and others still
just want to wear funny outfit while they walk around with their friends.  Now, personally, I love the craftsmanship aspect.
I love being able to put on the finished costume look in the mirror and think to myself, holy cannoli,
I made that! I've always been an artsy person and being able to make stuff with my hands is just
really satisfying to me on a spiritual level, but not everyone is like this, and that's okay.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't participate in this hobby.
So you bought your Attack on Titan cosplay from eBay. That doesn't make you any less of a cosplayer than
that guy over there you spent hours sewing his Organization XIII jacket from scratch. You're both cosplayers.
All it means is that one of you
really enjoys crying over your sewing machine and stabbing your fingers with needles, which frankly isn't for everyone.
Also, more breaking news: all those cosplayers who make their own costumes?
A lot of us buy costumes once in a while too. My costume philosophy has always been:
Choose your battles. If you have the time and the energy to sew a blazer or a dress shirt from scratch?
That's awesome.
Do that thing. But if you're like me?
And you'd rather focus your efforts on wig styling, prop making, or tackling costumes that can't be purchased in a store like, you know,
Final Fantasy outfits, or you know, you just want to dress up, but for the love of god, just want to buy the costume.
Go ahead. No one is going to judge you for that, and if they do their opinion is dumb and not worth your consideration.
My Haikyuu jersey and most of my Haru costumes were purchased from either eBay or Taobao.
I don't want to spend my time sewing three identical Iwatobi
school uniforms when we could just all buy them to ensure that they match, and then we can spend our time doing more complicated
costuming projects like elaborate fabric painting,
armor, sword making, and so on. Bless the people who are able to do both.
I ain't one of them. So like I said, when it comes to cosplay,
choose your battles. There are, of course, a couple of negatives when it comes to buying cosplay.
You may run into issues with poor fabric choices or
improper fitting, but if you're willing to do a little bit of basic sewing, you can easily fix those problems yourself.
And it'll still be easier than sewing the entire costume from scratch. The major thing people will take issue with is if you buy your
costume and then try to pass it off as your own work. If you commissioned a costume
give credit to the commissioner. If you buy a mass-produced costume, don't try to claim it as your own work. And in both cases,
don't take a purchased costume and try to enter it into a costume contest.
Because I'm telling you this as someone who has been a judge for over a dozen competitions.
The judges will know that you're lying and you will be disqualified.
Ultimately, though, people think others will judge them for buying costumes a lot more than it actually happens at the end of the day.
Seriously.
No one cares.
Cosplay however you want. If that means sheering a sheep, spinning the thread, weaving the fabric, and sewing an entire school uniform from scratch?
That's awesome.
That's rad. A++, four for you, you go Glen Coco. Or if it means placing an eBay order and waiting by the mailbox
until your costume arrives?
That's cool, too.
If people try to judge you for that, or act like they're so superior because they know how to use a serger? Well, let's just say:
they won't be on Santa's nice list. If you're someone who buys their costumes,
I hope this pep talk helps you feel a little bit better. Feel free to share your thoughts on the whole buying-versus-making debate
in the comments below and don't forget to like and subscribe for more cosplay videos. I'm Mango Sirene,
I'm going to go chug a bunch of Dayquil, and as always, Happy Cosplay.
(wheezes) Happy Cosplay!
Oh my god, get your flu shots, kids. It's not worth it.
So not worth it.
I'm a good cosplayer.
