Costumes at cons, more acceptable?

[Kommissar]

over the last few years i've noticed more and more people getting into costuming,
instead of people asking what panels or stars i want to see at comic con, or the like, more people i meet in passing conversation will follow up with "you going in costume?"
have you noticed more of an acceptance in this kind of thing, recently? (past 5 years particularly)
do you still have people sneer at you when in costume or look down on you when they find out? or intentionally mess with you at cons?

i feel costumers as a whole at conventions have been getting alot more respect.
what do you think?

 

[PAULFIERCE]

sdfads

 

[Utinni]

I think because good parts are more available now and widely sold. Gone are the days of "who knows who" in this hobby. It's both a good thing and a bad thing I guess. It was cool being the only Ghostbusters walking around Comic-Con for a couple years and now it's just as bad as Stormtroopers. When I hear "oh, there's another *insert now popular costume*" I tend to move onto a new costume to stand out from the crowd!

- Jeff

 

[PAULFIERCE]

All you San Diego heads check the the July 21, issue of the The union tribune newspaper. You will see me there with my costume.

 

[micdavis]

I've been doing it for 38 years.

Whether it is accepted or not has never been a concern of mine. Ever.

But overall, yes to those that concern themselves with that, it is better.

 

[tubachris85x]

I don't really care what other think as far as costuming in the sense of acceptability. If you think of it of "what's cool" this year or whatever, I just do what I feel is cool, that others might like, but I don't base my costumes off of what others "percieve" to be more acceptable.

IMO, follow what YOU want to do, and don't listen to what others say or think "you should do."

 

[Risu]

As long as I've been going to cons I've never thought of it as anything less than encouraged. But then, I did start out at anime cons.

 

[Kommissar]

Okay, i've been wanting to discuss this on a forum to hear more costumers opinions, so as a note, i'm not trying to offend anyone, just interested in what peoples opinions are regarding the issues.

i'm all about costuming being an inner thing, you want to costume the character because you want to show your respect, adoration, or various emotions that make you want to build and wear the costume.. cool!

however, i also have an opinion that you should costume characters that are appropriate within reason, to your gender/body type.. when your in costume, you want to look your best, right?
your doing the costume to honor the character and, by that, you entertain other people who also like the character.
on the flip side of it, if you do a poor job, you are essentially offending those fans of the same character.. aren't you?


IE, if your 400 lbs, should you really be trying to look like a stormtrooper? could someone of that physique really be a believable soldier for the empire?

is that opinion okay? i've found it gets a little hazy.

for example, intentional satire costumes are fine, within good taste.. right?

on the other hand, is it acceptable, in your personal opinion, that someone plays a character that is a vastly different ethnicity?
can a black guy be batman/bruce wayne, in a serious costume? or tony stark? (iron man, well no one would know, would they?)
ive seen some people offended by that idea, and others offended they the first were offended..

i would assume on the flip side, if a white girl trys to costume say, storm from the xmen, and trys to use makeup to darken her skin, that alot more people would be offended.. ?

the whole thing becomes very murky, not very clear and tends to make my head hurt.
sometimes it seems like there are a few unwritten rules of costuming that you don't want to break.. do other costumers feel that way?
the "unwritten rule" thing i mean.

 

[Jayn]

When I was at a West Coast con last year, (WonderCon) I was very surprised at the low numbers of costumers compared to East Coast cons. But then again, I go to Dragoncon (50,000+) on a regular basis, where it seems like every other fan is in costume!
I've been a costumer for a LONG time and have seen it all in terms of all types wearing all different types of stuff, ( knew a white MALE guy that dressed as Storm ) and all I have to say is if it makes you happy WEAR IT!! If someone else disapproves then that is THEIR personal problem not yours.

 

[n0x23]

Kommissar, would it be acceptable if a black guy wore a Vader outfit even though Prowse was white?




.

 

[Kommissar]

Kommissar, would it be acceptable if a black guy wore a Vader outfit even though Prowse was white?


.

And James Earl Jones is black,

Why're you asking me this?

 

[PAULFIERCE]

It's only gross when you see a 200lbs wonder woman or a 250 batman.

 

[Jannix Quinn]

It's only gross when you see a 200lbs wonder woman or a 250 batman.

I find that attitude as offensive as racism. Overweight people should be allowed to wear what they want, just like anyone else should.

 

[Kommissar]

I find that attitude as offensive as racism. Overweight people should be allowed to wear what they want, just like anyone else should.

assuming they are in america, it is a free country after all.. but do you personally want to see it?

it seems to me it's more of a personal interpretation of what is acceptable or not in public.

 

[Jannix Quinn]

I want to see people having fun dressing up however they want without being judged as inferior by other people.

 

[Frosteon]

To the Race question, do I see a problem with a <insert race here> dressing as a character who is <insert other race here>? I don't see a problem. Lots of people like to dress as Scorpion and Subzero.

And for people who look down on costumers in general... do you know how some of them label us as dorks, losers, etc who can't get a girlfriend? Well.. I've heard of guys in armor getting various phone numbers from different women. so, what does that tell ya?

 

[RICHIES ARMOR]

Ive never seen the rule book!!

Richie

 

[Star Wars Chick]

Well, why this topic may open a can of worms, I think it is an interesting one. Especially as I have been a "blonde" Leia and have been a Sandtrooper as well as Jango, meanwhile I am a girl. While I think that people can and will do whatever they want, it doesn't always mean they are going to carry it off well. Let's face it, contrary to what some of the people in this thread might say, they would much prefer to see a slender girl with a great body playing Slave Leia than they would a gal that is heavy and out of shape. The same goes for us gals- we would rather see a guy with great muscles in a form fitting Spiderman spandex than a guy with a beer gut. It's not prejudice, it's just the reality of what will stimulate us visually. I think that, for me, when deciding to do a costume, I am definitely aware and conscious of what I think I can and can't pull off. There have been many a costume I have not done simply because I didn't think I had the right look, height, build, etc, to be able to make it look good. For me, trying to fit the part and make it work is an important part of choosing what costumes I want to do. There have been a couple, Trinity and Elektra, that could have been utter disasters but I worked hard to make them work for my body and my look, and I feel I carried them both off well even though I don't think anyone would look at me and immediately think that I should do them. When I did Starship Troopers, I worked out quite heavily to change my physique so that I could really carry off the tough girl look. I guess that I am too self conscious to try and do something that I just think I would not look good in and that I think people would look at and go "why did she do that". I am sure plenty of others don't care about that but personally, I do. My 2 cents.

however, i also have an opinion that you should costume characters that are appropriate within reason, to your gender/body type.. when your in costume, you want to look your best, right?
your doing the costume to honor the character and, by that, you entertain other people who also like the character.
on the flip side of it, if you do a poor job, you are essentially offending those fans of the same character.. aren't you?


IE, if your 400 lbs, should you really be trying to look like a stormtrooper? could someone of that physique really be a believable soldier for the empire?

is that opinion okay? i've found it gets a little hazy.

for example, intentional satire costumes are fine, within good taste.. right?

on the other hand, is it acceptable, in your personal opinion, that someone plays a character that is a vastly different ethnicity?
can a black guy be batman/bruce wayne, in a serious costume? or tony stark? (iron man, well no one would know, would they?)
ive seen some people offended by that idea, and others offended they the first were offended..

i would assume on the flip side, if a white girl trys to costume say, storm from the xmen, and trys to use makeup to darken her skin, that alot more people would be offended.. ?

the whole thing becomes very murky, not very clear and tends to make my head hurt.
sometimes it seems like there are a few unwritten rules of costuming that you don't want to break.. do other costumers feel that way?
the "unwritten rule" thing i mean.

 

[Kommissar]

Mirax H, the janjo and sandtrooper might have been unknown to people, since both i assume involve helmets and full body coverage?

an interesting point about the body types people like to see,
i've seen some awful grade costumes worn by knockouts of both genders, get alot of attention, we are human after all..

To the Race question, do I see a problem with a <insert race here> dressing as a character who is <insert other race here>? I don't see a problem. Lots of people like to dress as Scorpion and Subzero.

And for people who look down on costumers in general... do you know how some of them label us as dorks, losers, etc who can't get a girlfriend? Well.. I've heard of guys in armor getting various phone numbers from different women. so, what does that tell ya?

I've heard there are girls out there who specifically 'hunt' 501st members, stormtrooper groupies or something.

 

[CessnaDriver]

Been going to SD Comicon for decades now. I don't costume myself. But I appreciate a good effort greatly. Seen it all and a half.
And I am speaking about adults here.... If your going to do it do it right. That's all am saying.