Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
I chose Vash because I enjoyed the characters reactions, antics, emotions, and overall his style. Just a very likeable character from a really good series. And I only watched the anime, I heard the manga is even better.
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
I did work on some parts of the costume, but overall the coat was bought from Ebay. I had it tailored and modified to fit my favorite designs to the character’s actual coat.
The character also has some type of leather straps around the lower half of his left arm, so I proceeded to gather some material to match a dark colored like leather…..hehe….I bought like furniture fabric like leather. Made straps, and then wrapped it around my arm with some socks to give cushion and breathing room.
The character actually has like full and half fingerless like gloves, but I had some riding gloves lying around, fingerless, but for the time would make due for the costume and wouldn’t make me have to spend anymore money then I wanted to at the time. Cosplaying is fun and all, but I also enjoy some of the good deals on the Dealers Rooms at Cons.
Particularly the biggest hurdle was the boots………I could not find anything in local stores that could possibly match his boots. So I opted for some metal plated goth boots from an online store called Rivethead to fill in that part of the costume because I was short on time. Those also cost a pretty penny and probably more than my coat.
One thing in particular that I noticed is that his coat has some type of leather like jumpsuit underneath which also had knee pads and shoulder guards. The closest thing I could find on a small budget was some mongoose skateboard pads, but I forgot to paint them…lol
Vash cannot be Vash without his big gun! So I searched online, searched, searched, and searched and could find nothing that could be imported over seas………..So I went searching for something here in USA…….I did find a Nerf gun (Maverick)that modeled the size and handle design of his gun. It was only $9, such a big save. So I took it apart, modded a few parts to make it a little less like a kiddy thing, then grabbed some enamel paints….don’t ask why….and finely painted each detail on the gun. Think I gave it like 2 coats.
About the 3rd or 2nd con I did with that costume I modded and painted a new Nerf gun with plastic spray paint this time in like a solid color. The older gun’s paint job seemed to wear off on your hands pretty fast.
Me I took the extra step in my costume, I dyed my hair for the first time just to cosplay my favorite character.
Anyway, when I do intend to throw some more funding towards that particular costume, I might improve upon its design.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
My friends I met in college are to blame for my liking of cosplay and cons. I do so enjoy the dealers room.
What are the con did you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
My favorite con would have to be Matsuri Con 09, I enjoyed spending time with my friends, the dealers room was nice, I attended a few events, and it wasn’t as tiring.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
Cosplaying to me is dressing up as a favorite or likeable character from any genre. The key to cosplaying is having fun and knowing a moderate amount about the character your playing. You don’t need to overload yourself with quotes, it tends to get quiet nerdish. I say this because the last Con I attended, Oni Con 09, ugghhh I don’t think I require to memorize a pointless like 45 word long made up name the character used to throw someone off. Also, if you must, you shouldn’t like do half a costume, if your character requires you to have special colored hair, dye yours or get a wig. If your character requires you to have green skin, than use face paint.
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
My dream cosplay…..hrm…..well I’d like to do like Gundam or Mecha cosplay. I know it can be bulky, but its just so freakin sweet.
