[Shaherah]

Well, seeing you guys fret over spending 200 something on cosplay makes me feel like i'm a WAYYYYY bigger spender than necessary. I spent this year almost 400 for ONE of my costumes, and around 180 for each of the rest of our costumes (yes, our, I pay for my whole group's costumes when I want a group cosplay.) So, this year I've spent around 1500 on cosplay and accessories, including the ACen badges for each of us (5 of us.)

But you know what, I almost spent the same amount last year too...and all the pictures and attention we got made the money completely worth it.

I feel if you have it, then spend it...especially if it's something you love. Money is replaceable and good memories and pictures last a lifetime, even longer. The memories and the look on ppl's faces is totally worth the money

This post has been edited by Shaherah: 27 February 2012 - 08:30 PM

[NinjaJedi007]

Shaherah, on 27 February 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

...all the pictures and attention we got made the money completely worth it.... The memories and the look on ppl's faces is totally worth the money

Agreed. You can't put a price on those experiences where you light up someone's day... or when you freak out the non-convention goer. Any costume is a chance to be someone, or something, that you normally aren't. This past weekend I simply had a fake mustache with aviators and random people complimented me on it. I can't wait for my legit outfit for ACen

[S1NN3R]

Shaherah, on 27 February 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

...this year I've spent around 1500 on cosplay and accessories...

...the pictures and attention we got made the money completely worth it.

I feel if you have it, then spend it...especially if it's something you love. Money is replaceable and good memories and pictures last a lifetime, even longer. The memories and the look on ppl's faces is totally worth the money

passed the 2000£ mark just last week. I'm hoping to have it dome by acen! Extreamly ahead of schedule so I'm very pleased. More of a passion than anything else

[Darko]

Im up to about 360$ on just the helmet

[kotomichi]

I just went on a shopping spree and have spent upwards to about 500 dollars. Luckily, it was for 4 costumes and accessories, so I feel a bit justified, but still!

[woozle]

So far i've spent about 13 dollars on the skirt and my wig for my Maria cosplay. Got the wig at a store in town that was going out of business, got it 75% off. I Got my shoes and the tops for it for about 11 bucks total

I already have everything i need for my magenta costume; wore it last year as well.

This post has been edited by woozle: 06 March 2012 - 06:33 PM

[Audri]

Thankfully this year has been my cheap year and I'm around $100.00.

[basili1250]

5 yards of black cotton fabric, a yard of white cotton, a few bits here and there, some rubber latex and plastic modeling mix for some form molds, a shaving of the head, and I'll be good to go. The pattern I'm using was the most expensive part of the cosplay at $33. Hopefully everyone else is having an easy time with their stuff!

[GITS SAC Motoko]

NinjaJedi007, on 27 February 2012 - 08:42 PM, said:

Agreed. You can't put a price on those experiences where you light up someone's day... or when you freak out the non-convention goer. Any costume is a chance to be someone, or something, that you normally aren't. This past weekend I simply had a fake mustache with aviators and random people complimented me on it. I can't wait for my legit outfit for ACen

Yeah! I can't wait to freak a non-convention goer out cosplaying as Lucy with blood all over my body. :3 Heck I already get stares when I cosplay Motoko. :3

I've spent only a few bucks since I'm finding stuff really cheap and using stuff around my house. yes!

This post has been edited by GITS SAC Motoko: 08 March 2012 - 07:21 PM

[Dark Spellmaster]

Wow, guys guys guys! This year, thankfully I'm trying to keep it under 200 for everything I buy. Hopefully next year, with the skills I'm going to aquire over the summer and such, I will be able to make some really awesome cosplay.

[KusanagiRobin]

I fear what I might do next year. I recently discovered a great resin casting technique, and knowing all the stuff I can make from it, I might go for more complicated cosplays in the future.

Now if I could sew more than a few seams...

[cloudacmaster]

Darko, on 28 February 2012 - 03:17 PM, said:

Im up to about 360$ on just the helmet

I know man. But it is going to be really awesome. You've done some great work.

I've put about $275 into kuja so far.

and ~$150 into mercury.

Will probably spend some more on each.

[skinnyneko]

I've spent around $250+ this year. $135 for the full outfit, $36 for the wig, $30 for the shoes, $15 for the contacts, and the accesories add up... DX

[Hakuji]

I've spent over $300 on my competition cosplay, even though it looks like a basic costume, it's proving to be expensive and difficult. It's worth it though, hopefully it'll look super good!

[nouseforaname]

It's mainly the supplies for putting the cosplay together that's making it expensive. (tools) I have no idea how much I've spent on my cosplay anymore.

[xSkylar]

I... always overspend. I just need... everything to be new and look good, ahaha! I'll even buy a crap ton of new make-up that I don't even need just so I have it.

[izumitastic]

My costume ended up being much cheaper than anticipated. However, I've totally been overspending on makeup. I don't wear it normally, so I don't really have any. Luckily, it's all relatively neutral, so I'll be able to use it for multiple costumes.

[slrphebos]

I think on just the one new cosplay for this year I'm probably well over the $200 probably pretty darn close to $300 mark. Course that is excluding the wig and ponytail I will need to buy at the con in order to get the look. Every time I do a cosplay with ruffles I overspend cause it just takes so much fabric not to mention time. Right now I have to debate on shoes and socks. I really hate doing Lolita inspired outfits sometimes cause there are so many little things that need to be made in order to make the whole outfit look complete. Hope everyone likes this new one cause I put a LOT of time into it.

Next year is gonna be bad. I have plans for a Fluttershy Grand Gala gown (cringe), Aoi from Zettai Karen Children, with a definate remake of my Minako cosplay (that was a total cheap fail when I first did it back in 2006). It gonna get expensive next year for sure.

[cactusmomma]

I think I'm overspending TIME on these costumes. I've spent more or less of the last 12 hours painting on this one dress...

[cloudacmaster]

Just bought another wig earlier this week. O.O

[Kii]

I'm horrified by the total on my receipt every time I leave the craft/fabric store.So yeah.

[basili1250]

I feels ya brah

[Kii]

Me at the craft store yesterday: "Oh, this should be about fifteen dollars."Cashier: "Your total comes to $27.58."Me: Q_Q
And I still need to get interfacing, and more fabric.#brokeforever

This post has been edited by Kii: 31 March 2012 - 06:20 PM

[KusanagiRobin]

I don't know if they do it at every Jo-Ann Fabric...BUT it's worth checking out!

Last time I went shopping and presented my online coupons, the cashier showed us a magazine that Jo-Ann's distributes exclusively, called "Fashion Fusion". On the back of the magazine are six coupons that are good for MONTHS (at the time I got it, the dates ran from February 19th to June 16th 2012): two 50% offs, and four 40% offs, each good for one item (including single cuts of fabric). As a bonus, the info inside shows seasonal outfits based on purchasable Simplicity patterns, so you may also end up seeing something you could use for present/future costumes.

[The Forumcat]

Bastion of Winalils from Unsounded...
Normally, I would use kind of second-rate materials as I don't compete with these things and I just try to have fun, but since I'm the first cosplayer publicly known of for the series and the author knows about this little adventure...

I'm already over $150 in materials. I have a whole bunch of leather for the not-a-shirt, red satin-y stuff for trimming things, and six (SIX!) yards of some random cloth for making his cape, his pants, and his man-skirt. I need to get the patterned leather for my shoulder guards, material for the bandages, regular leather stuff to make a pair of boots, all sorts of trappings for those, modelling compounds and some plastic to make a sword, enough wire for a power plant, some buckles and stuff for his not-a-shirt, interfacing, pretty things for his jewellery, a bit of prosthetic latex to fix my nose and jawline up, some rawhide, make up, a pair of inserts because the shoes I'm turning into mens' riding boots have lost their squishy...

Oh, and my hair decided to stop growing too fast, so now I need to buy a wig the same colour and basic cut as my hair, but TWO INCHES longer. As of winter, when I chose to do this, my hair could easily grow the needed two inches, maybe even more, in the time until ACen. Now... it's grown perhaps an inch since then. I jinxed my hair growth, I think.

I've pretty much resigned myself to borrowing show boots from someone for ACen to replace the likely unfinished custom boots, and I know I won't have the sword done. No way for that. It should all be done for the autumn, though. I'm amazed at the speed with which my helper is capable of doing stuff, though. She does amazing things. Miraculous things. I'm pretty confident that the pants, not-a-shirt, man-skirt, and cape will all be ready to use by ACen.

At this kind of expense, I think I'll be cosplaying this character for a few years to come. Maybe more than a few. Maybe I'll just become a rich and powerful necromancer in real life so it stops being cosplay. Ayup. That sounds good to me.