[GITS SAC Motoko]

So, what do you think of casual cosplay? Do you consider it cosplay, or do you consider it laziness because "they didn't make the character costume?" Do you think people are being cheap by doing it, or do you think it's very creative?
In my opinion, I think it's cosplay, and it's nice because it's cheaper if you don't have much money or if you don't have time due to circumstances. Or it's nice to be lax and cosplaying on days like Sunday of ACEN XD.

discuss~

[STVO]

I admire people who make their own costumes a little more, but we're not all artists, lol. I can't sew for jack but I do go out and pick different clothes or use fabric paint if necessary. As with Brak, I made the mask myself with cardboard and paint. I hold nothing against anyone who has ready-made costumes, I think it's a fun time no matter what you dress up as. I personally like being in a costume more at conventions than regular clothes, even if I only wear a mask I'd rather do something, haha.

Whatever you all decide it's all good, we're all here to have fun, unless it's a cosplay contest! Lol jk.

[Rukariou]

I've done causal cosplay before. Mostly like you said, I want to be comfortable on my drive home on Sunday. Ive done casual America a few yrs now, where its just jeans, a Captian America shirt, and his bomber jacket, just for fun. I don't know, I still made the jacket and styled the wig so whatever.

[Tiamat97]

most of my costumes are casual, but its also because they wear it some time in the anime or game. i would like to do their more extravagent costume but i lack the funds to really do so

[ApplePillow]

Well i don't mind casual cosplay, since im doing it once for ACen 2012.
.w. i think its because they got tired of the costume,want to feel comfortable,have that special shirt they wanna wear or just don't like any of the outfits of the character.
Even if they were lazy at least they put on the wig?maybe they have sanitary issues and don't want to wear the cosplay the next day and they don't want to use up money to wash their clothes. Casual Cosplay is cosplay to me .

[STVO]

Wow I completely missed the original point, lol. It may be lazy too be casual but like you all mentioned, who cares? Some people can easily make it work like Ness from Earthbound for example. More people doing casual may not get as much pictures taken, but maybe they don't want to? Do what you feel like is what I say!

[Kitsu-chan]

I've got no problem with casual cosplays cause some characters just happen to dress normal.

My first ACen I went as Yoh from Shaman King cause I happened to have everything sitting in my closet.

[rwarsauce]

I mean me personally I like the awesome well done, and time put in for the cosplays I see all the time at acen. but me personally I lack the skill and cash. like this year it was pretty much casual other than walking around without a shirt which I dont normally do.

[Animexcel]

I like casual cosplays. I've done Keitaro from Love Hina lol fun time with my friend who did Naru xD

[Washu Takahashi]

I remember one of my first cosplays was Misa Amane from Death Note just because everything was sitting in mine/my friends' closet xD It was easy to put together, essentially free, but a recognizable cosplay. I like people who take casual characters and make them their own though. You could say just about every Death Note character is "casual cosplay" but I've seen some done really uniquiely. The year I did Misa was Death Note's big year at Acen since it recently came on Adult Swim. There were a million Ls there since the cosplay is so simple. But a few in particular stood out. One was walking around with L's mask. Another was "angel" L and had wings. and another had a giant easter basket filled with candy that he was giving out. So I'm all for casual cosplay, but it's better if you go a little out of your way to do something like that that makes it more memorable.

[tatterpillar]

Okay wait, are we talking about cosplay where you are wearing maybe a wig and makeup and have the mannerisms of a character but are wearing your own clothes/clothes the character does not wear, or are we talking about cosplaying a character who wears casual clothes in the anime/game?

It's like everyone said: have fun!! Sure, you may get a few haters, but do what you want to do! As far as picture taking goes, sure, I would prefer to see cosplay that is true to the character and that stands out or is memorable, as Washu Takahashi said. However, I love dressing up and seeing others dressed up too, so I'm not about to be down on anyone for being casual. I don't take pictures of every costume I like, but I am still highly entertained by them.

Also, I completely understand the lack of funds thing. Get creative with it! If you can make it interesting on a budget, do it! I'm always amused by zombiefied versions of characters, for example. I know a lot of people get sick of seeing all the L's (one example) because the costume is easy to pull off, but I don't see a problem with that. Also, if you get the mannerisms down solid, you can still stand out in the crowd!

[The Fujoshi]

Many outfits that characters have or Alternative fit into the Casual Cosplay mode. Such as Noel/Tsubaki's school outfits or America's CD cover from Hetalia. So I don't have an issue with this at all. Also people can't afford 100-300 dollars for an outfit at times.

But if you get something straight from the closet and claim it's a canon outfit, when it obviously looks not, that I have an issue with. Like shorts/overralls/your hair braided and a Halloween mask for Tao, (not even the claws or the right mask!) And get offended when people don't take pictures or ask who you are.

This post has been edited by The Fujoshi: 18 June 2011 - 11:03 AM

[GITS SAC Motoko]

tatterpillar, on 18 June 2011 - 07:07 AM, said:

Okay wait, are we talking about cosplay where you are wearing maybe a wig and makeup and have the mannerisms of a character but are wearing your own clothes/clothes the character does not wear, or are we talking about cosplaying a character who wears casual clothes in the anime/game?

It's like everyone said: have fun!! Sure, you may get a few haters, but do what you want to do! As far as picture taking goes, sure, I would prefer to see cosplay that is true to the character and that stands out or is memorable, as Washu Takahashi said. However, I love dressing up and seeing others dressed up too, so I'm not about to be down on anyone for being casual. I don't take pictures of every costume I like, but I am still highly entertained by them.

Also, I completely understand the lack of funds thing. Get creative with it! If you can make it interesting on a budget, do it! I'm always amused by zombiefied versions of characters, for example. I know a lot of people get sick of seeing all the L's (one example) because the costume is easy to pull off, but I don't see a problem with that. Also, if you get the mannerisms down solid, you can still stand out in the crowd!

Well I was kind of focusing on being the character with the wig, make up and clothes they don't usually wear. But casual clothes that actual characters wear is obviously cosplay.

Yeah because of funds I have to get creative too--because I don't have the funds this year for a new cosplay I'm going to use what I have and make a "gangsta" version of my Motoko Kusanagi cosplay. I'll be a "cosplaya" hahaha :3

[Byakuya Kun]

The whole casual cosplay kind of bothers me because I feel like they have put in very little effort a batman t-shirt and a black mask from a dollar store? Then again, there is the fact that maybe the just don’t want to cosplay, but they don’t want to really stick out.

It still annoys me. Either cosplay or don’t bother. No one is going to judge you because you are not cosplaying.

[therealdeathnote]

I think it looks good when the cosplayer puts thought/work into it. You can spot out a well done casual cosplay by the look of it, it's not just jeans and t-shirt. There are also well placed accessories and a "street fashion look".

[The Forumcat]

Washu Takahashi, on 17 June 2011 - 06:15 AM, said:

I remember one of my first cosplays was Misa Amane from Death Note just because everything was sitting in mine/my friends' closet xD It was easy to put together, essentially free, but a recognizable cosplay. I like people who take casual characters and make them their own though. You could say just about every Death Note character is "casual cosplay" but I've seen some done really uniquiely. The year I did Misa was Death Note's big year at Acen since it recently came on Adult Swim.

I did that! Except I did it because it was all already in my school wardrobe. Then my best friend borrowed it for Soycon.

As for casual cosplay... I think it's nice for things like Lazy Day Sunday at ACen, or for things at school where you can't very well do a full-on cosplay (No stomach bared at school => casual Meiko with a jacket/sweatshirt thingy for costume spirit day) but I think it just doesn't count if they've got on their own favorite clothes (ESPECIALLY anachronistic fashions like short skirts and bared torsos in Victorian England, etc.), are just acting like themselves, and are saying they're something like "Oh, I'm a casual Sakura (You know, from... NARUTO... idiot, you're so dumb for not recognizing me) who dyed her hair brown and green and got a weave"
...WHAT?!?

I find it ok if they've got the accessories and the wig and the mannerisms and did a good job putting the outfit together in an in-character manner. Even if you just grab a Rock Band mic and stay in the color theme to do a casual vocaloid (not that I ever did that... erm) to show off the wig you ordered eight months early or whatever, casual cosplay can be fun, and still counts as cosplay to me if you remember to put effort in and keep the "-play" aspect in mind.

(Anyone who is a "casual Ciel Phantomhive" in jeans, a t-shirt, and an eyepatch needs to be stripped of cosplayer title. His casual is still extremely formal by today's standards. Anything in another time period should be left out of a casual cosplayer's selection)