Thrift Store Cosplaying
A thrift store is one of the best places to find materials for your cosplay.
When you’re making a costume, sometimes it can be more fun, time saving, and less costly to alter a premade garment than to have to sew everything from scratch. A little cutting and embellishing along with a dash of creativity can turn a premade garment or two into a wonderful replica of your cosplay character. However, we don’t always want to cut up a new garment for a costume. That’s where thrift stores come in handy.
Clothing items in second hand thrift stores like the Goodwill or the Salvation Army are generally very inexpensive. You can usually find items in great condition for just a couple of dollars. This makes them easier to cut up for a costume, since you know that if you make a mistake, you didn’t ruin something brand new, and you’re only out a couple bucks, leaving you plenty enough to try again.
Thrift stores also often have a wider selection than other stores, as they usually carry items for multiple seasons all year round. It’s not always easy trying to find a turtleneck (one of my favorite costume bases) at a regular store in the middle of July. However, I’ve found the Salvation Army has them on hand all year.
It’s much more environmentally friendly option than purchasing new fabric or garments to cosplay with, since it’s a form of recycling rather just buying new. And as an added benefit, purchasing from second hand shops such as the Salvation Army and the Goodwill supports their community efforts to help those in need. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Thrift stores are also a great place to get the finishing touches for a costume, such as hats, gloves, belts and shoes. Why spend $50 on a new pair of boots for your costume, when the local thrift store has many shoes to choose from for $4. You could find a pair just right for your costume, or one that will be just right with a little paint or a few sequins, depending on your character. It can also save on weathering, if you search for a pair of used, somewhat beat-up shoes to match that post-apocalyptic cosplay.
Finally, even if you do prefer to make things from scratch rather than altering something, second hand stores can help with that too. They usually have a nice selection of old tablecloths and curtains, but of which make great costuming material for a fraction of what you’d pay in a fabric store. The mother confessor costume at the beginning of the this post was a cosplay I made from two linen table clothes I found in the Salvation army for about $4 apiece (I also did a later version of the same costume as a tutorial, using a turtleneck and one linen tablecloth, both from the thrift store). Much less than what I would have paid at the fabric store for that much material.
By Amber Reifsteck, The Woodland Elf
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