Let's Talk About Closet Cosplays | AnyaPanda

[@sakurabiskuit]

At my local con there's this one guy who cosplays Deadpool every year and even roleplays as him. He's become so iconic that he's now a part of that con's experience. He's the living counter argument for the people who say you shouldn't wear the same costume to the same con.

[@AnyaPanda]

OMG I love that!

[@tetrarchKind]

off topic but etihw pfp!! :)

[@yumi8787]

there’s a guy like that who cosplays zenitsu at my local cons too loll

[@aliexpresskinnie]

This reminds me of how at my first ever con there way the Michael myers cosplayer and they would walk around stop and just stare at a selected person. Occasionally he would slowly pull his business card out of his pocket and hand it to people, me and my dad made it game to go and the first to find him somewhere

[@itzpurpleocean737]

D-Piddy?

[@YourError606]

No because "cosplays don't need to be 100% accurate" is something I have to tell myself *constantly*. I get really frustrated when things don't look exactly how I want them to (which usually I want it to be 100% accurate) and it really hinders me from freely enjoying cosplay. Hearing other cosplayers validating "not accurate" cosplays makes me feel a bit better about it :')

[@AnyaPanda]

I'm so glad that made you feel better! Totally, cosplays don't need to be 100% accurate. 🥰

[@Lemonawallflower]

Same

[@glitter.and.cosplay]

OMG, same. I did this for so long, and then, i started to incorporate things i liked in my art and personal style. My cosplays are 100x more awsome now then they were! It shows more of me and my skills. I LOVE completely accurate cosplays. Its freaking awsome. I love that thats how others express themselves 😌 however for me, i love those really 2009 kandi kid cringe cosplays everyone seems to dislike so much. Its so fun! Just rember, have fun! Do what makes you feel like you!

[@naomi5328]

I think the point that social media means pressure to always post new cosplays is so important! Thank you for addressing it :) I personally think closet cosplays are awesome because they're not only great for beginners but it's also more sustainable/environmentally friendly to reuse clothes!

[@mollseymooo1768]

so true- plus a lot of things from my closet or that i can get from like vinted or a charity shop etc , i can make a canon looking costume/outfit with. and so many canon premade cosplays can be expensive plus the sizing is never inclusive

[@da1t036]

And affordable!! Cosplays for the simplest characters can rack up to 200-300$ 😭😭

[@ariellecanlas5794]

I love flipping “normal people clothes” into cosplay pieces and altering them in a way that I can undo everything and wear it again as normal clothes. I think reimagined or creative-liberty costumes are just as fun if not more than canon costumes. If anyone gives me flack for it at my next con, they can contact cement their lips shut. (:

[@TillieThePoodle]

Omg worded beautifully and accurately, it's honestly the same words for me as well.

[@hamp0p]

Honestly I could watch an entire video on why wearing a cosplay only once is just so dumb. Cosplays cost money and time and lots of love, you should wear them as much as you want, especially if they make you happy

[@AnyaPanda]

Amen to that!

[@fallowfrog]

as someone who is from a low income background, i've done a whole lot of closet cosplays because i either can't afford the actual costume or i don't have time to make it. im glad that you agree closet cosplays are valid forms of cosplay!! it's probably one of the only options for people who can't afford to make or buy cosplay but still want to be their favourite character

[@AnyaPanda]

Agreed!

[@imjusthere7970]

I've always thought that for certain characters, 'closet' pieces were more natural than some cosplay material is and would make it seem more realistic or natural/ i dont think theres any shame in using closet pieces lol

[@ColleenCosplay]

When you talked about social media making you feel like you gotta make a lot of new cosplays I FELT THAT. It is so hard to keep up with the rate at which content is being consumed and closet cosplay is so valid for having a cheap and easy option if you are a person who wants to keep up with content creation. You look fabulous!

[@AnyaPanda]

Thank you! 🥰

[@claustrophoba8408]

I am currently casual cosplaying two characters at once by just wearing pieces of clothing that remind me of those characters. It makes me feel more confident in a way, and also more happy overall since I get to incorporate my favorite characters into my outfits. 👍

[@AnyaPanda]

I love that!

[@charlottemagne5455]

I think closet cosplays are the best! Not only do you save money, but you get to be creative and spruce up something you already have and dont really wear anymore. That's exactly what did during Halloween recently. I went as Molly from Hazbin Hotel by taking an old top I didn't wear anymore and sewed it to make it match the cartoon counterpart. Also used a skirt I have that closely resembles hers. I admit in the start of cosplaying, I thought it was essential to not wear the same thing twice and make it 100% accurate to the original. But it was too much stress and money. Be smart and do whatever you feel is comfortable for you and your desired cosplays next time you go to a convention or a Halloween event.

[@reisaseiyoo]

This is such a nice and informative video!! Especially since the pandemic and lockdown and all that, a lot of people started cosplaying. And a lot of these new cosplayers think that its NECESSARY to like, have numerous cosplays immediately. This is a good reminder that we all can start from closet cosplaying and work our way to earn/buy a fullset cosplay! I, myself, have done several closet cosplays and I must say, it really is fun! Crafting and making your own costume from scratch and the likes really brings out the creativity in you, which is really needed in cosplaying ^^ You'll learn lots of fun too, so don't hesitate to make your own closet cosplay of your favorite characters

[@bocar4127]

I like to wear outfits inspired by a multitude of characters. I wouldn’t exactly call them cosplay myself but I see how it could be considered that. My friend wore a black long sleeve crop top and baggy green pants- we joked around that she was Kim Possible. I wore a baggy green jacket, black shirt, and camo pants- we joked around that I was Taiga Saejima. Ever since I noticed I have quite a few similar items to characters’ wardrobe I would create outfits heavily influenced by them 😁

[@elfscarlett]

This is such an important message 👏 ❤️ when I started cosplaying in 2011 it was super acceptable to make closet cosplays, and cheap aliexpress costumes weren't so readily available, so I think it challenged us to be creative with what we had at home ^^ also no one was trying to be pro so there was less pressure , wish it could be like that again, its better for the environment and people's mental health. Also, if you're altering /dying / embroidering your clothes you can still improve your skills ^^

[@AreusBookworm]

I love closet cosplays! The other version/iteration of closet cosplays I love to do is what my friends call "casual cosplays". Basically we have old cosplays or one's we are still working on and we take some aspect of it (usually a wig) and pair it with normal clothes from our closets as if we are that character but in "regular person clothes". It's great when your character has big or uncomfortable canon outfits or if you want to cosplay as them but don't have or can't afford the full outfit. And it's always a solid thing to wear on the last day of a con when you just want to be comfy 👍

[@wildcutecosplay]

I've done closet cosplays before. I've even set myself closet cosplay challenges before. Like dressing inspired by my favourite netflix characters for a week just using stuff in my wardrobe and it was super fun. I've done at least 5 or 6 closet cosplays and worn them to events too. You'd be surprised what you can whip up out of your own closet. My definition of closet cosplay is a little more flexible, to be if the majority of the cosplay came from your closet, and you only had to make or buy something like socks, a headband or a wig, I still count it as closet cosplay. Basically boils down to Did this cosplay cost me $20 or less to put together because I had most of the major pieces already, then i count it as a closet cosplay.

[@iseydelmar]

Glad I found this video to give me some more motivation

[@mercenarychef9465]

Pretty much every cosplay I've done since I stopped doing Bleach had either been entirely, or mostly closet cosplay, including my Umbrella Corp board member (pictured left). Not everyone has the funds or time to build full suits of armor, and there's no shame in that. The point of cosplay and going to a convention is to have fun and show love to your characters. Cosplay the way you want, go to cons, have fun, blast through the gatekeepers.

[@arlo8805]

Thank you for making this video ! I just adore closet cosplay, it's so handful and fun to do. I like to design my favorite characters some casual outfits and I try to recreate the design with my clothes and stuff I buy on Vinted. It's great because it impacts much less the environment and it's much more creative than just buying a cosplay (both are creative of course!), and it's usually more affordable I'm a beginner so making simpler cosplays is a great way to progress without spending too much money !

[@TheMandalorianPadawan]

I'm still a very amateur cosplayer (I've never been to a con because of various reasons, one of them being the pandemic. I only have a few cosplays and all of them are made up of clothes from the thrift shop, cheap wigs from Amazon, and handmade bits.) so most of my cosplays look like "closet cosplays," but I definitely got my start in cosplaying from "closet cosplay." Ever since I was a tiny child, I would try to find clothes in my drawers that looked similar to what my favorite characters were wearing and I would wear those clothes and pretend to be the characters. It was really fun. Even now, if there's a character I'm obsessed with and I don't have time/money/etc. to make a full new cosplay, I'll wear a "closet cosplay" and have a lot of fun with it. Closet cosplay is totally a valid form of cosplay since it does exactly what non-closet cosplay is meant to do: represents a character that the cosplayer is trying to represent. What matters in cosplay is to do your best and HAVE FUN, so as long as you're having fun with a closet cosplay, it's valid!!

[@Airin..]

In a closet cosplayer ( because im genuinely new and on a budget lol ) and i go to con all the time so its nice to see people appreciating closet cosplays because i see so many people who do closet cosplays get bombarded with comments like " imagine wearing that to con " " just buy a proper cosplay" like yall some of us dont got the money 😭

[@Marskilius]

I re-wear cosplays all the time and make new cosplays only every few years. Here is why: it costs money, it takes time and why the hell wouldn't I cosplay my favorite characters often? Re: Closet cosplays They are dope!!! Closet cosplays are affordable and a time saver. Also great for beginners or if someone feels insecure about a full on cosplay. Plus whoever thinks that 1:1, copy-paste, 100% accurate cosplays are the only valid cosplays, have a very narrow look on cosplay and I pity them.

[@gamer_lad369]

This is my most favourite Elizabeth afton cosplay ever im in my Elizabeth cosplay right now

[@enjiniakimiko1305]

it's so funny that my return to cosplay after like 10+ years was literally just Nagatoro and Rin Tohsaka pulled out from my normal house clothes and my sister's uniform, and what's even more surprising to me is that the more "ordinary"looking Rin clothes garnered more attention than the school uniform Nagatoro one 😅

[@sealpupi]

my friend who is 17 got really popular on tiktok for her cosplays and because of that she ended up only buying cosplays that were popular or people wanted to see but eventually i talked to her and shes going to closet cosplay a comfort character (hello kitty) on her own terms and not because of her following and im really proud and happy for her

[@cupit916]

“Every cosplay comes from the closet cuz that’s where you store your cosplays 😋” Me and my 30+ cosplays shoved into 4 different 30 gallon plastic boxes in the basement…

[@KathyakaNina]

I like this video! My friend started Disneybounding which if I’m right, I think it also falls along with closet cosplay. She took a lot form her wardrobe closet cosplaying Anna from Frozen & from there got into cosplaying. I like that she even did a lot of thrifting too & still does that when cosplaying to save money. I would definitely recommend this for beginners especially if they are in the middle school range & don’t want to break their parents bank. Heck we can’t forget closet cosplay also falls along with finding casual outfits for characters that we love & seeing what they would wear in our world. I had fun with that since I like red a lot of my choices can be made for a couple of characters I love that have red in their wardrobe. Plus save space in your suitcase! I definitely am taking it easy to not be pressured of making all my cosplays especially when I know I am saving money, a beginner in sewing & busy on more life priorities. Heck I don’t mind using the same cosplay for a Con to save money. Better for me & my bank

[@vivirivas8100]

Most of my cosplays are closet cosplays even though I've been cosplaying for 7 years xD They're affordable and just as fun to wear as accurate cosplays so I'm glad to hear your thoughts on them ^_^

[@lordjs9726]

This outfit turned out really sweet. You are such a fun person. Your videos make me smile.

[@baralinni79]

Closet cosplays are 💖Valid!💖 I started cosplaying in 2012 and the way "cosplay photo/video" has been transitioning into being called "content" these last few years kind of rubs me the wrong way. I can't explain it super well but it gives off the vibe that people are doing cosplay as a job, when most are doing it as a hobby and make no money off of it 🤔 I think that's part of why so many (especially new cosplayers) feel pressured to do a bunch of new cosplays all the time and post cosplay stuff online every day even though they might not have the resources/energy. And regarding those "is it too late to cosplay-" comments I see all the time, no, absolutely not. People will be cosplaying from Sailor Moon to the end of time, you can ABSOLUTELY cosplay from a thing that was released half a year ago 👍 Cosplay isn't a trend, you decide what you cosplay as and how you do it 💖

[@AnyaPanda]

Amen to that! 🙌🏻

[@BunnyCat]

Pretty much all my cosplays rn are closet cosplays. I maybe get a new wig for some of them, and make props out of the cardboard we have laying around. I did a teenage Michael Afton closet cosplay the other day that did super well, and no one even thought about it! Closet cosplays allow so much more creativity tbh. You have limited resources to work with, so you always end up with a cool unique design!

[@AnyaPanda]

OMG that's so cool! 🤩🤩🤩 And yes I agree! It's a fun challenge that really pushes your creativity, I love it. 😁

[@KieranIndigo-dw1yb]

Actually, I think I have the right things for a Tifa Lockhart from ff7! I wanna try that. Thanks for the video!

[@Marjorine1]

I used to be a closet cosplayer now I only sometimes I closet cosplayed shuichi and it made me so happy I don’t have the money for his outfit or wig so I dyed a wig it was really fun

[@calebbrown1068]

Thanks for talking about cosplays not needing to be 100% accurate. Been nervous to get my first up and off the ground as it's one that doesn't have much of a backlog of previous cosplayers. Sometimes 'finished' really is better than 'perfect'.

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

Two of my favourite/best cosplays are closet cosplays. I spent ages working on a Joker outfit for a con then didn't have anything for the other day so I used some purple shorts and a Hawaiian shirt to do a Killing Joke style Joker. I also keep coming back to my Ash Williams from Evil Dead (which is mostly from my closet, barring the chainsaw hand)

[@TillieThePoodle]

I am a closet cosplayer and personally I think sometimes it can be even more fun than normal cosplays (empathize the sometimes of course) as there's no pressure to purchase every little thing, and it can be really fun trying to challenge yourself to find something that suits the character you want to look like. Using makeup and lots of accessories really help add to it, and overall it's just really fun. It's great for beginners and also sometimes pros, too! I love closet cosplaying and I encourage anyone who wants to cosplay to do it, not just because it's cheap but it is also extremely creative. It's much easier as well to do, and you can do it sooner than most what would be considered "normal" cosplays! PS. I don't normally comment on videos, but this comment section seems really nice and I am really happy to have seen this video recommended for me. Thanks to anyone who sees this!

[@emilybonin1442]

When I first got into cosplay I did closet cosplays for misty and Serena from Pokémon. And now that I’m older I try to make most of my cosplays cause I like the feeling you get when finish it and right now I’m working on an attack on titan cosplay. Also a few months a ago I realized I could do a luz closet cosplay from the owl house because I have everything she wears

[@bluewolf.cosplay]

The cosplay community is actually mainly really nice, I've seen some people have encounters with people would would say stuff like "closet cosplay doesn't count" and they think the whole community is like that, there is a bad end, but for the most part it's a very welcoming and nice community. And to anyone who's worried to be judged for a closet cosplay, don't be, but if you are you could probably switch closet with "casual" or "modern" and those people won't say something

[@grellnoble1560]

Agree with you but same time isn’t that just doing what they want us to do instead of of do8ng what YOU want to do 😀☺️😍😉

[@vetkap1]

Ah yes closet cosplay my domain!! I have done 2 so far and planning on doing my 3rd closet cosplay or cosplay in general! It's so much fun

[@HarLey-uz5pe]

I really like your „style“ of making videos✨ It’s so calming🤗

[@kendallcooper1075]

i love when people do closet cosplays. i feel like there is a lot of creativity involved and i love seeing peoples different expression of characters!

[@grimla7883]

did a closet cosplay of nikki from love/shining nikki recently because i realised the wig i have was pretty much exactly her hair and shes the main character of a dress up game so it was rly simple to put her in things i kind of have and boom. nikki !

[@ashers.hangout]

I’m going to be spending ~$80 on an upcoming cosplay and I definitely don’t think I’m gonna only wear it to a con once!

[@MafiaGirlLovina]

My first cosplay was a closet cosplay. It was Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service. Literally the only reason why I did it was because it was easy and I didn't know how to sew yet. Honestly, one of the other cosplays I want to do was going to be a closet cosplay until I got put into a group cosplay of it. Sure, I still could do it, but I decided making it would be a lot better for us to match.

[@Percy_Of_The_Sea]

I really loved this and I totally agree that closet cosplays are valid especially for quick cosplays and cheap cosplays for those who just can't afford to buy or make their own.

[@prettydumbyetwinning8115]

not video related but I watched your chica makeup tutorial and ngl it helped me on my cosplay so tysm

[@AnyaPanda]

I'm so happy to hear that!! 🥰🙏🏻

[@MaxMallard]

Closet and charity cosplays are great fun. I once made an android glados cosplay out of an old school uniform. All I really had to buy was a wig and lab coat. (Face paint was a big help)

[@YamiKlaus]

I love this so much 💗 Alot of cosplayers stress and fear of not being "accurate". Cosplay is about creativity and everyone's cosplay is unique and has personal creative touches. If everyone had the same "accurate" cosplay it would be boring. The beauty of cosplay is seeing how each person interprets a character in their own style.

[@ColinStuart]

The eyebrows looked fantastic by the way!

[@BaiXue27]

i mostly cosplay things where closet cos doesn't really make sense but everyone should do what they want i also mostly cosplay things that only have very loose canon depictions (danmei novels, specifically) so yeah i will wear the same outfit 30 times for 4 different characters who's there to stop me

[@astero5124]

Perfect timing on the video! I've always been a bit of a perfectionist and cosplay for me was very much about the crafting aspect. Lately I signed up for a local contest and probably didn't give myself enough time, combine that with a busy and stressful time at school and you get a time crunch the day before the contest, dramatically ended when the wig refused to cooperate at the last moment. I didn't go to the event at all and got completely turned off from cosplay for some time. Now I'm trying to get back and decided to start small with a closet-ish cosplay (I bought some parts and still have to style the wig, but most main pieces are from my closet). My only "goal" is to have fun, look cool and forget about the upcoming exams for a while.

[@himawariuzumaki6814]

I like how you can get creative with closet cosplays ✨

[@thenavidreamwalker8885]

Yeah, I agree, and you also get hated upon for liking a fandom that isn’t the most popular. Like, I love James Cameron’s AVATAR (the blue people) and I get hated upon for that at conventions. I also like doing Rey (Star Wars), as that is a closet cosplay, and Lara Croft (Tomb Raider). I’m not much of a sewer, so that’s the next budget friendly option.

[@pastelricky]

I have seen people praise Disney Bounding and then shame Closet Cosplaying. It...It is basically the same thing? It is taking what you have to make a custom that fits the vibe of a character. So, I have just gotten back into cosplaying, and as a tall plus size person (AFAB, 5"8 almost 5"9, and 230 pounds) Finding actual cosplay that fits me is a nightmare. Not only is Closet Cosplay cheaper for me, it is also more accessible.

[@FreakyFurryCreations]

:0 I'm using stuff and doing an Elizabeth Afton cosplay too, she is one of my favorite FNaF characters! And I like to approve of closet cosplay because I don't have much money so I'm a closet cosplayer myself.

[@ThePlatypusPrincess]

The majority of my costumes are closet cosplays mainly because I either want to design a character as being more accessible for me (a lot of cosplay fabric can exacerbate my autistic sensory issues) or they already look very casual or I just want to out said character into a pretty dress I already have. It saves space, I don't have to do much work to alter items beyond paint (I can't sew well), and I can be sustainable in my approach. Will they be screen accurate? That's up to the person who sees me because I will personally interpret whatever I wear as being something that a character would wear. The outfits won't be as elaborate as a fully hand-sewn gown, but they'll be comfortable to wear, durable as they're made of everyday clothing, and mostly inexpensive and sustainable.

[@inky_plinky]

I love closet cosplays! Most of my cosplays are partial closet cosplays, where I get a wig specifically for that cosplay, but mainly use clothes and accessories from my own wardrobe while also occasionally making or buying specific parts that I find necessary to complete the look. Trying to create a completely accurate recreation of a character is cool and all, but I personally prefer to cosplay alternate versions of my favourite characters using items from my own everyday wardrobe, because I feel like it adds an extra personal touch to the cosplay, and I think that's fun! I also just love to think about what sort of outfits my favourite characters would wear if they existed in the real world and scour my closet for items that might fit their style.

[@klsmuddluvr]

I have a friend who barely repeats a cosplay and it kills me! Thank you for touching on the use of resources, cost and time we put into these things, we should reuse them. :)

[@klsmuddluvr]

Wanted to add I'm loving the fnaf cosplays, closet or not ;)

[@AnyaPanda]

@@klsmuddluvr Thank you so much! 🥰🐻🐥🦊🐰

[@KCallia]

I whipped up a Hinata Hyuga closet cosplay as my debut character back in 2008. At the time, I wasn't happy with it and was critical of its inaccuracies. Want to know what happened when I wore it to a con? People were happy to see me dressed as a beloved character, even asked for pictures. As a recovering perfectionist, it's important to recognize when you are putting unrealistic standards on yourself. Looking back, I could have been kinder to myself. The point of cosplay is to have fun!

[@TheMeteoDragoon]

Some anime cosplays are literally closet cosplays I.E. Getbackers and Bungo Stray Dogs have several outfits that could be done with stuff you normally have. I've done Ginji from Getbackers with only thing I had to get was a green vest. I even did a Humanoid Prinny Ala Fuka with stuff I had around the house.

[@ZoetatZtvideos]

I really like your cosplay

[@weeaboobaby]

One thing I really love about closet cosplays is seeing the different takes people have on one character. I’ve noticed that a lot of closet cosplayers rather than striving for accuracy dress up how they think a character would dress up and I think that’s super neat 😭💕

[@fizzycreamsouda1852]

This is so good and helpful! Thank you for inspiring us!☆♡◇

[@sp00kym0nster]

This was a cool video!! Also I never knew the definition for a closet cosplay, nor did I ever ask myself if that way of cosplaying was valid, I just kinda, excepted it. I mean, that's literally what I was going to do for a ken kanaki cosplay I'm planning for april lol! It should definitely be more widely excepted. It just seems so smart to do , especially when you don't have the money but still want to cosplay 👌😊

[@AnyaPanda]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video and that you were able to learn something new! 🥰

[@sp00kym0nster]

@@AnyaPanda yeye! ❤

[@XemeraldXD]

You are 100% right about this and i love it. Also do any of you in the comment section have suggestions for fun cosplay stuff you can do when you dont like posting on social media that much?

[@baralinni79]

When I started cosplaying I only posted one or two pics on dA to document them for myself, so posting on SoMe is absolutely not necessary if you don't want to! 💖 I have the most fun cosplaying with friends, so my friends and I have met up in cosplay for b-days, V-days, Halloweens, New Years', picnics, town events, you name it! Mostly we just hang out, those who want pictures get them and those who don't can just chill and eat snacks ✌ I'm lucky that some of my cosplay friends live only 1h away, but you can always make it work if everyone wants to 💖 If you don't have any cosplay friends near you you can try looking for fb groups based in your general area, just make sure you don't meet up with strangers alone 💖

[@AnyaPanda]

In lieu of social media, you could always make a cosplay scrapbook! I've started scrapbooking my cosplays and it's been a really fun exercise! I highly recommend getting a Polaroid printer to print out your cosplay photos and then put them in a journal and decorate the pages with stickers and washi tape. 😁

[@XemeraldXD]

@@AnyaPanda thats such a fun idea! I coincidentally already have a polaroid, ill definitely try that!

[@ravenclawsoul2635]

i did Kirishima from Mha as a closet cosplay and it was really fun. Also most of my original charathers are closet cosplays

[@grellnoble1560]

Completely agree not everybody has the skill ( myself included) to make stuff people can be nasty bout this stuff I remember my first cosplay I was late to the game maby 28 r so (iam 39 now ). My first cosplay was doll maker from arrow so I had a white shirt striped apron from my work. Black trousers red gloves ( to simulate blood ) and trainers for comphert. I all ready wear glasses oh and steampunk. Goggles so went to convention and a guy ho was a comic book artist. Said to me did you just come from work I wasent too happy ( autistic so couldn’t tell if he was joking or not) later found out he was and knew who I was. Now as days I just my costume and it works for me so yea thank you so much for saying it’s ok to just use stuff you have lying around really means a lot keep up the great work. 😊

[@ShaniFox]

Love this type of video where you take us through the whole process! :) also fun fact - gingers usually have white eyebrows actually (and eyelashes) but that would look really weird when done with make up of course X’D

[@Emithyst_mush]

Love your content

[@AnyaPanda]

Thank you! 🥰

[@ColinStuart]

This is from that 70 yr old wanna be Steampunk. I've been 24 years doing Rennaisance Faires, more years as an Old West reenactor> So I'm very used to being in front of people who don't understand where your coming from. Being closer to 100 than my 20's! Can't walk without a cane, or a walker, so pulling off something like this IS a true challenge! Costume stuff is almost all from what I've done in the past. It's just putting it together that'll be the hard part. Keep up the good work! What you provide is most helpful!

[@midorijewel9983]

closet cosplay is something easy to do especially if you need a plan B for anything, plus not all the time we have the budget to buy a new cosplay out of hand, and cosplay is for fun!

[@ghostofpolaris]

As someone who used to cosplay (I am too afraid to do so now since I gained weight due to medical issues), I have always worried about perfection and trying to look the most "Accurate" and it ruined cosplaying for me along with the fear of not doing a good enough job. Though truth be told, my original Link cosplay I did based off of Twilight Princess was just stuff I found at Goodwill and won an award at a con for it for creativity. With what it was like to cosplay back then versus now, it just makes me so afraid to get back into it. This video though is super sweet and I am glad to see these issues brought up on perfectionism and the idea of just having fun with it being addressed.

[@grellnoble1560]

Trust me I learned this too. If you’re. Ok wearing. It itsmok to do doesn’t matter about weight. Hight looks ect it’s how you feel that’s important. 😀☺️😍🥰

[@chacha_rouge]

Anya: closet cosplay is valid Me: *smashes like button* YOU TELL EM

[@52kirbys3]

Ahhh I love watching your videos! It always drag me down the "I really wanna make a cosplay instead of doing my homework" hole >o< I did a closet cosplay of Ayumu from Love Live a few weeks back and it was so much fun!! Side note for maybe a video idea: Tip/tricks/how to fix an old cosplay. I have an old cosplay that I love that needs a lot of fixing because I realized a lot of flaws when I wore it at a convention, but it's also overwhelming trying to fix all the stuff cause there's a lot. Either way, I LOVE YOUR WORK!! ❤

[@AnyaPanda]

Thank you so much for your support! 🥰🙏🏻 I've made some videos similar to that wherein I take existing cosplays and fix them to make them fit/look better; you can find them in one of my channel's playlists.

[@52kirbys3]

Will do!!! Thank you so much!!

[@wenningsradishes9040]

"Your eyebrows are always darker than your hair color" me a natural red head with blonde almost invisible eyebrows 😀

[@SeerOfTime577]

I see this video notification as I’m sitting in my Pepa Madrigal closet cosplay. Perfect timing, Anya!

[@AnyaPanda]

Ayyyy amazing! 😃🙌🏻

[@SeerOfTime577]

@@AnyaPanda Thanks!! Love your cosplay, too!

[@mebsheep4486]

I literally started one yesterday and then this video comes out today😂 I love your videos btw✨

[@AnyaPanda]

Thank you! 🥰

[@perzephone7482]

I always tought that closet cosplays are not validated enaugh and if you want to be a cosplayer you need to do a lot of new cosplays and most acurate. But know I realized I don't need to,especialy because hobby is so expencive. Thank you for bringung that up ❤️

[@kristalilithangel2238]

I've been cosplaying for 4-5 years and I still VERY much still do closet cosplays just because i don't have many "canon" outfits or much space to store them plus I mainly cosplayed from AOT mainly and that's just plain easy to just reuse the same outfits , as for other cosplays I literally bought from regular stores and still use it as normal clothes & reuse sooo many regular daily clothes for cosplays and it's always 100% valid and useful!

[@cosplay_kez3733]

Love this video iv been thinking about doing a few closet cosplays but think about the accuracy and whether it's worth it. I think I'm gonna commit and do one sod the accuracy it's about the fun

[@VivzPhobia]

I did my first closet cosplay today it was natsuki from ddlc!

[@LiliJGacha]

Hello! So you’ve mentioned that you have been a panelist at conventions? Can you do a video or reply on how to do that?

[@AnyaPanda]

It's basically like a school presentation; you pick a topic then make a PowerPoint to go with it. Then you can apply to conventions to present your panel, usually via their website.

[@toothfairy10133]

i cosplay a lot of non-humanoid characters so i like to do closet cosplay adjacent cosplays for them. i'll make new things, but then i'll be able to wear them out and about too. like i'm currently knitting a cardigan for my puppet fnaf cosplay, which i'm gonna wear with black clothes i already have, a mask which i'll fix to my hair and just so much makeup. with non-human cosplays, i like to go for an impression of the chararacter rather than trying to look identical to them. this is different to human characters, cause i tend to try my best to get everything perfect. i think that using a closet cosplay could be fun to try tho :) it opens up a lot of new possibilities, maybe if i straighten my hair i could pull off light yagami with the clothes i have

[@taylordaze9174]

Which red bow did you decide on??? 🤔

[@AnyaPanda]

Good eye! I ended up using a third one I stumbled across later.

[@muffy9271]

Tbh I rely on stuff in my closet for so many years since it's just useless in my eyes to get cosplays of a character that end up dusting for months when cons don't happen/I don't want to wear that exact one so I have my reasons There are things I plan to get some jumpsuit overalls which would be the only thing I would actually get for cosplay tbh. Like my Little Nightmares 2 Hunter is clothing from my wardrobe, RE2 remake Noir Leon? Closet, soon Joseph Oda, Leslie Withers, Laura Victoriano and Juli Kidman? Will be from regular clothing too!!! Even the Keeper is planned to have mainly clothes in my closet, but for the shade it's different since she wears only a bedsheet😂 But I don't get why cosplayers bash on people on social media who don't want to or can't buy/sew cosplays. I feel like doing it with stuff from the closet makes this even more creative for the person doing it It's 2022 and people should understand that cosplay is cosplay no matter how you do it

[@kaykay79]

I have zero sewing skills. So my cosplays are what I put together. I try not to go out and purchase premade costumes.

[@kaitlynmccormick1310]

What I like to do as an amateur sewer is use things in my closet or at a thrift store that are close enough or might need some adjusting and just turn it into what I want to cosplay. I literally can only sew very basic patterns and prefer foam building over sewing. It is such a pain for me to sit and do but adjusting works fine for me. Right now, I am doing Ranni from Elden Ring and I already had a vintage wedding dress that looks almost exactly like hers that Im just gonna modify slightly. No shame in reusing or just not making from scratch if you want to avoid it lol.

[@princessravendiamond4288]

In elementary school I did a closet cosplay of Sharpay from High School Musical for Halloween. I don't fully remember what I wore, I think it was like a regular shirt with jeans that had fancy stitching and plastic jewels on it plus my bff gave me the perfect scarf. It was like Sharpay style. I have brown hair but I didn't care, I was Sharpay in my mind. My bff at the time dressed as Gabriella and she had blonde hair. It was really fun and I didn't even know about cosplay at the time

[@alexgrant2602]

Great video I was thinking of doing a closet cosplay cus why not ? Sure u can buy one but make one take heart / thrifting

[@cocomuffy]

I cosplay pretty much exclusively Percy Jackson characters, and they all wear normal clothes, so I can pretty much closet cosplay whoever I want because my wardrobe is varied and I have the camp shirts lol- I literally have my first like full cosplay evolved from a closet cosplay pretty much. For the first bit I had: -Black Jeans - A random black shirt - A jacket from when it was winter - Boots And that was it. Nowadays I have a bit more because I went out and bought stuff to make it better: - The Same Black Jeans - A Black Wig - The Same T-Shirt ( But I fixed it up a bit so the paint doesn't look so bad- ) - A Jacket I found when my dad ran to GoodWill and I just came because I felt like it - That pair of Black boots It evolved like a- um i dont play pokemon- like a Pichu- Closet Cosplays are like the budding flower for full blown Cosplay.

[@Guusagi]

Hi! as a kid who couldn’t convince my mom for the life of me to buy cosplay, I always did closet cosplay! (A closet school uniform, a hetalia character, and my favorite matryoshka hoodie, yes the vocaloid song!) I would pick characters that had my hair color (wigs were so out of the question too) and find fitting clothes or buy a clothing item that I could wear daily. I bought my first cosplay before the pandemic, wig included but I ended up not liking wigs in the end and I just went without (the character was also blond lol!) all I did was try to copy their hairstyle :) Oh and it was Sonia Nevermind from Danganronpa 2!

[@mirabellegoldapfel6256]

Once upon a time I also did a new cosplay for very con, even every convention day and I felt that rewearing is lazy.. oh my. For myself I am actually preferring closet cosplays now.. or getting something from a normal store or sewing with good quality fabric after a good fitting pattern that fits the character I want to do but wear it just as a regular garment afterwards. My Sherlock great coat I made 10 years ago is still my regular super warm winter coat and will be until the moths eat it. It is also so cool to wear parts of the cosplay and feel like a bit of a casual cosplay in normal life. I just dug out a decade old Temari from Naruto dress that I made from linen bedsheets and wear it as a underlayer for any historic costumes I have and even for Lolita fashion. Because linen is the best. I work more on LARP costumes nowadays and doing those really upped my view on quality fabric, wearbility, comfort and detail. It's really special to me to wear a medieval shirt thats made out of handwoven wool, decorated with handmade lace that a friend of mine made and with buttons I swapped 3 conventions ago. Also hand sewn. And these clothes get through the wringer, lol.

[@RadEmpoleon]

This is really random, but I like how the camera went back into focus after you showed the makeup products

[@harleyscorner6997]

yay I'm early!!! ❤

[@NormalWinterFox]

That’s how I used to cosplay when I was a minor. Didn’t have sewing skills nor the money to buy a cosplay. It was fun cause I had to get creative

[@silverstrike1575]

As an Indiana Jones cosplayer the first jacket I wore for it until I got a new better one was this brown leather blazer I already had in my closet and that will become a staple for me like I'm the guy who does Indy every year

[@pinkkiwicosplay]

i try to always do closet cosplays before putting in the effort and money into making a full cosplay just to kind of test and see if i really want to cosplay that character

[@Ray-Books]

IS THAT A CHUUYA WIG IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE INTRO??

[@AnyaPanda]

YES!

[@dorkthings]

Other than wigs all my cosplays (around 8 and counting not including retired and one off cosplays) are closet cosplays

[@Rice..c0s]

Cool! I’ll tag you in my Sundrop

[@Kenma003]

I only have two cosplays and they are both 'closet cosplays' and I'm gonna get another wig and use some of the clothes I already have since they fit the character