General Cosplay Resources
No doubt if you found this, then you're already aware of Anime League's Cosplay Home section, but do not underestimate asking in the forum (or the chat), as most likely someone else has experienced before the same thing with which you need help.
http://www.animeleague.net/forum/for...osplay-Central
Want to find an anime character with the right hair length or colour? There are some databases online with which you can search for characters by their features and characteristics.
http://www.anime-planet.com/characters/
http://www.animecharactersdatabase.com/
A large collection of guides and tutorials to assist cosplayers with creating costumes, props, make-up, and all things cosplayers may need to know.
http://www.cosplaytutorial.com/
Cosplay Gen Magazine's collection of various cosplay related tutorials and guides.
http://www.cosplaygen.com/category/diy/
Cosplay Supplies is a US based stockist of, surprisingly, cosplay supplies. But they also have a pretty extensive index of guides for pretty much everything related to cosplay.
http://www.cosplaysupplies.com/tutorials.php?id=0
The Instrutables site is a good place to start searching for general tutorials on making....pretty much
anything!
http://www.instructables.com/
London-based chain of art shops (now with branches in Bristol and Glasgow) which offer quality products at a low price. They have a good collection of craft materials as well as quality paints for those prop and armour projects. Vouched for by @
HowieHobbit .
http://www.cassart.co.uk
Although not necessarily your cheapest source for crafting products, they stock a good collection. Certainly helpful for those emergency supply purchasing trips for last minute work if you have one of their stores near you. Look our for their special offers which can be rather excellent. Vouched for by @
HowieHobbit .
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk
Your online market places for just about buying anything. Take what you see on there with a pinch of salt though, as results can be a bit hit and miss with wrong photos on listings, as well as annoyingly small Asian sizing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/
http://www.aliexpress.com/
http://www.lightinthebox.com/
Wigs
Wig tutorials from Cosplay Tutorial.
http://cosplaytutorial.com/list/wigs.php
A collection of video tutorials on styling, shaping, and cutting wigs.
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/tutorials/wigs-and-pieces/
Short wikiHow guide on how to look after your wig.
http://www.wikihow.com/Protect-and-Care-for-a-Wig
If you're looking for a wig shop based in the UK, look to Coscraft which can delivery quickly if you are short on time. @
HowieHobbit ordered a wig and had it delivered within one week of a con.
http://www.coscraft.co.uk/
Make Up
A selection of tutorials for doing your make up at Cosplay Tutorial.
http://cosplaytutorial.com/list/basicmakeup.php
http://cosplaytutorial.com/list/sfxmakeup.php
If you don't like the more readily available face paints or find them too oily, then Stargazer might have what you're after. Supplying high quality make-up of an alternative kind, you can find body paints, powders & more traditional make-up products, which are likely to be a lot kinder to your skin than traditional "fancy dress" face paints. Vouched for by @
Avalien .
https://www.stargazer-products.com/
Decent selection of cosmetic contact lenses, to add that extra level of detail to your cosplay. Reasonable prices & quick, free delivery in the UK, make this a very good site to bookmark. Vouched for by @
Avalien .
http://www.beautifeye.co.uk/
If you are in the London area and are desperate for coloured contact lenses, then look no further, as this company offers same-day collection from their warehouse in SW19 (if the item is in stock). Used by @
HowieHobbit when he forgot he needed to change eye colour for a con the next day!
http://www.lenstore.co.uk/coloured-contact-lenses
Eyesbright are based in the UK and offer reasonable postage at £2.99, or free delivery on orders over £30.00. They ship internationally and the free delivery offer on orders of over £30.00 apply to international postage too.
http://www.eyesbright.com/
If painting facial hair on isn't authentic enough for you, then this site will assist here. Theatrical quality beards, moustaches & more made from high quality, human hair. These look very realistic, but authenticity comes at a price. Vouched for by @
Avalien and @
Coyle77 .
http://www.beardsandmoustaches.co.uk/
Garments
This is a useful video tutorial for making a body form to model your garments.
@
Time4Tea has the following pro tip for you guys: "
I'd recommend underarms BEFORE doing the shoulders. And to get more detail for the body form, use smaller pieces of tape. I also used a coat-hanger, not a stand."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x--8bbDFR3U
Kimonos, and similar items of clothing, are very common across a lot of anime and manga. So here is a guide on how to make your own from scratch. As clothing goes, kimonos are relatively easy to make once you've learned the basics of sewing.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/shibata/Kimono.html
Leaning to sew? The Sewing Directory has collated around 100 of the best sewing tutorials together and linked them from this page.
http://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/...-useful-links/
Amber's Beginner's Guide To Sewing Cosplay is a good resource for various aspects of cosplaying sewing. Thanks @
Ahri for spotting this.
http://youcancosplay21.tumblr.com/po...sewing-cosplay
Tutorial of basic hand stitches for those who want to avoid sewing machines like the plague. Thanks to @
Ahri again for this.
http://taeliac.deviantart.com/art/Tu...ches-169971905
Based in the United States, McCall's sells sewing patterns and ships internationally. They have a good selection of costume patterns which can be used as they are or modified slightly if you are looking to try and make your own.
http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/costumes-pages-915.php
Armour
A lot of tutorials on here from Japanese cosplayer Gyakuyoga. Helpful for picking up techniques for similar pieces of armour props, and using them to make your own versions. @
HowieHobbit definitely recommends having a look into this even just out of interest.
http://www.gyakuyoga.com/
A tutorial for making Elf armour based on the battle of Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings, but the techniques described here can be used to make any sort of armour out of craft foam.
http://entropyhouse.com/penwiper/cos...helmsdeep.html
A good collection of armour making tutorials using low-tech techniques, and relatively cheaper materials.
http://amethyst-angel.com/armormaking.html
A guide on how to make armour from worbla from Cosplay Gen magazine.
http://www.cosplaygen.com/how-to-work-with-worbla/
If you are after craft foam for prop building, then you could try ordering from Panel Systems. They offer quick and free delivery, with the only downside being that you'll be ordering in bulk. However, why not club together with a few cosplay-minded friends, and split the cost? Compared to high street and online craft stores, this works out a lot cheaper. Vouched for by @
Avalien .
http://shop.panelsystems.co.uk/craftfoam.html
Props and Accessories
A lot of tutorials on here from Japanese cosplayer Gyakuyoga. Helpful for picking up techniques for similar pieces of armour props, and using them to make your own versions. @
HowieHobbit definitely recommends having a look into this even just out of interest.
http://www.gyakuyoga.com/
If you are after craft foam for armour or prop building, then you could do a lot worse than order from Panel Systems. They offer quick and free delivery, with the only downside being that you'll be ordering in bulk. However, why not club together with a few cosplay-minded friends, and split the cost? Compared to high street and online craft stores, this works out a lot cheaper. Vouched for by @
Avalien .
http://shop.panelsystems.co.uk/craftfoam.html
Useful Blogs
Firewolf826 presents her own selection of guides covering many aspects of cosplay, including how to work with various materials.
http://firewolf826.tumblr.com/tagged/tutorial
Cosplay Blog...with a Brain! puts together various cosplay related posts, with some pretty good tutorials too.
https://cosplaybrain.wordpress.com/
Cosplay Blog is a daily blog of cosplay updates. Most of the posts are photoshoots of cosplayers, but may give you some ideas for your own cosplays and photoshoots.
http://cosplayblog.tumblr.com/
Useful Videos
A selection of useful cosplay related tutorials from Rexluna Cosplay's YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...xFQrtnkcDY1sij
A selection of useful cosplay related tutorials from KamuiCosplay's YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...n5A7qdKI4lP1zi
Photographers
Real Time Events photography were at LAGC in February 2015 and provided many cosplayers with pretty amazing shots. They are amenable to organising shoots. Contact them for more information. Vouched for by @
HowieHobbit .
http://www.realtimeevents.co.uk/
Our very own @
TPJerematic has a portfolio of his work. Contact him if you're interested.
http://www.animeleague.net/forum/sho...lio-of-Awesome
http://tpjerematic.deviantart.com/
Food and Cosplay - a regular fixture at cons - has a good portfolio of cosplay photos. Contact to arrange shoots if interested.
https://www.facebook.com/FoodAndCosplay
AM Photography - an associate photography for Food and Cosplay - also does shoots as well. Again, contact if interested in arranging shoots.
https://www.facebook.com/AMT0g
Zerox Photography is based in the Oldham / Manchester area. Available to be contacted for shoots.
https://www.facebook.com/ZeroxPhotography.TimRoberts
Ga Chun Yau, our very own @
GaryPow3rs , is a great photographer for shoots at cons. Great at directions if you need any inspiration for poses. Vouched for by @
HowieHobbit .
https://www.facebook.com/GCYPhotography/
Robert John Parker visits cons, and is more than willing to take a few snaps of you on request. Really friend and approachable. Vouched for by @
HowieHobbit .
https://www.facebook.com/robertjohnparker.photographer/
