Cosplay Care

[Katie]

I just found out something really interesting last weekend. If you have a costume piece that is silk and you need to wash it, use horse shampoo. Yes thats right horse shampoo.

I had lent one of my mishiyuki (kimono jacket) to a friend and she got something all over it so Storm and I had to get it out and Storm brought out mane and tail horse shampoo. It worked really well. Just make sure that when you wash something thats silk you do it in a flat space, like a bathtub, with just enough water to submerge the garment. Gently work the shampoo into the areas that need it the most, then let the water drain and rinse the garment thouroughly to get all the soap out. Let it dry in the tub for a while then wrap it up in one or more towels to get most of the excess water off. Then place it somewhere flat where it can dry.

[.:.Hideyo.:.]

Wow...I would have never thought of that...It's like using carpent cleaner on cotton ans things like that, it takes the stains out like magic...

I have a question, for this year, I'm having Feathered wings, How would I get them there with minimal damage?

[Katie]

I'd put them in a bag then place them between two pieces of cardboard, tape the cardboard together and lay them on top of something.

[.:.Hideyo.:.]

*nods*
OkaY! I'll do that...

[Himeko]

Ok Morgan has a tiny issue with how to transport her wedding dress costume. How do I get it there without it being damaged or the feathers on the hem of the and train not to fall off?

[Katie]

I usually transport my costumes in garment bags that way if anything does come off it won't be lost. Lay it ontop of everything. You may have to look around to find a big one though. Once you get it to the hotel take it out of the bag and hang it up put a chair or stool underneath the train so that it doesn't get all wrinkley being crammed totally in the closet.

[Himeko]

I usually transport my costumes in garment bags that way if anything does come off it won't be lost. Lay it ontop of everything. You may have to look around to find a big one though. Once you get it to the hotel take it out of the bag and hang it up put a chair or stool underneath the train so that it doesn't get all wrinkley being crammed totally in the closet.

*hugs Katie* thank you I'll have to look for a garment bag cause I don't have one XD

[orenn]

So, do most of you take your costume up to the Con, then change into it in your hotel room?  I couldnt imagine packing up my costume, Id be to worried!  (o_O)  I just wore mine on the way up to the con last year!

qsefthuko

[.:.Hideyo.:.]

*hugs Katie* thank you I'll have to look for a garment bag cause I don't have one XD

Or You can give me your costumes and save yourself some money And I'll get it there
I have a garmet bag, for dance, but is awesome for cosplay and costumes

[Himeko]

Or You can give me your costumes and save yourself some money And I'll get it there
I have a garmet bag, for dance, but is awesome for cosplay and costumes

*debates* to trust Hideyo with my $200 costume? Hmm I'll have to think that one over XD Actually we do have a garment bag my dad used them in the military for his uniforms

[Katie]

So, do most of you take your costume up to the Con, then change into it in your hotel room?  I couldnt imagine packing up my costume, Id be to worried!  (o_O)  I just wore mine on the way up to the con last year!

qsefthuko

I think a lot of us have more than one costume for the weekend.

So for me they usually they go to the con in a garment bag. After I get all checked in and all convention stuffs settled then I change into costume to run around.

[orenn]

hmm, yeah, I hadnt really thought about that.  heck, where do you guys get the kind of money to afford more than one costume, AND all the expenses that go with NDK?!  CRAZY!

qsefthuko

[Himeko]

hmm, yeah, I hadnt really thought about that.  heck, where do you guys get the kind of money to afford more than one costume, AND all the expenses that go with NDK?!  CRAZY!

qsefthuko

get on your hands and knees and beg your parents XD That's what I do they pay for EVERYTHING XD And then they refuse to buy me stuff for the rest of the year

[Katie]

hmm, yeah, I hadnt really thought about that.  heck, where do you guys get the kind of money to afford more than one costume, AND all the expenses that go with NDK?!  CRAZY!

qsefthuko

This is where most of my money goes, but getting stuff cheap helps a lot too, coupons are my best friends and going out of buisness/closeout sales. As for the NDK expenses the only thing I have to worry about is the dealers room, probably the only thing that eats more money than my cosplays. Since I work NDK my badge and stuffs are already paid for. ^.^

Another thing about cosplay care hem or serge inside edges. That way your costume won't fray all over you when you wear it or wash it.

[orenn]

get on your hands and knees and beg your parents XD That's what I do they pay for EVERYTHING XD And then they refuse to buy me stuff for the rest of the year

haha, Ill have to try this!  im always to nervous to as my parents or money....  they are not big supporters of my anime "obsession" and thus, are not big supporters of the convention...  When I was working on my costume, my dad kept asking "Your not really gonna wear that in PUBLIC are you?!"  (^_^) anyway, sorry for wandering off topic there...  Ill stop, lol!

qsefthuko 

[MagRowan]

This is where most of my money goes, but getting stuff cheap helps a lot too, coupons are my best friends and going out of buisness/closeout sales. As for the NDK expenses the only thing I have to worry about is the dealers room, probably the only thing that eats more money than my cosplays. Since I work NDK my badge and stuffs are already paid for. ^.^

Another thing about cosplay care hem or serge inside edges. That way your costume won't fray all over you when you wear it or wash it.

Two words for fraying edges and ribbons: Fray Check.  Excellent, quick, only down side is that it stiffens the edge of the fabric when it dries into it.  But works wonders to keep ribbons and such from coming apart at the ends.

[Katie]

Two words for fraying edges and ribbons: Fray Check.  Excellent, quick, only down side is that it stiffens the edge of the fabric when it dries into it.  But works wonders to keep ribbons and such from coming apart at the ends.

I just burn the edges of any ribbons I have on costumes. As long as they're a synthetic material they should melt and then you dont have to worry about them ever again. ^.^

[Rosie]

I use clear nail polish to keep ribbons from fraying. Works on pantyhose too!

I have a tip for wearing long wigs: Keep it tied together! This will save you a LOT of hassle. I had to learn this the hard way: Last year, Princess Serenity was one of my costumes, and my wig had 48" ponytails. They were a tangled mess in 5 minutes and it took me literally 2 hours to fix it when I got home. So this year I'm keeping my long wigs tied in ribbon and only taking them out for pictures.

[.:.Hideyo.:.]

*note*
My sister wanted to as Bring a tide to go pen You never know when you'll need one X_X

[Storm]

Tissue paper is your friend. Especially if you are flying or otherwise have to pack tightly. Lay your costume out as smooth and flat as possible and lay slightly crunched tissue paper on top. Loosely roll it up in the same direction as the drape of the fabric. That generally means side to side. Then you can fold it to pack in a suitcase without getting sharp wrinkles. If you can travel with a garment bag but you will have to fold it or have long trailing parts that will have to fold into the bottom of the bag, you can layer tissue paper between garments and roll the long edges into the bottom of the bag.
Large quantities of white tissue paper can be acquired at places like BigLots, Michael's, HobbyLobby and XPedX.
Don't use colored paper as the color will come out all over everything if it gets the least bit wet. Even shower steam can cause the color to bleed out.