Costuming and cosplay have common roots, but branch out into different venues. Both entail research, design, and creating outfits out of the norms of contemporary fashion. Costuming is distinctive in style, most people associate it with the theatre or with Halloween. It actually refers to any mode of particular dress: cultural, of a certain period in history, or characteristic of a certain country. Cosplay takes costuming one step further as those wearing the costume roleplay, taking in the character of their costume as a type of performance art; for instance, those who dress in Star Trek costumes and attend a convention while immersing themselves wholly in the character that they are costumed for.
References
Fashion Museum: Historical and contemporary clothing, including the 2009 dress of the year. The museum is located in Bath, England and is open every day except Christmas.
Milieux Resources: Costuming links that include historical research, design, and organizations dealing with costumers who need historical/science fiction/fantasy costuming information.
History of the Costume: Pictorial review of costuming through the ages from ancient Egypt through the late 16th century.
The Clothesline Journal: Academic journal discussing such papers as the "Misconceptions about Historic Costumes."
Everything Fashion: What fashion is, tutorials, trends, patterns, costume history, social history, image and wardrobe planning, couture, and fashion era design. Over 755 pages of fashion on one site.
Ethnic & Folk Costume
Middle Eastern Dance: Costuming for dancers from the headpieces to veils, jewelry, and shoes.
African Dress: Afrocentric clothing and textile links for Africa and The African Diaspora.
Indian Costumes: Focuses on the regional differences of the sari, but explores other Indian costuming.
European/Western Costume History: Links to ancient, medieval, renaissance, Elizabethan, 17th through 20th century costumes and dress.
Eastern Europe/Siberia: National Russian basic costumes, including clothing from Siberia.
North and South American Costumes: Traditional costumes from the United States, Mexico and Central and South America.
Pacific Islands: Clothing that depicts the cultures and traditions of the Pacific Islands, specifically the Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands.
Period Costuming: Design and construction of renaissance and other 12th through 16th century clothing.
Images in Costuming: Medieval through contemporary clothing depicted through artwork and patterns.
Theatrical, Performance, and Cosplay
Motley Collection: Theatre and costume design from the library of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. An extensive collection ranging from production notes to specific performance and theatre information and costume images.
Bedazzled: Figure skating costume history.
Designing Stage Costumes: Making stage costumes, plus links on costuming for the stage.
Mardi Gras Costumes: Pictures of 21st century carnival and Mardi Gras costumes from Fat Tuesday.
Top 10 Worst Figure Skating Costumes: Time Magazine's all-time worst skating costuming include furry, chiffon, and sequin costumes that exhibit some of figure skating's poorest taste.
What is cosplay?: Japanese term meaning "costume play" which in the United States extends mostly to anime and manga.
Cosplay Anime Links: Japanese and Western Cosplay Anime and Masquerade links.
Organizations for Costumers
The Costume Society: Organization dedicated to promoting clothing and textile study. Encourages access to costume history.
Costume Designers Guild: Established in 1953 to "promote the research, artistry and technical expertise in the field of film and television Costume Design."
International Costumer's Guild, Inc.: Promotes costuming as an art form around the world for amateur, hobbyist and professional costumers.
Events & Conventions for Costumers
Anime Conventions: News for anime convention planners, including schedules and events.
Western Anime Conventions: Links to Asian, North American, European, and Oceanian conventions in listed in alphabetical order.
Carnival, Mardi Gras, & Such
New Orleans Mardi Gras: Arguably the world's most famous celebration counts down to the next Mardi Gras and introduces the major participants with parade routes. Includes history and traditions of the Fat Tuesday party.
Carnival Around the World: Thinkquest explaining how Carnival is celebrated in Rio de Janiero, Bolivia, Spain, Venice and the Caribbean Islands.
Belly Dancing: Costume design ideas, book reviews, history and articles about belly dancing.
Classes & Schools
The Costume Classroom: Online costuming, fashion history and sewing classes.
Fashion Schools: Theatrical and costume design schools, career and salary information.
Instructions & Techniques
Blackwork: Embroidery design for Elizabethan costuming (Western Europe).
Elizabethan Costume Technique: Patterns, construction, underpinning, portraits, detailing and decoration. Also makeup and history. Extensive links.
Lord of the Rings Costume Instruction: Research project includes costume design, pictures by character and race, even how to make LOTR hands and feet.
Costuming Bits and "How Tos": Patterns and instruction how to make mostly 19th century costuming. Fairly extensive.
Star Trek Uniform Guide: Uniform instruction for Starfleet uniforms from the original Star Trek to Enterprise.
Do It Yourself
Patterns: Retro pattern links include active wear and dance patterns.
http://www.startrekuniformguide.com/index2.html
DIY Costume Tutorials: Includes costuming for dogs and those who are disabled. Extensive links.
Costume Zone: Lots of ideas for costumes: make a sandwich, find costumes just by looking in your closet, browse photos for ideas and how not to make the world costume ever.
Halloween Costume Inspiration & Ideas
Costume Ideas: Printable costume ideas with makeup for kids and adults.
Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas: Simple, funny Halloween costumes like wrapping yourself in a bag to be a gift to someone.
Written by Michael S. Atwood