Convention Fans

Sometimes it seems like the ladies really dominate the whole cosplay community/scene. But, the male cosplayers are out there, and I recently found a really great one to interview! Cosplay.com member Allspice has costumes from multiple genres, including Disney, anime, video games, and even board games (and he’s definitely one of the best Prince Phillip cosplayers I have ever seen!) . So take a look at the interview below, and check out this guy’s great cosplays!

Allspice, how old were you when you attended your first convention?

Allspice: I was fourteen, but at the time had never cosplayed before!

How did you get into cosplay?

Allspice: My friends practically drug me along into their cosplay group. I reluctantly agreed, but after the experience, I was hooked! It was so much fun!

Are you a self taught costumer, or did you have someone teach you to sew, etc.?

Allspice: I would hardly call myself “Self Taught” though a lot of my experience came through fiddling around. My Grandmother and Mother both sew, and so I grew up watching them go to town on a machine. I learned all the basic functions of a machine this way, ,and so when I decided to learn, this knowledge made it much easier to pick up the skill. Even today I’ll still go to one of them if I have costume issues to fix. Haha!

How long do your costumes usually take to make?

Allspice: Hm, that’s a hard question. Usually I hate to work too much at one time, so I disperse the effort over months of fiddling. However, I have on occasion just done a complete outfit in a sitting, but my costumes range from 12 hours to 4 months usually.

How much money do your costumes usually cost to make?

Allspice: It really depends on the costume. Some costumes that can be constructed from simple cottons don’t cost much at all (Like my Wakka outfit) however, those that require more luxurious fabrics can eat the budget. I’d say anywhere from $80-250 would cover my scope of budgeting.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to cosplay?

Allspice: Take baby steps! Nobody’s first costume is perfect, especially if you make it yourself, so I would suggest starting off with a simpler costume. But more importantly, always remember: Cosplay is for FUN! Don’t ever take it so seriously that it loses this entertainment value.

Which costume was the hardest to make?

Allspice: Oooh…I’d have to say that Mythos was the hardest to create. Making super poofy sleeves is QUITE the challenge for someone as inexperienced as myself. But it was a great learning experience.

How do you decide which characters to cosplay?

Allspice: Well a lot of factors go into it, first and foremost, whether or not I look like them. This isn’t ALWAYS a deciding factor, but at minimum I prefer to cosplay characters that have similar body types to myself. Really the most fun cosplays are those that you really can transform into. I try to pick a variety of characters to show that I’m not a one trick horse.

Where you get your wigs from, and what products do you use to style them?

Allspice: In half of my cosplays, I use my real hair. This is for convenience, and so it looks more natural. I love picking characters that I can use my real hair for! But generally if I buy a wig I get it from Cosworx, and I use a variety of Got2B products to style them!

Given male cosplayers tend to be fewer than female cosplayers, do you find yourself getting extra attention at conventions and online?

Allspice: Without a doubt, yes. I think this is because girls maybe get tired of seeing crossplayers, and are relieved to realize they can actually heterosexually enjoy a photo or something.

Do you make your own patterns, or do you modify existing ones?

Allspice: Lol I still can’t even read patterns. I sometimes use a sleeve pattern for my clothes, but generally speaking, I make up my own.

What do your friends and family think of your cosplay hobby? Are they accepting?

Allspice: It’s actually kinda weird. My grandmother thinks it’s cool, my parents think it’s just a phase, and my friends…well. I have two general circles of friends, and neither of them really know about my “Other life.” Half of them are only aware of the Cosplaying, gamer, nerdy, sewing side of me, while the other half are only acquainted with the theatric dancer in varsity choir.

What keeps you motivated when a costume becomes really difficult to get finished?

Allspice: Haha, this might be an awful answer, but the pictures. I love to model, so even before I START a cosplay, I think about cool pictures that I could take once the costume is completed. This inspiration is my motivation to finish those tricky costumes!

Thanks again to Allspice for sharing some of his cosplay experience! You can view more of his costumes at his Cosplay.com profile. If you know of a cosplayer who has amazing costumes, post a link! They could be interviewed next! You can read more cosplayer interviews here!

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