Convention Fans

Halloween is about a month away, which means a half dozen Halloween stores have probably sprung up in your neighborhood. If you have always wanted to wear a costume to a convention, but lack the sewing skills or money to have something amazing, picking up a pre-made costume from the local Halloween store can be pretty tempting. However, some hardcore cosplayers look down on Halloween costume cosplayers. They think you should find a way to make a costume yourself, or not bother.

There’s also a concern that someone may enter a costume contest with a costume they didn’t make themselves. Clearly there are several pros and cons to picking up a pre-made Halloween costume and wearing it to a convention, and here at Convention Fans we’ve put them into a nice little list so you can make an informed decision.

The Pros of Wearing a Halloween Costume to a Fandom Convention

1. There are numerous officially licensed Halloween costumes from the big fandoms, including Star Trek, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Watchmen, Pirates of the Caribbean, and various anime series like Naruto. You can easily find costumes for the specific character your looking for, and it will (usually) closely resemble the original. Basically, you can buy everything you need in one bag, and people should recognize your character instantly.

2. Halloween costumes don’t require much time to get together. No sewing. No fabric shopping. None of that. It all comes pre-assembled and ready to go.  The most you’d need to do would be applying make up, and there are easy kits for that kind of thing as well. If you want a costume you can just throw on without much of a time investment, a Halloween costume is an ideal option.

3. In some instances, a Halloween costume can be a lot cheaper than commissioning one from a costume professional, or even making it yourself. This isn’t always the case, but a lot of Halloween costumes will run you less than $100. There are deluxe versions that can cost more than that, but most are below the $100 mark. By the time you buy materials and supplies/tools to make your own costume, you can definitely go above $100. Not to mention you have to calculate what your time is worth.

The Cons of  Wearing a Halloween Costume to a Fandom Convention

1. You can’t (or shouldn’t) enter cosplay or costume contests at a fandom convention if you’re wearing a Halloween costume. Costume contests are about honoring skill, hard work, and creativity. So if you didn’t make your costume, and bought one from a Halloween store, you shouldn’t enter a convention’s costume contest. Really you shouldn’t claim you made it ever, even in a casual setting. That’s just a big “no no”.

2. Halloween costumes don’t last very long. If you made your own costume and used quality materials, you can probably expect your costume to last for multiple conventions over a span of quite a few years. However, Halloween costumes are usually meant to be worn a handful of times at the very most. After one or two cleanings (and please clean it), it may not be in one piece anymore.

3. Related to number two is that Halloween costumes tend to look cheap. It is usually pretty easy to spot a Halloween costume at a convention, because that awful polyester is noticeable even from across the vendor hall. Don’t expect to get compliments about your $40 Halloween store purchase at a convention. You may even get a few heckles, which isn’t very nice, but we’ve seen it happen.

If you are still interested in getting a Halloween costume for an upcoming convention, there are a few I can recommend. I’ve seen these costumes in person, and while they are still Halloween costumes, they aren’t really all that bad.

Halloween Costumes Recommended by Convention Fans

Star Trek 2009 Uhura Halloween Costume

Watchmen Silk Spectre II Adult Costume

Rocky Horror Picture Show Frank-N-Furter Adult Costume

Deluxe Adult and Teen Naruto Jacket

Adult Pirates of the Caribbean Elizabeth Pirate Deluxe Costume

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