On Costuming and Creating

I had the opportunity to sit down with a great group of amazingly fun and creative ladies in Minneapolis that have become friends through their shared love of  costuming. Natasha, Brooke, Jenn, and Emily Chesley (of mches.com or you can follow her on Facebook). Photo credits belong to Jenn.

GB: What do you like about costuming?

Brooke: I’ve loved costuming as long as I can remember. I blame my mother’s costume collection for school musicals.

Emily: As an introvert, costuming allows me to be more than myself. Escape flaws maybe – let the extrovert inside free. Its a great icebreaker. I also enjoy the design aspect; I enjoy designing and research. And everyone loves helping other cosplayers. Minneapolis is a special community. Minneapolis is super nerd-centric and has a high concentration of Anglophiles. 

Brooke: People are willing to help each other out and you can find really good friends. The willingness of people to dress up is great. Like, hey here’s a random theme party – dress up! Its a dream come true to be in a cosplay group. Its something I never thought would happen. Now that I’m in five – its a little unbelievable. 

GB: What’s your favourite costume or character that you’ve cosplayed? 

Emily: Victorian Lady Sherlock. Its the most striking and it draws the most attention.

Brooke: My 9th Doctor. The Victorian Lady Doctors was the first big cosplay group I was a part of. I spent hours and literally blood, sweat, and tears. Its an 1860s silhouette, the bonnet causes headaches and the skirt doesn’t fit through doors, but its so worth it!

Jenn: Black Widow. I made it in a month! The Black Widow emblem on the belt was the hardest part and it was my first experience with leather work. Its my first costume that had people ask to take pictures with me.

Natasha:  I’m most pleased with the Victorian Tardis. It took a lot of work. I can stand anywhere and be silent and it gets recognized. Its a cosplay that doesn’t require any acting!

These ladies are an inspiration to me. They embody the joyful spirit of creativity and sheer joy that is the entire creative process of “Oh, wouldn’t this be a fun costume!” All they way through the design, hard work, and thrill of showing off a cosplay for the first time.

Do you know any great cosplayers? What inspires you to create? Does your costuming group have some great projects you’d like to share? We want to hear all about them!

Jody “Goldberry Riverdaughter” Boyce

“Goldberry Riverdaughter” has been her friends’ and families’ resident book nerd since reading the Tao of Pooh at age eight. Since then her literary exploration has lead her straight to Lord of the Rings where she’s made her home. In addition to a staff reporter for Legendarium, she also runs Hells Hobbits. She has a degree in History, as well as a new-found penchant for disassembling literary canon. She lives with her equally nerdy husband and two gigantic cats enjoying table top games & cosplay.