First things first:
- Remember
cosplay is just a hobby. Do not ruin yourself, do not stress out of measure yourself!

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Do not be ashamed or afraid to start a cosplay: Yes, you will fail some things. Even the best cosplayers had to start somewhere. The important is to improve at your own rythm!

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Stay humble: Yes, there will always be a better cosplay than the one you desperately worked on for months. Try to analyse what you find better in the other cosplay to improve it in your next projects.

- Do not be afraid to
be creative: no, it's not a disaster if other cosplayers choose a different fabric, a different sewing pattern... Cosplay is for fun!!!

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Don't chew more than you can handle: first try small cosplay: you will be disappointed and frustrated if you start by a ultra complex project. Take the time to train and improve at your own rythm!

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Take your time: do not start your first project one week before the convention! Take the time to do your project carefully and precisely.

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Web is your friend: there are endless tutorials available on web!

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Test test test: materials are expensive: test with cheap fabrics or cheap materials your patterns. Don't forget to try your cosplay before the convention to avoid nasty surprises.

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Cosplay what you like: it doesn't matter if it's a ultra famous character or a character nobody knows. Do what you want how you want!

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Money Money Money: do not buy everything at once. Divide your cosplay into several small projects (example: the corset, the skirt, the hair...): it will keep you from killing your savings. Buying materials during promotions or discount will help you a lot too!
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Useful Mangaraiders cosplay topics: I will update our
cosplay tutorial topic and our recommanded
cosplay shops list with lots of useful links I've found through the years.
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Ebay and Aliexpress will be essential for wigs and stuff like beads: choose carefully the shops by reading buyers reviews. Do not hesitate to check on google the shop reviews!