new, better, more - the problem with the cosplay community

2021.

I bought my first cosplay, well my mom bought it. A Hatsune Miku cosplay, secondhand. The wig was a mess, but the outfit fit me perfectly. I wore it for Halloween, didn’t know conventions were a thing, and there was the lockdown. Sure it wasn’t the best, sure it wasn’t expensive, or special in any way, but I was proud and happy to have it. 

2022.

Didn’t cosplay for a while. Don’t ask me why. I only cosplayed once the whole year, for a local convention that held their con for the first time. First time I personally saw other cosplayers. Filmed a "shake my hand in character" video, first TikTok I posted, got over 225k views.

2023. 

Started to 'actually' cosplay. The local convention was coming up, and suddenly I felt the need to buy a new cosplay. It wasn’t thought through. Bought the only cosplay that would arrive on time before the con. Didn’t fit me at all, held together with a hairtie and a dream. 

2024.

Went to my first big convention. Saw so many talented and beautiful cosplayers. And of course I felt the need for new cosplays. New, better, more. So I bought a cosplay from someone I knew but wouldn’t call a friend. It smelled like cigarettes, and was broken at some points, the wig was no better. Didn’t even like the character that much. Then another cosplay. And the next. Just one more. Tried a closet cosplay with a wig I already had. Bought a cosplay for Halloween, wouldn’t arrive on time, so I had to buy another cosplay. 

Actually I didn’t have to. 

Got two more cosplays on Christmas. 

2025. 

Another big convention, went in the cosplay that I had planned for Halloween the year before. For the next convention I also wore a new cosplay, another version of Hatsune Miku. Same for the next con, wore the new cosplay that I had gotten for Christmas. Then for my birthday I got a really expensive cosplay that I had wished for for a long time. 

The year isn’t over, and I still have so many cosplans, and already bought some new cosplays. Even though I haven’t even finished the ones I already own.

Why do we feel the need to spend so much money?

I know people who own more cosplays than me. Their collection reaching over 20 or even 30. 

Most of the time I wish for cosplays for my birthday or Christmas, and whenever I tell my family that I wish for yet another one, the same question arises, "Don’t you have enough now?" 

And yes, I do have enough. One would also already be enough. 

Still, I know a lot of cosplayers feel the same need for more as me. 

Is it because of social media? Definitely. The community grows, there is a lot of media out there, we are constantly confronted with that. Seeing other cosplayers with a big collection, countless characters and matching cosplays, so many websites where you can just buy them, a new show or movie comes out and not even a few days later we already see cosplays from it.

We feel the need to keep up. 

What can we do?

I‘m not telling anyone to not buy new cosplays. Since I’m no better. But I’m telling you to think. Ask yourself:

When did you buy your last cosplay?

How much do you really like that character? 

How much do you want that cosplay?

Can you find the cosplay secondhand? 

How often will you wear it? (You can and should wear them more than once.)

Or could you maybe even do a closet cosplay of the character?

We don’t need to 'keep up'. It’s not realistic to have a new cosplay every week or even every month. Having over 20 cosplays is not the norm and also shouldn’t be. 

Perfect the cosplays you have. Rewear those beautiful outfits that you feel confident in. Save your money and energy. 

Be kind ~xo Coco