Pre-Made/Commissioned Cosplayer Tips

Buying Items Pre-Made

Thankfully as Cosplay becomes more popular, there are more chances that things you will need for your cosplay are readily available. Here are some of the things we are able to find easily!

Wigs

When it comes to wigs for cosplay, you have a lot of options!
Good wigs will run about $30-$80 when purchased from wig specialty websites such as Arda Wigs. If you are interested in a more cost effective wig for a budget, websites like Amazon and eBay have plenty of options that may meet your needs.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Pay attention to Estimated shipping time! Some wigs, especially from Amazon and eBay can take longer to arrive if they are shipped from companies or sellers in China.
Colors can vary! Colors for wigs can vary based on screen resolution so just be careful when choosing your color.
Pay attention to heat resistance! If you are planning on styling your wig with heat, make sure the wig you buy is heat resistant.
Check the length! Make sure you understand the length of the wig you are ordering and how it compares to what you need for your character.

Pre-Made Popular Character Costumes

If the character you want to cosplay is a popular one, you may be able to find the complete cosplay premade online. Websites like Cosplayfu and EZCosplay have premade character costumes of a huge selection of popular characters for you to chose from.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Check seller reviews! This can tell you about the websites reputation with their customers.
Check the sizing charts! Sizing can vary greatly between websites!
Check what is included! Make sure you understand what parts of the cosplay are included in the pricing. Some sites will show a base cosplay with accessories that are only included for an additional fee.

Commissioning a Cosplay

Commissioning a cosplay is a wonderful option! Maybe you aren't able to handmade a cosplay or just don't want too. What if you can't find your a character on a pre-made site? Or maybe you just want to completely customize the look and fabric choices for your character. Whatever the reason commissioning a cosplay is a great option available to you!

Buying Cosplay

There are a lot of resources for finding cosplay commissioners. Some websites that offer pre-made cosplays also offer a custom sizing option or offer to create a cosplay for the first time for your character. Some websites like Etsy and facebook can also be a good place to find cosplay commissioners.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Check seller reviews! We literally CAN NOT stress this enough!
Use a secure method of payment! When commissioning someone not affiliated with a well known site e sure to use Pay-Pal or another secure payment method to make sure your transaction is protected.
Take and re-take your measurements! Make sure you give your commissioner measurements that are accurate for them to work with.
Understand what you pay for! You are not just paying for materials, but also the time and labor of your commissioner.
Ask about payment plans! Some commissioners will allow you to span out payments for your cosplay. This can be a great help to your budget. Just be sure to mention this in advance if needed.
Have good communication! Make sure you and the person/company you have commissioned are on the same page about expectations and what can be accomplished.