This week, we are featuring cosplayer, Alexis.  Alexis likes to dress up with her younger sister at conventions and enjoy mingling with the attendees.  Alexis recently chatted with us to share her cosplay experience.

NERDSociety: How long have you been cosplaying?

Alexis: I’ve really only been cosplaying for a few years now. Compared to many others I’m relatively new to the hobby I guess. 🙂

How many times have you cosplayed at conventions?

Well, I myself have cosplayed three times but I’ve also made costumes for my little sister, who has cosplayed with me. So I’ve made more costumes than I’ve actually worn.

Have you and your sister dressed up from the same theme?

We have once as Saria and Malon.  Both from Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.  But it was more of a coincidence than something we actually planned to do. We each just happened to love those characters. I enjoy cosplaying the characters I love so I’ve kind of encouraged her to do the same.

You seemed to be a fan of Zelda, which one is your favorite?

That’s a pretty tough question since I have really loved every Zelda game I’ve played, but ultimately I’d have to go with Ocarina of Time. There’s just something magical about that one for me.

Do you dress up as different characters?

I do. When deciding on a character I tend to prefer the ones that inspire me or entertain me the most, and there are just so many out there to choose from that I don’t see myself being satisfied with just a few. I also really enjoy the process of figuring out how best to construct the elements of a costume and then putting it all together, so even though I’ve made a few costumes now that I am really proud of and would probably never get tired of wearing, I’m still always excited to move onto the next project.

What makes the experience so fun?

People are fun. It’s always really awesome to go to a convention in costume and just by wearing your costume be able to meet so many cool people and fellow fans of whatever game/series you’re cosplaying from. It really opens the door for conversation. I wore my Navi the Fairy to AX this year and I cannot tell you the amount of times I was harassed with my own “Hey! Listen!” line that day. 😀 It was awesome! The costume was a really fun way for me to share a laugh with other congoers and Zelda nerds.

I’m also a very “crafty” person so as I said before, the process of making a costume is enjoyable for me. I really love the challenge and rewarding feeling that comes from bringing an idea or vision to reality and then having others appreciate my hard work.

What’s your favorite moment from cosplaying?

Oh man, it’s really hard to pick one single favorite moment because I have so many good memories associated with this hobby. I wore my Saria costume to AX this year and while I was at the convention someone who had a guitar with him randomly started playing Saria’s song for me, lol. So I got to dance to my own theme and yeah that was kind of awesome. I know, I’m a total nerd. 🙂

The weirdest?

Being outside the convention in costume is always a little weird, if only because people tend to stare. It doesn’t really bother me though. I mean, it’s not like I can blame anyone for being curious, I know I must look very strange to them.

What’s one tip you can give to people that want to cosplay?

Don’t procrastinate! Get started early and give yourself time for setbacks and miscalculations. Also, when you get stuck and need ideas or tips, the internet is an invaluable resource. Tutorials and cosplay forums are EVERYWHERE online, so look around for inspiration and advice. You can really learn a lot about different materials and methods by researching what has worked well for others.

Do you make your own costumes?

Yes I do, though I will admit I have been known to occasionally drag my mom into a project in order to get a second opinion or advice on something, so she deserves some credit here too. 🙂

Does your mom check out the conventions you attend?

No, she likes to see my pictures and stuff but she doesn’t attend conventions. She’s not really a fan of anime or video games, she just enjoys the crafty side of cosplay. The fun in figuring out how to make the costumes… That sorta thing.

What’s one tip you can give to people that want to cosplay?

Don’t procrastinate! Get started early and give yourself time for setbacks and miscalculations. Also, when you get stuck and need ideas or tips, the internet is an invaluable resource. Tutorials and cosplay forums are EVERYWHERE online, so look around for inspiration and advice. You can really learn a lot about different materials and methods by researching what has worked well for others.

Besides cosplaying, what else are you into?

Well my love of anime and video games is what got me into cosplay in the first place. I’ve been playing video games pretty much since I was old enough to hold a controller. RPG and action-adventure games tend to be my favorites. I also love to read. I write a lot, and draw on occasion. I guess I have an overactive imagination; most of my hobbies are creative outlets like that. I also do pilates and run to keep in shape.

End Of Interview

Thanks to Alexis for the interview. Her love for Zelda makes her an even more awesome nerd! See you at future conventions.

Are you a cosplayer? Please drop us a line at cosplay@nerdsociety.com and let us know about your cosplaying experience and we’ll feature it on the site!

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