Simple, cheap, low key cosplay ideas

Normally, I don’t participate in cosplay. Given my social anxiety, I really don’t wear anything beyond jeans, white shoes, blank shirt, and a hat. However, I’ve been invited to a friends birthday party, and she requires everyone that attends to be dressed up. Anyone not dressed up with be refused. She has given a cheap way out by just wearing cat ears, but even that makes me anxious. Does anyone have any ideas of something to wear, that if at a cosplay event, would appear I’m dressed up, but outside of such an event, I would appear normal (or at least as normal as I am able to appear). Also, something cheap, as I really don’t want to spend a lot of money on a one time thing.

Find a character who wears jeans, a t-shirt, a hat and a mask?

Hmm… Idea… who is the most plain looking Sentinel?

Mr. Fixer seems simple. I have a pair of steel toe boots I wear for work, should look “similar” to the boots he wears. It appears he wears jeans (Chris may correct me if I’m too far off, but I believe jeans would look similar enough). I can get an “RC” blue hat cheap enough, and would likely wear it often enough. Tape for the hands (I assume that’s tape, not much into the fighting arts myelf) should be simple. Now just have to find the Goku shirt.

Mr Fixer?

Nice you suggest that moments after I go out to my car to get my cards to look at Mr. Fixer, and reply while I’m editing my post, heheh.

You need to take some sort of colour photocopy of the card with you so you can point at it and tell people who you are

EDIT: and to get them interested in playing a game at some point after the party!

Most people at that party will already know the game, and about a couple of them enjoy playing it. So, extra advertising likely won’t work, though I’ll take any chance I can to play the game.

What about Peter Parker from the 90’s Spider-Man cartoon? The hardest part of that might just be the camera.

I’d probably consider that. I do have an old SLR somewhere (Canon Rebel I believe). Though, I really don’t want to loose my beard. The only time I’ve ever shaved it was when working in fast food. Though, if this “young white Mr. Fixer” thing doesn’t work, I’d consider “bearded Peter Parker,” especially since Spiderman is basically the only Marvel property I like.

Beard… Spider-Man…

Oh! Blah blah blah, Clone Saga, Kaine is back! And when he first became the new Scarlet Spider, he had a beard! It’s… a stretch, but my mind was jogged.

PS: Ah ha! Not the best picture, but I haven’t been reading the series so I can’t scan anything myself. But Peter Parker clone with a beard:

There’s always the good old superman shirt under a button up standby.

If you get a hockey mask and take the sleeves off an old shirt, you can be Casey Jones!

Of the top of my head:

Dr. Who
Harry Potter
Optimus Prime from the transformers.

Ok, that last one might take a little more work.

Also you can do what I do… suit and a wrestling mask.

Idea is to be low key. Too much beyond normal would make me anxious. Especially because at one point we’ll be going to a pub (where I will not be drinking, of course), which means out in public. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be dressed as Mr. Fixer, but I’d be much less anxious than most others.

Yeah, do something with a mask. I show up to halloween every year, but I also take public transportation, so it is great to have a costume that you can take off and instantly be dressed normally.

Cameras are flashing? Mask on. Drinking a beer? Mask off.

Never realized how difficult this would be. I have everything except the belt (that shouldn’t be difficult) and the shirt (this is impossible). And, I’m nearly certain if I only show up with a camera I’ll be kicked out… If I can’t figure something out, I likely won’t get to go, which is bad considering I’ve invited someone else…

A karate dojo should have both the belt and GI top if you mean Mr. Fixer

Again, someone who knows more than I do points me in a good direction. Thanks.

NP

For the Doctor Who fans (Hey Tamar!), here’s one my girlfriend and I thought up and will be doing at Gen Con this year, so if we show up at the SotM booth looking weird, this is it: get some sort of skin-safe washable maker and make a ton of tally marks of five (four and a slash) all over your arms, face and neck. Make sure it’s washable, or you’ll have marker all on your face for days. For those who know, this is a reference to Rory and Amy marking themselves to know of the presence of Silence.

Haha! Brilliant! I really want to put together Rose’s outfit from the Empty child eps, as a “get away with it in public” outfit. Also her 1950’s dress from The Idiot’s Lantern to go with hubby’s Tennant suit.

Costumes are required and no cameras… is this an Eyes Wide Shut themed party?

Edit: I’m nearly certain if I show up with only a camera I’ll be kicked out…

Well sure! Wearing ONLY a camera it’s awfully difficult to cover things necessary to be socially acceptable in public

I must say, it was a fun and rather tame party. I had fun by basically sitting back and watching everyone else have fun (that’s how I have fun at parties). I think I was the only one that didn’t drink.

What did you end up going with? Pics?

I went with a variant of Mister Fixer. Jeans, steel toe boots, white t-shirt (didn’t have time to get a Gi), blue RC hat, white belt, and masking tape wrapped around both hands. My “date” went as Wonder Woman (the variant who wears black pants). Other people include No Face (or something like that), Major Hues in civilian clothes, standard Japanese female school uniform, a bunny dragon, the guy from Castlevania, a duck, a white belt karate, and Victorique de Blois.

Wolverine in his white tee and jeans maybe?

Just put some effort into crafting some claw accessories.

Or, I think you can buy them? Probably kind of pricey for a good set.

Got a leather jacket? Get someone to stitch on an X symbol.