c/budget-cosplay-builds

My first con in 2010 cost me maybe $40 total for a Jedi robe

I made it from a brown bed sheet and a rope belt. Back then, I thought that was the only way to do it cheap. About five years ago, I found a local thrift store that sells old curtains and tablecloths for fabric. Now I can make a full pirate coat for under $15 using a heavy curtain. The material is way better and looks more real. I still use bed sheets for some things, but having more options changed the game for me. What's your favorite thrift store find for a costume base?

2 comments

paige205•2d ago

Serious question, has anyone else tried using dollar store foam for armor?

I mean, I was super skeptical at first because it felt so flimsy. But I needed to make a shoulder pauldron for a con last month and gave it a shot. After three layers of PVA glue and a heat gun, it held its shape perfectly and only cost me like $4 total. Has anyone found a better cheap base material for this kind of thing?

2 comments

the_barbara•5d ago

Alien tentacles came together with free packing materials

In my experience, you can find cosplay parts in unexpected places. I had leftover bubble wrap and foam peanuts from a box, so I shaped them with hot glue and spray paint for tentacles. Your mileage may vary, but it cost me next to nothing and looked pretty cool. Take this with a grain of salt, but it felt like a small win for my budget build.

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