Cosplay Foundations: Your Guide to Constructing Bodysuits, Corsets, Hoop Skirts, Petticoats & More

by Casey Welsch

Don't let your costumes fall flat! Give them the support they need Get the right fit every time! Elegant and professional cosplay foundations, fitted just for you. Create a capsule wardrobe of foundation garments, including corsets, bodysuits, hoops, crinolines, leggings, and more! Sew the perfect silhouette for any costume, from historical gowns to structured armor and anime builds with multi-award-winning cosplayer Casey Welsch. This visual guide includes more than 400 step-by-step photos, patterns, and all the inspiration you need to give your garments a professional look that lasts with well-made foundations.

Genres: Sewing, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2022

Reviews

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Anyone dipping into cosplay for the first time knows how hard it is to do a decent costume - there aren't a lot of sources out there for those learning. This book fits into a nice niche in a cosplay library, covering the much needed but rarely seen items that can make or break any outfit. There are plenty of photographs and step-by-step instructions to make this important aspect of cosplaying easy to learn/do.

The book begins with information about why foundations are important and the various types you may need: from catsuits to hold armor to hoop skirts and petticoats for those big gowns. Although these sections are necessarily brief, there is probably more information that you really need. The next sections are broken down by specific undergarments and how to make them: ball gowns (chemise, corset, bloomers, hoop skirts, petticoats); then bodysuits for armor/anime (bodysuit, color-blocked bodysuit). Another section covers fabrics, notions, boning and tools. Then constructions skills (e.g., types of sewing stitches). Everything from the correct needle for your sewing machine to the right boning types for your corset are covered. The last section goes into details about how to make corset covers, leggings and shorts, hood cowls, and wristlets. The back of the book has a section on armor attachments, care and storage, resources.

Each section has photographs, including the steps for making the items and inspirations. There are also a few illustrations for some sections (e.g., on making hems). The focus is on sewing the items so you don't see a lot of gluing or fabricating. The garments that really need foundation items tend to be gowns anyway so you do a lot of sewing.

The example images cover many genres: from Marvel superheroes to gaming to anime. Nearly all are for women (though there are a few mentions of padding and filling for drag). The author also helps with information about the fabrics you'll most likely be using for your outfits and their peculiarities when sewing.

A few small things I think could have made the book even more useful. For one, the images didn't really list what undergarments were used in that outfit. More information than the cosplayer name and genre would have been welcome. As well, some 'before and after' images of how the undergarments improved the outfit would also have been great. It really helps to see how much of a difference a particular undergarment makes to help cosplayers decide if they want to go the extra mile and make that item. I also think a LOT more tips on how to save money would have gone a long way since most cosplayers (especially in the beginning) are on a super tight budget and need to stretch their funds. Undergarments can be an expensive proposition to someone who already blew a budget on the outer wear.

In all, this is friendly and informative - and useful for those who want their cosplay outfits to look right, wear comfortably, and have that extra impact. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific resource book, not just for cosplay, but costume enthusiasts, theater people, even re-enactors. It's a good place to start building a costume wardrobe, with clear instructions on how to build the basics, the foundations on which to achieve the correct 'silhouette' for the proper 'look', especially for historical costumes, but also for comic book heroes. I highly recommend it. I'm going out to buy my own copy for my personal reference library.