Casual Cosplay: What is it?

I've had a remarkable journey this year. I have ventured deeper in the world of pop-culture then I ever have before. Being a fairly new cosplayer myself, I am always curious to hear what is happening in our weird little world. Since 2011 online cosplay community forums have argued over the question: is Casual Cosplay acceptable? However, before I could make an informed opinion, I needed to find out one thing. 

What exactly is Casual Cosplay?

You’d think, from the name, it was just someone who cosplayed every now and then. Or perhaps someone who was particularly casual whilst in cosplay. But this is incorrect. 

Casual Cosplaying is a cosplaying trend that sees the costumes and props, identified with traditional cosplay, are left in the cupboard at home. Only the basics of the character such as wigs and makeup are used. They are worn with casual clothing. Basically, you look like Naruto on his day off.

Cosplaying communities around the world and divided and twitchy, debating strongly if Casual Cosplaying is even cosplaying at all.  

The affirmative team argue that Casual Cosplaying is perfectly fine, provided you do it correctly. It allows for a person to become more like the character, understand them better, and let’s face it; be comfortable in their outfit. They debate that a Casual Cosplay is much harder than regular cosplay because you are taking the character away from their trademark clothing and accessories. As long as you style your wig and put on your makeup correctly, then the affirmatives say, ‘it' okay!’

 The negative team reply back that cosplaying is about the whole package from head to toe. They claim missing the vital elements stops it from being cosplaying at all. It can be said that without the identifing clothing and accessories, you run the risk of being pegged as ‘some douche in an Ichigo style wig’. This argument comes from the Casual Cosplayers that are too casual in appearance. They do not put the time and effort into portraying the character correctly and come off looking strange and unkempt. 

In the cosplay community, these people are labelled to be wigplaying or Cosf*ck’ing the style.

Whilst the Casual Cosplaying trend may be the new shift in the traditional, a “Casual Pimp Boba Fett” and “Casual Vacation Stormtrooper” might just be going too far.

See Casual Boba Fett and Casual Vacation Strom Trooper (at Comic-Con 2012) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV0ozUtsZ9Y

Melanie Stevens 2012