Are you looking to keep up with this year’s hottest trends?
Me neither. Let’s try something a little more unusual.
If you want to spice up your wardrobe – and I mean really spice it up, with enough burning fashionist flavour to make the Red Hot Chili Peppers question their taste in style – then keep reading, slap on some makeup and hitch up your pantaloons; it’s time to explore what I like to call Alternative Fashion!
If you are searching for a new, colourful getup, there are few better places to look than a cosplay convention.
For those that don’t know, cosplay involves dressing up as a favourite character from a film, book or game. Every year, thousands of people gather at conventions such as MCM Comic Con to meet celebrities and, perhaps more importantly, fellow cosplayers. To go to such a convention is to witness a vibrant sea of costumes, often lovingly crafted by those that are wearing them.
It does not stop at costumes, either; foam and makeup can really help to make a cosplay stand out amongst the crowd. There are even competitions, such as MCM’s Casual Cosplay Showcase where attendees can take to the catwalk. Forget Vogue, you’ll struggle to find more variety than you will here!
What matters most, however, are not the costumes themselves, but the imagination that goes into them. While there are plenty of awesome costumes to be found at conventions, you’ll never find someone being put down for their own outfit.
But perhaps you’re looking for something a little more streamlined, a little more focussed. For some, re-enactment provides a whole new fashion scene focussed around not only portraying historical events, but bringing them to life. If you find yourself in the fittingly named Town of Battle, Sussex, you might see one of the biggest re-enactments of the year: the Battle of Hastings. This event draws in hundreds of knights, bards and peasants fresh from the annals of history, and hundreds more modern-day spectators looking for a slice of the past. The number of costumes and props used for these events rivals any fashion show, from a patchwork tabard to full metal armour. Even horses get their special treatment before the big battle.
That’s not to say re-enactment is confined to the Middle Ages. Air raid warden uniforms from the Second World War and the skirts of Roman soldiers come together in wardrobes across the world. It’s not often that an officer’s swagger stick plays a part in one’s attire. Wearing a uniform and immersing yourself in the past can be a great confidence builder and a source of comfort. Perhaps that is something worth remembering, even in more mainstream fashion.
Does all that sound like a bit much? I know it does for me; authenticity is nice and all, but chainmail is expensive. If you’re looking for a more accessible form of Alternative Fashion, why not try Live Action Roleplay – or LARP for short. While this may sound like a fancy tent, LARP actually has an enchanting fashion scene. Unlike cosplay and re-enactment, this hobby revolves around creating and playing as that character in real time with fellow enthusiasts in a shared fantasy setting.
Like make-believe, but (mostly) for adults.
The costumes themselves are often accompanied by foam weapons ranging from realistic to fanciful. After all, who doesn’t want to dress up as a maniacal tooth fairy with a mouth-shaped flail? If you can think of it, someone’s made a costume for it.
Going to a LARP event is like diving head first into a fantasy land; from medieval to sci-fi. Wherever these events go, a retinue of traders soon followers offering all manner of accessories to spruce up your outfit. Of all the LARP events to go to, Empire is one of the biggest, drawing people from around the world. If you’re looking to show off your latest outfit, Empire is the place to be. Just don’t ask about the Friendship Cult. I don’t care how catchy their theme tune is; the less you know about them the better!
While different, these three fashion scenes all have one thing in common: imagination. Be you a cosplayer, re-enactor or LARPer, the value of one’s costume comes down not just how it looks, but how it enrichens the world around you, making it a more interesting and unique place. Don’t get me wrong, these hobbies are not everyone’s cup of tea, and yet perhaps there is something to be learnt, or even admired, about them.
They may not be this year’s hottest fashion, but they might just be the most colourful.
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