Gallery: Cosplayers Are Just Like You! Only They Buy Lots of Spandex

  • This image may contain Shelf Human Person Clothing Apparel Furniture Electronics Monitor Screen and Display
    Ejen Chuang
    01

    5080.jpg

    Harrison makes a living with his business Volpin Props in Atlanta, GA. He’s even been commissioned to design props for major gaming companies.
  • Image may contain Human Person Shelf Clothing and Apparel
    Ejen Chuang
    02

    5040.jpg

    Yaya Han works in her sewing room in Atlanta, GA. She quit her job in 2005 to open a successful costume business.
  • Image may contain Costume Human Person Mannequin Clothing Footwear Apparel Shoe and Tania Bryer
    Ejen Chuang
    03

    5060.jpg

    Carolann and Carrie in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Image may contain Human Person Shelf Furniture Plywood Wood Electronics Monitor Display Screen and Lcd Screen
    Ejen Chuang
    04

    5070.jpg

    Matt and his wife Erica make up Barefoot Sewing in Lawrence, KS. They offer everything from custom costumes to 3-D printed props.
  • Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone Cell Phone Human and Person
    Ejen Chuang
    05

    5020.jpg

    A cosplayer named Regina compares a fabric swatch to a reference photo at Fabric Depot in Portland, OR.
  • Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Footwear Shoe and Market
    Ejen Chuang
    06

    5030.jpg

    Beth, a cosplayer from Minneapolis, MN, tries to pick the perfect fabric in an S.R. Harris.
  • Image may contain Human Person Wood and Plywood
    Ejen Chuang
    07

    5090.jpg

    Shawn of Orlando, FL, started cosplaying when he was 28 years old. An avid fan of Halloween, Shawn made increasingly elaborate costumes until a friend told him about fan conventions for "geek stuff." His first event was Megacon 2006.
  • Image may contain Wood Banister Handrail and Furniture
    Ejen Chuang
    08

    5000.jpg

    A freshly dyed wig hangs on a drying rack on a balcony in Los Angeles, CA.
  • Image may contain Human Person Wood Home Decor and Brick
    Ejen Chuang
    09

    5100.jpg

    Asia spray paints segments of her cosplay costume on the sidewalk outside her apartment in Brooklyn, NY.
  • Image may contain Human Person Clothing and Apparel
    Ejen Chuang
    10

    5130.jpg

    Utah, a cosplayer from Ooltewah, TN, gets ready for Katsucon in Washington, D.C. In order to make the perfect Esther Blanchett costume, Utah sewed over 14,000 rhinestones and 10,000 pearls onto her dress. The costume took 10 months to complete.
  • Image may contain Human and Person
    Ejen Chuang
    11

    5140.jpg

    Jerry and Lindsay help Alyssa into her costume, based on Fauno from *Pan's Labyrinth*, for Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA.
  • Image may contain Human Person Pants Clothing Denim Jeans Apparel Footwear and Shoe
    Ejen Chuang
    12

    5180.jpg

    Aaron helps his son with his Bender costume they made together for Rose City Comic Con in Portland, OR.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Human and Person
    Ejen Chuang
    13

    5190.jpg

    Cosplayers stretch out on the floor after a busy day at Rose City Comic Con in Portland, OR.
  • This image may contain Human Person Costume and Skin
    Ejen Chuang
    14

    5240.jpg

    Christina and Britt from Rancho Santa Margarita, California at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA.
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Shorts Human Person Footwear and Shoe
    Ejen Chuang
    15

    5150.jpg

    Kelly all decked out for New York Comic Con, NY. Like many cosplayers, she gets a lot of requests for photos when walking around.
  • Image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Electronics Computer Laptop Pc Interior Design and Indoors
    Ejen Chuang
    16

    5210.jpg

    Teresa, Sheryl and Lisi judge a costume contest at Naka-Kon in Overland Park, KS.
  • Image may contain Human Person Footwear Clothing Apparel Shoe Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Ball and Festival
    Ejen Chuang
    17

    5170.jpg

    My Little Pony cosplayers at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA.
  • Image may contain Human Person Airport Crowd and Audience
    Ejen Chuang
    18

    5160.jpg

    Cosplayers crowd the halls at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA. Over 90,000 people attended in 2015.
Read More
The Best Ski Clothes for Staying Warm and Having Fun
From weatherproof jackets and pants to puffers, gloves, and socks, WIRED’s winter sports experts have you covered.
Chris Haslam
The Best Podcasts for Everyone
Get your fix of tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy with these audio adventures. 
Simon Hill
The Best Apple Watch Accessories
You finally caved and bought an Apple Watch. These are our favorite bands, screen protectors, and chargers to go with your new smartwatch.
Adrienne So
Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs
Sitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.
Julian Chokkattu
Our Favorite Merino Wool Clothes to Keep You Comfy in Any Weather
Merino is one of the best fabrics you can wear. We explain the different blends, what “gsm” means, and how to care for your clothes.
Scott Gilbertson
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Kids' Bikes for Every Age and Size
The WIRED Reviews team has kids, and we tested all types of kids’ bikes. Here are our top picks.
Adrienne So
The Best Android Phones, Tested and Reviewed
Shopping for a phone can be an ordeal. That’s why we’ve tested almost every Android phone, from the smartest to the cheapest—even phones that fold—to find the ones worth your money.
Julian Chokkattu
Death to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than Chapstick
From models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.
Matthew Korfhage
Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound
From drones to missiles to submarines, the $30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned.
Paresh Dave
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.
Luke Larsen
Two Literal Crypto Bros Built a Real Estate Empire. Then the Homes Started to Fall Apart
In 2019, two Canadian brothers blew into Detroit with an irresistible pitch: For $50, almost anyone could become a property owner. When houses decayed and the city intervened, the blame games began.
Joel Khalili