Rick Grossmann

A clever combination of the words “costume” and “play,” cosplay is the act of dressing up as a character or concept from (usually) fictional works. Cosplayers don the outfits of their favorite characters as they wander around conventions, fan events, theme parks, movie premieres, and more. Over the past few decades, cosplay has become immensely popular. Because it’s a hobby that spans so many genres, interests, crafts, and abilities, just about anybody can enjoy it. The strict costume rules for adults at Walt Disney World have inspired DisneyBounding, or dressing in a character-themed outfit rather than an actual costume. Similarly, many cosplayers get creative with closet cosplay, where costumes are created using regular clothing—often things they already have in their closets.