Yaya Han's world of cosplay L: a guide to fandom costume culture

The authoritative guide to cosplay written by a legend in the community, and packed with step-by-step advice and fascinating investigations into every aspect of the art. Cosplay—a portmanteau combining "costume" and "play"—has become one of the hottest trends in fandom . . . and Yaya Han is its shining superstar. In this guide to cosplaying, Han narrates her 20-year journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her self-taught methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the community. Each chapter is information-packed as she covers everything from the history of cosplay, to using nontraditional materials for costumes, to transforming your hobby into a career—all enhanced with expert advice. Illustrated throughout and easy to use, this practical manual also delights with fascinating stories from the past decades' global cosplay boom. It's the perfect gift for anyone interested in learning (or improving their skills in) the art of cosplay. "The authoritative guide to cosplay written by a legend in the community, and packed with step-by-step advice and fascinating investigations into every aspect of the art"-- Cosplay-- a word combining "costume" and "play"-- has become one of the hottest trends in fandom... and Han is its shining superstar. In this guide to cosplaying, she narrates her journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her self-taught methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the community. Han covers the history of cosplay; use of nontraditional materials for costumes; and shares tips for transforming your hobby into a career. -- adapted from back cover Cosplay has become one of the hottest trends in fandom . . . and Yaya Han is its superstar. In this comprehensive guide, Han narrates her 20-year journey from newbie fan to entrepreneur with a household name in geekdom, revealing her methods for embodying a character and her experiences in the cosplay community. Information-packed chapters cover everything from the history of cosplay, to using nontraditional materials for costumes, to transforming your hobby into a career. Illustrated throughout, this practical manual also delights with fascinating stories from the global cosplay boom.