Having attended the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo for Us Weekly this year, I can honestly say I (mostly) got any urges I had to go to Comic-Con out of my system. C2E2was more crowded than the most packed out concert I’ve ever been to (Nine Inch Nails at the Aragon, ICYWW) and without the promise of potentially hearing “Dead Souls” or “Hand That Feeds,” my interest in the goings-on around me began to wane, real quick.
That being said, I’ve always appreciated the creativity that goes into a good costume (Halloween is my jam!), and this annual gathering of comic, horror and entertainment geeks in San Fran never fails to deliver on the cosplay front.
Thanks to Instagram, I didn’t need to actually attend the 2019 exposition to get in on all the dress-up magic. Instead, I took the liberty of sussing out all the best costumes this year’s fest had to offer from the spacious comfort of my living room.
My judging criteria is largely the same as it was for C2E2:
1. Originality: I don’t want to see any store-bought, dime-a-dozen Marvel catsuits you can pick up at Walmart (boring!). Give me something unique, dammit!
2. Execution: I’m willing to budge a *bit* on the above criteria if a costume is done well — really well. If you can nail the part better than all the rest of your Daenerys lookalikes (or you know, whatever) peers, you’re likely to nab a spot on the list.
3. Attention to Detail: It’s those little added extras that set a great getup apart from a good one — trust me!
Scroll down to see who made the cut!
This cosplayer managed to hit all three of my judging points in one shot. Original? You betcha. Well-executed? Definitely. Detailed? The headdress alone deserves an award — just look at that thing!
And besides, Medusa —a.k.a. the entity I believe this woman is meant to be — is basically my spirit animal, at least according to my AWE-Inspired quiz results. (Photos via Custom Tailgate Park Benches and Joe McCormack)
It takes a LOT of ingenuity to put a sexy spin on a costume that hasn’t been done before (see for yourself!), and I can honestly say that until this very moment, I’ve never laid eyes on a wanton Bob Ross — er, make that Bobbi Ross! Well done, Tara Nicole Azarian. Well done! (Photo via Bao Phan)
As much as I love Disney princess characters, it’s not all that difficult to pick up a Belle or a Cinderella frock and slap on a tiara. Far more challenging is a character like Moana’s Maui — seen here — whose aesthetic boasts a slew of intricate tribal tattoos and likely hard-to-find leafy bottoms. A tip of the hat, sir! (Photo via @jewmafia)
Now THIS is what I’m talking about! Instead of wearing that same tired ass striped yellow Uma Thurman costume from Kill Bill that we’ve seen a bajillion times over by now, this lady honed in on the film’s secondary character of Nurse Elle. What’s more, she absolutely f*cking slayed it. All the heart eye emojis! (Photo via Greg Evol Photography)
Sometimes, originality isn’t about coming up with something entirely new, but reintroducing an old favorite. Sure, Barbara Eden’s Jeannie has been done before, but in a sea of Thors and Arya Starks, an old-school look like Lane’s stands out in the crowd. (Photo via Lane Gjerstad)
Speaking of vintage, how bad-ass is this retro Carrie look? (Photo via William D. Lee Photography)
This Catwoman suit is f*cking incredible, and it’s no wonder — the woman behind the latex is none other than fashion blogger Kaliope Passiglia, a.k.a. the über-stylish babe behind In Spades. (Photo via Lauren Kirk)
This Ronald McDonald/Big Lebowski hybrid won major points with me for creativity. Apparently, Brandon Isaacson typically dresses as a superhero version of the iconic fast food chain character known as McThor, but I personally prefer this laid-back take on the infamous clown. (Photo via Brandon Isaacson)
Ruby Rose doesn’t have a goddamn thing on this hella cute Batwoman, who dove headfirst into her character with a menacing stare and a ready-to-rumble stance. Put up your dukes! (Photo via Matthew and Kaliope Passiglia)
This Jigsaw ensemble may look simple enough, but that’s exactly why I love it — it definitely took some kind of imagination to transform a basic pair of black shorts, a blazer and a white undershirt into this Comic-Con-worthy character! By fully committing with her makeup — and a pair of seriously creepy red contacts — Madeline Masquerade was able to make things most have in their closet work for her in a way that I’d call nothing short of genius. (Photo via Say Jay Hynes)
This look, aptly dubbed “Nightmare on Sesame Street” by attendees, had me in stitches. Not only is the premise behind this individual’s look insanely clever, the cosplayer married the puppet to the horror staple even further by singing “Freddy’s Theme Song” in Elmo’s squeaky little voice. I couldn’t be more pleased if I tried! (Video via Serra Swift)
Good Burger is having a serious moment right now. Not only was the ‘90s All That sketch and subsequent film recently brought to life in the form of a new L.A. pop-up restaurant (open now!) by the same people who brought you the insanely awesome Saved by the Max (shoutout to Derek and Michael!), actor Kal Smith perfectly recreated Kel Mitchell’s “Ed” at SDCC right down to the goddamn roller skates. (Photo via Monika Consunji)
Bonus points for that killer hamburger prop!!! (Photo via Kyle Lewis)
This Bearded Lady from The Greatest Showman is so good, I can practically hear her belting out “This Is Me!” Get it, girl! (Photo via Matthew Carden)
The ghoulish It clown definitely got around at this year’s expo! As Geek Outlaw so eloquently put it, however, this may have been the only one to induce more nightmares than the fest’s hellish lines! (Photo via Geek Outlaw)
If you read my post on favorite books you forgot from childhood, you already know that I have a more-than-mild obsession with all things Alice in Wonderland. Never mind that this particular costume is from the U.K’s Kyiv Comic Con last month. This red queen from Tim Burton’s 2010 remake of Lewis Caroll’s 1865 classic, played by @alena_mar4uk, covered her bases and covered them well. While her look was fire in and of itself, this handmade clock really pushed it over the edge. There’s dripping red roses on it, for Pete’s sakes! A woman after my own heart. (Photo via НЫЧКА ИНТЕРЕСНЫХ ВЕЩИЦ)
Taking the 2019 Comic-Con cosplay cake this year was this unreal Ursula by special effects makeup artist extraordinaire and Cinema Makeup School grad Joo Skellington, which turned out even better than Katy Perry’s on American Idol (no small feat, I assure you!). I don’t even know how one achieves that type skin, but I do know that it takes some SERIOUS dedication to undergo such a transformation. Mind, blown. (Photo via Breen)
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
I DIE!!!!!! (Photo and video via Luis Vargas)
Who do YOU think won Comic-Con 2019? Tell me in the comments below!
Xo, Nicole
Cover photo via Emilie Farris
