I recently had the opportunity to go to the comic festival Dragoncon in Atlanta. It was so fun! I dressed up, had a great time, and met really nice, fun, creative people. Cosplay (short for “costume play”) isn’t really my usual jam, but dressing in a costume and seeing other adults in fictional character costumes was a treat, primarily because I am a big proponent of play in general and of bringing more play in the bedroom.
It is important to know the difference between cosplay and roleplay, and also be aware of some perceptions of cosplay that are incorrect. “[T]he difference between roleplay and cosplay is that roleplay is the practice of roleplaying while cosplay is…the art or practice of costuming oneself as a (usually fictional) character.” That being said, with regards to the fetish of cosplay, it bears noting that cosplay itself is not defined as anything sexual. As one writer put her frustrations over being fetishized for simply engaging in cosplay:
In the overall, NO ONE has agency over someone else’s sexuality or their bodies. No matter what that person is doing, you have no right to assume or put your feelings onto them. If someone is doing a sexy version of a character, whether it’s canon or not, that doesn’t automatically or magically mean they’re down to get kinky or if they are, doesn’t mean they’re down to get kinky with you!
It is for this very reason that the title of this article describes the fetish of cosplay as “sexy” cosplay. Cosplay in general is not necessarily sexual. Cosplay as a fetish can generally be defined as the art or practice of costuming oneself for the purposes of sexual play and gratification.
An example of cosplay as a fetish would be a person who gets off on dressing up as an animal (such as an anime dog character, Akamaru) and acting as one. In this case, both the role play (acting like Akamaru by barking, licking, panting, etc) and the cosplay (dressing in costume as a dog who looks like Akamaru) are combined for the experience. Not all cosplay involves role play, though. Someone might simply get off by wearing the costume itself without actually acting out the role. Typically, however, cosplay involves taking on the role of a specific fictional character from comics, film, tv, or video games.
It is a fine line between cosplay in general and a fetish. It depends on the mind of the cosplayer: if they occasionally dress up in say, latex, or as a character to go out with friends, that might not be considered a fetish. However, if, with the specific intention to satisfy their own sexual needs, they regularly dress up like a cartoon character, that comes closer to a fetish.
Becoming a cosplayer “in the sack” can be pricey, as costumes don’t come cheap and cosplay “is an expensive hobby.” Although you can buy your costume, you can also make it yourself. You should make sure you consider safety concerns, such as constriction of body parts, weapons, dangerous accessories like flammable
Benefits of sexy cosplay
Cosplay offers a chance to use your imagination. The fetish affords participants a chance to scratch their sexual role play itch to the max. For one thing, “cosplay has a lot to offer those who are interested in experimenting with their sexual identity” including taking on an age, race or gender other than their own. Maybe you are usually shy in the bedroom, but you feel like you identify with the powerful and regal Khaleesi from Game of Thrones. Cosplay offers a chance to really express your fandom of characters who you might like to emulate.
Your character is key to your sexy scenario
Since there are many different fictional characters to choose from, there are limitless possibilities for cosplay outfits as well as sexual scenarios to enact.
For example, heroines and villains are a great way to use teasing, chasing “cat and mouse” games, as well as bondage.
You can create scenarios based off of your characters and the best part is that you already have a storyline written by the film writer, novelist, comic author, etc.
How to get started
To get an idea about cosplay in general, check out this introduction.
Of course, before you show up in a Superman costume, make sure you talk to your partner about their interest level. Masks, leather, latex, and other “costumey” things may be a good warm-up into the world of cosplay. Later you can build those favorite accessories and items together in a favorite character.
If you are interested in bringing cosplay into the bedroom, you might want to try going to a comic-con. You can dip your toe in that world by watching the different cosplayers and seeing the possibilities and see if you are drawn to it. Check out different Pinterest boards for costume ideas. You may also want to consider combining cosplay with date night and use this subscription box to keep the sexy times flowing. If one partner wants to participate but doesn’t want to dress up (either because it isn’t their fetish or because the scenario requires the other party to not be costumed), you can offer some lovely lingerie instead of a costume.
If your interest in cosplay reaches the level of a fetish, then you will likely want to delve deeper into this type of play, but make sure you have the fully informed consent of your partner. Remember to take safety precautions depending on the level of risk inherent in the play scenario (ie, don’t leave someone tied up without supervision, or use sharp metal accessories, etc). And, depending on the intensity of the role play, you should consider agreeing on a safe word ahead of time in case someone gets too wrapped up in their role. (A safe word like “red” is one in which stops play.)
Who knows…maybe it’s time to dress to thrill and let your inner comic geek come out to play