Cosplay, You Say?

Ok, I have a confession. I like to Cosplay. So for years I went to the Anime and Video Game Convention in awe of the designs that are showcased on the July weekend, and it is one event I do not miss. But it was only until last year that I gained the courage and motivation to create my own Cosplay outfit – an Umbreon from Pokémon.

So I went to unisa.edu/clubs and found a group called the Adelaide Cosplay & EGL (Elegant Lolita) Club! I contacted Saccharine Darling, one of the club’s members, for a little Q&A.

What is this club and do you have events?

The club is incredibly active. My partner and I are part of similar clubs all over the country on Facebook and this is hands down the most active and fun of all of them. There are regular events like beach days, Nerf wars, picnics, movie nights and karaoke, and they actively encourage new members to come along and meet people. It’s a fun, safe place for people to discuss their interests and get advice.There was even a self-defence day held by a member who is great with martial arts, to help people learn how to protect themselves from over-enthusiastic huggers at conventions!

Why do you Cosplay/dress in Elegant Lolita?

I dress in Lolita, I’m a Lolita designer for the Sugar Freedom brand and own a Lolita clothing store in Adelaide called Tokyo Hardcore. The style is my hobby, my passion and my career, and it makes me happy because it lets me express myself and be a princess.

With Cosplay, I co-promote an event called Neko Nation. It’s an anime/gaming club night where people can come and party in Cosplay, and have another place to enjoy their hobby.

Having these interests makes my life way more fun and enjoyable, and I’ve met and made a lot of friends because of it.

Do you often make your costumes from scratch? How long has it taken you in the past?

Some people buy them, some people make them; it depends. Different people enjoy their hobbies differently. Some love the act of making them and being able to express their creativity, while others lack skills or prefer to buy them because they enjoy being the character. There’s a lot of flexibility in how people can express themselves that makes it a lot of fun.

To get involved, go to the unilife.com/clubs page, or you can find them on Facebook.