How to store cosplay costumes!
I don’t know about you, but I have a bunch of cosplays lying around in my room. And while it’s easy to just throw your cosplays in your home and forget about them, it may not be the best solution. If you want your cosplays to look good and last very long, then you need to optimally store them.
How do you do this? Let’s find out!
How do you store cosplay costumes?
There are many ways to store your cosplay costumes, depending on the type of costume you have. You can easily put your simple cosplays in a bag or a storage bin. But if you have something more fragile and intricate, then you’ll want to store your cosplay differently such as hanging it up. There are pros and cons for each method.
In this post, I’ll go over 4 ways on how to store cosplay costumes. All these methods will ensure your cosplays will stay fresh and last a long time.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Putting your cosplay in a bag
The first and probably most convenient way to store your cosplay is by placing it in a bag. There are many different bags you can use, like a re-sealable plastic bag. But my favorite is the reusable bags you use when you buy your groceries. Those are the sturdiest bags and they’re very easy to carry around.
The best thing about storing your cosplay in a bag is the convenience. For example, for my Naofumi cosplay, I have all the clothing and parts (except the boots and shield) in one reusable bag. I personally love having everything in one bag, and it’s quick and easy to take to/from the convention. And putting your cosplay in a bag doesn’t take up much space.
The downsides of storing your cosplay in a bag is that it won’t work for costumes that have fragile parts (e.g. things that are externally sewed on, armored parts). Basically, if you have things that would break when folded up, then you can’t put it in a bag. Cosplays inside bags can also easily get wrinkled, so it can be a hassle to iron it again (click here to read my article about ironing).
| Pros | Cons |
| Convenient | Won’t work for fragile cosplays |
| Takes up little space | Cosplays can get wrinkled in a bag |
2. Hanging it up in the closet
Another option for storing your cosplay is by hanging the costume on a rack. Similar to hanging your jacket or sweater, you simply do the same for your cosplays. They work great for big dresses as well.
There are many advantages to doing this. If you have any fancy things on your costume such as jewelry or armor, then hanging it up will ensure these things won’t get wrecked. Hanging it up also prevents any wrinkles as it keeps your cosplay nice and today. And keeping it in your closet also is good for saving space in your home. I can’t think of too many disadvantages with hanging your cosplays, other than your closet having limited space. If you have a lot of cosplays, then you likely cannot fit all of them in your closet, so you’ll have to pick and choose which ones will need to be in your closet.
| Pros | Cons |
| Protects any fragile parts of your cosplay | Hanging space in closet is limited, so you probably cannot put all your cosplays there |
| Prevents wrinkles |
3. In a laundry bin
For your regular clothing, you likely store your clothes in a laundry basket, nicely folded and put away. Well you can definitely do the same with cosplays, depending on the type of clothing material you’re using for your cosplay. If your character wears casual clothing such as jeans or a shirt, then a laundry basket works perfectly for it. You’ll be saving a lot of space as well.
However, your laundry basket won’t work for every single cosplay out there. Items such as dresses or things with armor would not work well, as they would get wrinkled or simply wouldn’t fit in a laundry basket. It’s also a hassle to take out your cosplay if it’s in the bottom of the basket; you’ll have to take out everything on top before getting to it. With that said, if you don’t plan on wearing your cosplay for a long time, then it’s totally fine to put them in the laundry basket.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can save on space if you have lots of different cosplay clothing | Won’t work for large or fragile cosplays |
| Keeps everything organized | Difficult to take out cosplays from the bottom |
4. In a large enclosed container
When it comes to storing your cosplay; if you want to go all out, then the best thing you can do is buy a large enclosed container for it. I’m talking about those large plastic containers you find at a retail store. These bins work perfectly for bulky cosplays such as ones with armor and Worbla. Or if you simply want to put all your cosplay props and materials together in one bin, then this is the way to do so. The biggest disadvantage is of course the size. These bins take up a LOT of space. So hopefully you got lots of room in your home for these bins!
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for armored or bulky cosplays | Takes up a lot of space in your home |
Bonus: Get rid of it!
Last but not least, you have this method that doesn’t involve storing them at all; you simply get rid of it! I know it’s hard to part ways with a cosplay, especially ones that are sentimental to you. And while you should definitely keep the cosplays you absolutely love (like my Marth cosplay that’s several years old), you also shouldn’t horde all your cosplays, especially if you haven’t worn them in a very long time.
Here are a few ways you can make space in your home and get rid of your cosplays:
- Sell your cosplay. You should try selling your cosplay on Facebook. There are ALWAYS cosplayers who are looking to buy used cosplays at a discount, because cosplaying can get expensive. If you want a guide on how to sell your used cosplays, click here.
- Donate your cosplay. Tons of people love to cosplay but don’t have the money or resources to do so. Help them out by donating your cosplay to someone who (truly) cannot afford this hobby. Even costume stores like Cosplay Station donate costumes from time to time!
- Let your friends borrow your cosplay. In a similar vein to donating, you can also let your friends borrow and your cosplays. If you follow my content, you know that I recommend borrowing and exchanging cosplays with your friends who are the same size as you. But even with friends that don’t have costumes, I give them my cosplays to wear if I’m not using them myself. It’s the least I can do to help out. 🙂
Summary
To summarize, here are the 4 ways on how to store your cosplays:
Putting your cosplay in a bag
Hanging it up in the closet
In a laundry bin
In a large enclosed container
And there you have it; 4 ways to store your cosplays! I hope you found this post useful. Do you have a lot of your cosplays in your home? If so, what do you do with them? Let me know in the comments below!
My name is Roger Senpai. I’m a cosplayer that’s been in the community for well over a decade now. I’ve traveled all over the world to Anime and Comic conventions and hosted my own cosplay events. Now I’m writing articles for new and experienced cosplayers like you to help inspire, save you money and improve your cosplays!
