Cosplay, Style, and the Joy of the Gaze ESP/ENG
I recently went to an event with my mom called "The Outfit Battle," and I brought my camera to take some portraits of the people who were there. This is a girl I found that day.
Hace poco fui a un evento con mi mamá que se llamaba "La Batalla de Outfits" y llevé mi cámara para hacer algunas fotos de las personas que fueron. A esta chica la encontré ese día.
The style of her clothing, which borders on Comic-Con cosplay, isn't really a cosplay because the concept behind the event isn't about the manga world. Still, Japanese aesthetics have become so popular and massive that they end up permeating many projects related to clothing, fashion, or costumes.
El estilo de su vestimenta, que raya en el cosplay de las Comic-Con, no es realmente un cosplay porque el concepto detrás del evento no es sobre el mundo manga. Aun así, se ha vuelto tan popular y masiva la estética japonesa que termina permeando en muchos proyectos que tienen relación con ropa/moda o disfraces.
The world of cosplay is something that makes me very curious, and I have to admit that it gives me a little cringe, but once I get past that, I think it's incredible. Whenever I'm with my daughters and we see cosplayers, they really enjoy seeing how they are dressed, and seeing the excitement in their eyes is something that makes me very happy.
El mundo del cosplay es algo que me da mucha curiosidad y he de admitir que me causa un poco de cringe, pero una vez superado esto me parece que es increíble. Siempre que estoy con mis hijas y vemos cosplayer, disfrutan muchísimo de ver cómo están vestidos, y ver la emoción en sus ojos es algo que me hace muy feliz.
Beyond whether this is or isn't like cosplay, I think it's an incredible outfit, and the dark aesthetic is one that I love and that has always appealed to me a lot. I thought it was an incredible outfit.
Más allá de si esto se parece o no al cosplay, me parece que es un vestuario increíble y que la estética oscura es una estética que me encanta y siempre me ha llamado mucho. Me pareció un outfit increíble.
Photographer: Diego Aquiles
That bit about feeling a tiny cringe with cosplay until the wonder kicks in really hit me. I still can't tell where con culture ends and streetwear begins, and maybe that's the fun. Once you lean into it, the dark vibe can feel bold and personal. Did you get to ask her about the concept she had in mind?
That feeling is very real. There is a fine line between a costume and a personal style statement, and I think that's where the magic lies, in the intention with which each person wears it.
Unfortunately, I couldn't talk to her much.
Totally, the intention is the secret spice that turns costume into style. Even without a chat, you can feel hints of it in posture, stride, and how the pieces are put together. Sometimes the mystery is part of the draw and lets the viewer project a story. If you run into her again, a tiny question like what vibe are you going for today could open a door.