I'm thrilled to have my beautiful and witty friend Alex of SoCalCostumes here today to help me explain and show you the differences between cosplay and bounding. Both are super fun to take part in and are a great way of expressing your love for a character in a creative way. These gorgeous photographs of us in our Rey (The Rise of Skywalker) outfits were taken by our extremely talented friend Tony. We are so grateful that he took the time to help this project come to life. The photos are absolutely cinematic!
Written by: Alex
To me, cosplay is literally what the word is: COSTUME-PLAY. Get into a costume and have a fun time whether it be for a photo shoot, a convention, or even going to the grocery store! It’s all costume-play. Personally, I don’t think there could be another definition for the word when it’s broken down so easily. It’s what it should be, fun and inclusive!
Rey’s outfit for The Rise of Skywalker was a struggle at first. All of the elements from her other costumes are all there but now with different shades of white. Firstly, any costume or costume piece that’s white is something I dread as a costumer because it means a lot of bleach in the future. There is an off-white hooded and collared shirt that reflects her collared shirt and suede pants with knee pads that reflect her look at the beginning of The Last Jedi. Her silk tulle drape and obi matches her look in The Force Awakens and the end of The Last Jedi. Her hair has returned to her classic triple-bun look but now is less childish and more matured in styling (it’s a very difficult style to do on your own). Her overall silhouette looks very close to how she looked in The Force Awakens. I really love it! Over time, I prefer to get as close to screen accurate as I can. When I can afford it, and as pieces are found and confirmed as screen accurate, I’ll collect them. For this shoot, I had just replaced my drapes to the screen accurate material. The screen accuracy is just for me, it’s something I like to do personally as part of the cosplaying hobby.
Written by: Jenmarie
The term "bounding" simply means styling an outfit together with fashion pieces, accessories, and items that RESEMBLE a specific character. Some people like to challenge themselves and use only what they have at home and others may mix and match old with new. I myself tend to mix and match. The more you participate in bounding, the more pieces you acquire that can also be used for other ensembles in the future. It's the best feeling when someone recognizes who you're portraying. It creates this sense of accomplisment that your creative endeavors have paid off!
My Rey bound was one I've worn before to Batuu but I recently upgraded the belt and added a cuff bracelet and I'm even happier with the results! The reason I upgraded the accessories is because I wanted to better represent what Rey wears in the film. The necklaces that we're both wearing represent the sweet moment between Rey and the Aki-Aki on Pasaana. Alex did such a great job hand-making them! I swapped out my nude heels for a pair of ankle boots I borrowed from my sister. I just thought that they worked so much better than heels since Rey wears boots. Rey's outfit in The Rise of Skywalker is the whitest it's been in the Sequel trilogy which is why I chose the white dress with some fun shoulder cut-outs. As for her hair, I'm not particularly good at doing the Rey buns (I also have a lot of layers which makes it difficult) and since I'm not trying to create the most accurate Rey look that I would if I were cosplaying her, it doesn't matter! I also used the Skywalker Legacy Lightsaber before it had been reforged, and again, it's fine. All that matters is that you're happy with the choices you've made and that you feel good in the outfit you've curated!
Dress: Amazon
Belt: Amazon
Cuff Bracelet: Amazon
Shoes: Borrowed
Necklace: Made by SoCalCostumes
Legacy Lightsaber: Dok Ondar's Den of Antiquities
Sith Wayfinder: MatmanStudios
If you've been thinking about trying your hand at cosplaying or bounding, or you just needed some inspiration for your current project, we hope that this inspired you! Remember to have fun with it and be yourself! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment below or get in touch with us via social media below if you have any questions:
Twitter | Instagram
Jenmarie:
Twitter | Instagram
Disclaimer: Affiliate links were used in this post meaning if you purchase something from Amazon, I will receive a commission.
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