@shonenchicklets:

Yeah. I was thinking about doing a red mage. I'm pretty sure I'd need a red fedora, but that'd be hard to get a hold of.

@ladymage:

So many possibilities. So many different designs. Really the only red mage I can remember is the one from final fantasy 3

@shonenchicklets:

Black mage...red mage, you know, a final fantasy kind of mage. Mostly I want to be a red mage...

@ladymage:

Uh... What kind of mage?

Could you tell me how to make a mage costume of some sort?

@GTK:

Well, this wasn't meant for big elaborate costumes or anything. It was meant for people who just want to dress up last minute or just feel like experimenting. But, yeah, I see where you're coming from. x3

I actually disagree with most of this... buying most of your costume items from holiday places usually doesn't make for a very nice looking costume (wings and wigs, for example, always look very cheap). Wigs at party places are a bit hit or miss with quality, but I personally tend to avoid them.

I won't deny that many of my cosplay items are hand me downs (I got a large collection of lovely gloves from my grandmother), and sometimes store bought items can be used and used well. However, a costume tends to look better if you make it rather than toss it together using store bought or found items.

I know cosplayers like to be cheap, but there are other ways of doing it aside from buying cheap items. Most fabric stores have coupons (average seems to be 40% off) that can be used on items, or they have sales, and so on.