What are the official rules/unofficial rules/rules for cosplay?

First of all, we all need to know what the actual meaning of “COSPLAY” was
This word. The word “Cosplay” are actually coming from 2 words, which is Costume Play (or Costume player for a person who actually doing so) according to cosplay.co.uk
(Cosplay has a couple of meanings, but the most relevant is the merging of the words costume and play. If you want to wear a costume while attending an event (perhaps even to compete or to perform a short sketch), then you have entered the exciting world of Cosplay.)

According to WIKIPEDIA

Cosplay (コスプレ kosupure), a contraction (or portmanteau) of the English words "costume" and "play", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, Japanese movies, or Japanese pop music bands. However, in some circles, "Cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.
In Japan, "Cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Likeminded people gather to see other costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.
The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word "Cosplay" was that Nov Takahashi (from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term "Cosplay" as a contraction of the English-language words "costume play" while he was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This ultimately triggered Japanese Cosplay. This point is debatable.
Wikipedia goes on to say that Cosplay in the United States and Europe differs from Japanese Cosplay culture in that Cosplay concerning Sci-Fi films and TV shows along with Renaissance-era characters, and historical re-enactments (i.e. Civil War battles), especially at science fiction conventions, are far more popular in the West than they are in Japan.
It also mentions that another recent trend in Cosplay is a blurring of the distinction between costumes based on characters from games and anime, and "original" costumes based upon a general theme or existing fashions. In particular, the Tokyo teen-fashion trend of gothic Lolita has attracted some cosplayers who might not have the inclination to wear such distinctive clothes around town, but who would like to dress in such a manner on some occasions.




As for my own opinions, Cosplay, is a short form from two (2) words. Which is Costume Play? Cosplay for short. Cosplay defines a person or someone or even some living creatures, who/that dressed up like the character in either the game, animes, or from a real life drama series. Either its fairy tails or just plain sciences fiction. Or even dressed up none of what I mentioned and just a plain fun or just plain strange. Also we all have to remember that Cosplay are not just limited to or only related to or exclusively “FOR Japan ONLY” culture. Cosplay also not to mistaken as “Fashion” related field(though its related with sewing techniques and designing phase before you go make the costume and have the outcome as it looks) To be call it as Cosplay, its easy as 1,2,3. Simple just take something that you want it represent as and dress you in. Other than that, Cosplay is to express your love towards the character that you try to potrait not to impress others (same rules apply for shuffling). For example people don usually go and dress themselves looks like a dead creature, when the person do not really like something which is related to dead or worse, Zombies xD


I begin my career as Cosplayers since December 2009(My first time to do so). In addition of that, I know nothing about Cosplay and stuff. If you ask me why I choose that simple white shirt and blur collar with golden yellow line on it.