** Tentative Topic list — subject to change without notice **

COS001  Wait  Dont Throw That Away!

The trash-to-treasure theory from a costumers perspective.

COS002  Gadgets And Gizmos

And other cool costume accessorizing.

COS003  Mmmm, Now How Can I Do This?

The ins and outs of fabric glue, No Sew, and other secrets of costuming without dragging out the Singer sewing machine.

COS004  The Larger Fan  But We Like To Dress Up Too You Know!

Does Spandex really have a weight limit? Building costumes for the full figured fan.

COS005  Hall Costuming Vs The Masquerade

Stage Some tips on both, how they are different, etc.

COS006  Competition Quality Costuming

How does the judging work?  Novice, Journeyman and Master are the classes, but what are the rules?  Pre-judging workmanship?  What is the breakdown for workmanship and presentation in judging?  Are there any tips to make me better?

COS007  Reconstruction Costuming

Modifying and reusing materials or elaborating on what youve got.  Tear it down and build it up but never waste good materials!

COS008  Is That A Laser Gun In Your Pocket?

High Tech Costumes for Low Tech Fans. Some great ideas for taking simple items and making them into something really cool.

COS009  Costuming And Gaming

LARPing and RPGs  – Making durable wear that captures your alter ego and can still stand the wear and tear. Practical costuming.

COS010  Lords, Ladies, And Pretty Maids All In A Row:  RenFaires and the SCA

Costuming for the Faire, materials and time periods, for the attendee as well as the player.

COS011  The Ultimate Equalizer Metals

Workshop:  Accessorizing with weapons, body armor and chain-mail.

COS012  The Value Of Velvet And The Sparkle Of Lame

Sometimes its all in the Bling, others its the materials.  Using fabrics to make a design the best it can be.

COS013  Blast From The Past

Videos of the past Worldcon Masquerade Contests. Please indicate if you have the video or know someone who does. VHS or DVD, bring a camcorder if in that format.

COS014  Steampunk 101

(in connection with the 1632 panel)

COS015  Working With Wire

Using wire in costuming to add that extra support or even design work your costume may need.

COS016  Do Workmanship Awards Favor Older Technologies?

How can we encourage new technology in costuming?

COS017  See Im So Pretty

How to present your costume for photographing.

COS018  Costuming On A Budget

You dont have to be rich to make great masquerade costumes.

COS019  Bling!

OK we bling our cell phones, iPods and DSs.  How to put your bling on, yourself or your wardrobe. Body glitter, rhinestones and such.

COS020  Can You See Me Now? Stage makeup. Yeah it looked great in the mirror, but on the stage I looked like a blank slate!  Make sure your costume is complete with the look.

COS021  The Devil Is In The Details

Making sure you have checked every detail of your costume, and having that handy emergency kit.  There are so many funny stories about falling apart in fandom, but its never funny when you are on stage (maybe later).  Things you never thought to put into an emergency kit.

COS022  Steampunk Origins

A history of the beginning of a wave that has taken fandom by storm, the music , games and costumes we have come to love. Lets talk about it all.

COS023  Above The Rest

Tall costuming – getting that height with support to be a real stand out in a crowd.

COS024  Masquerade For Masqueraders

A chance for the masqueraders to review their performances, and fans who missed it to see it. A showing of last nights Masquerade.  (Sunday mid-afternoon)

COS025  A Chance To Talk To The Masqueraders

Get time to ask questions and congratulate those performances we loved from the night before.  (to follow the above showing)

COS026  A Look Through Time

Period costuming is harder than it looks: materials, authenticity.

COS027  Cant Sew To Save My Soul Or Have Gun Will Travel

A panel talking about alternate fasteners: pins, staples and hot glue guns.

COS028  Photography Of Costumes

Learn how to take photos of costumes and how to pose when being photographed.

COS029 Color Your Fabric World – You can add color to your costume without having to sew

Come find out some of the methods and tools available and when you would want to use them. Technique samples will be available for close study.

COS030 Dyeing Techniques 101 – Intimidated by dyeing?

Want to know what something might look like when you dye it? Overview plus samples showing different techniques will be available for close study.

COS031 How Do I Solve a Problem Like???

Bring it on! Your greatest challenges, your spot of trouble? Like-minded costumers will be on hand to help sort
you out!

COS032 Quilting, Appliqué, Rusching, Cording, Scrunching?

You’ve heard the terms. Here’s your chance to learn the differences between them!

COS033 Sari Wrapping

Learn how to wrap a sari five different ways. One of the ways gives you maximum coverage. A second way can be considered rather sexy and a third way of wrapping will not get you stopped by little old Indian ladies who think you have done it wrong. Yes, that’s only three and you will learn two other ways to wrap also. A handout will be provided. Bring your 5-6 yard sari if you want to wrap yourself in one.

COS034 The Size’s The Thing: Costuming For Your Body Type

Which costumes work for what size? And how much does size (vertical or horizontal) matter when creating a historical, SF, or fantasy persona? And do the rules change if you attempt a media recreation?