How to Crossplay

Last Updated: February 3, 2022

So you want to crossplay as a specific character who happens to be of the opposite gender. It's a little more complicated than simply learning how to crossdress, because you're trying to imitate a particular character.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Researching

1
Study your character religiously. Play all of their games, watch all of the shows they are in, or read every piece of manga they grace the pages of.
2
Research on crossplay websites. See if anyone else has crossplayed this character before- find out how they did it and if you can, ask them for tips.

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3
Make notes and sketches on how you're going to make yourself convincing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Male Crossplaying as Female Character

1
Buy or make a costume; make sure that it will fit you. Shoes are a must.
2
Get a bargain bra and pad it out with tissue paper, rags or whatever you have in hand.
3
Grow your hair out or buy a wig if the character has long hair. Make sure your hair looks nice.
4
Shave your legs, any facial hair you might have and, if they seem a bit beastly, your lower arms too.
5
Practice walking and talking like a girl. Be sure not to overdo it or you will be less convincing, but make sure you practice especially hard if you're going to have to walk in high heels.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Female Crossplaying as Male Character

1
Get a friend to help you bind down your chest, especially if your male character wears a figure-hugging outfit. If you're not particularly busty, this isn't quite so necessary, but it's recommended if your character wears anything like a tank top. Use either a binder or a compression shirt for this. DO NOT USE ACE BANDAGES OR TAPE, as these can cause fluid buildup in your lungs. If you use a binder, make sure you know how to prevent injuries and fluid buildup in your lungs.
2
Think about hair. Luckily most men in anime have long girly locks anyway, but if the character you've chosen doesn't, are you willing to have your hair cut short just to play him? If not, consider a wig. Even if you have long hair, you CAN fit it all under a short wig! Likewise, if your character is supposed to wear a hat, you can take advantage of it by simply tucking your hair into the hat.
3
Throw yourself into the role, swaggering about like you imagine he would. Take on any of his gruff mannerisms (if crossplaying a butch man, it's likely he has nicknames for girls such as "doll" etc.)

Community Q&A

Question

What gender of cosplayer is best for Mettaton?

Community Answer

Mettaton is incredibly feminine, but is confirmed as a male. I suggest making your own head canon's for the gender, and work on that. Anyone can cosplay Mettaton, no matter gender, body type, ethnicity etc.
Question

What if you're a girl, who is dressing as a girl disguised as a man? (For example, Mulan as Ping or Lucina at the start of Fire Emblem: Awakening)?

Community Answer

In both cases, the girls didn't act too convincingly, so it's fine to not be perfect, as seen in Mulan Ping (aka Mulan) wore armour to cover her chest so she wasn't found out. In Lucina's case she wore a baggy sort of apron. For the voice (if you're going all out), you can goof up as much as you'd like because in their movie/game, they sounded mostly like a girl with a "deep" voice.
Question

I'm playing a male character (I'm a female) who is usually seen in swim type clothes. What is the best way to effectively hide a binder when swimming? I am going to wear a swim shirt with it, but the binder keeps showing up.

Community Answer

You might want to invest in a seamless binder or one that lies flatter on you. You might also be able to find a skin-tone one. Some fabric glue or tape might help as well, if you don't mind gluing it to the swim shirt. Always be safe while wearing binders, and never leave one on too long or wear one that is too tight.

Warnings

Be aware that if you are successful, people may actually mistake you for a member of the opposite sex. Be prepared to get wolf whistles from those you wouldn't normally expect to!

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Never use Duct Tape or tape on bare skin to bind - you could rip off layers of skin when you unbind at the end of the day giving you a painful, bloody mess. Furthermore, Duct Tape is not breathable and will cause chafing and discomfort. If you still insist on using Duct Tape, do it safely. Put on a light camisole that you won't mind ruining first, and apply the tape to the shirt. This will make for a less painful and dangerous removal. Do this at your own risk.

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Women: Be aware of how tightly you are binding. Too tight of a binding is not only uncomfortable, but can hinder breathing or leave bruises.

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