Quality
Whether a costume is handmade or store-bought, we may look at the stitching, material, and fit. Handmade costumes deserve a bonus. If you have compiled your costume from things found around the house, we look at how you have modified them, how you paired them and how creative you were. We also consider wig styling and make-up. Tips… If your costume is handmade, be sure to let the judges know how you made it, and if not, try to put emphasis on something you styled, like your wig, make-up, or props.
Presentation
One of the goals of wearing a costume is to look as much like your character as possible, which includes body motions and any phrases that you say. Acting in character should earn bonus points. Tips… Try speaking in the voice and/or tone of your character; saying things how the character would say them – try standing, posing, and moving just as you imagine the character would.
Accuracy
How faithful are your costume, hair, make-up, and props to the character you are portraying? Tips… Print (or share screen with) a picture of your character. If you’re not dressing as a specific character, try mentioning what your inspiration was for your costume choices. 🙂
Effort
Judges should try to determine how much effort each contestant put into completing the costume. An example would be finding or creating a rare prop, styling the appropriate wig, or doing the make-up. Tips… Make sure to tell the judges how much time you spent working on your costume and please point out any details that required any ‘extra’ effort to complete.