r/CosplayHelp • u/_SoapyChocolate_ • Jul 02 '26
Buying Am I overthinking this?
I didn't really know what flair to give this sooo yeah.
So this is kinda my layout for my Michael Afton Foxybro cosplay minus the mask (ignore how badly drawn it is I had to draw it on my phone, and the pink isn't scars, they're mainly bruises because i'm a clumbsy person and they probably aren't going to be gone in time so eh, they're apart of the cosplay now ig). I personally feel like it's great! However, every store seems to hate me because I just can't find a good tanktop that hides my chest and looks canon. The most I have to hide my chest is one sports bra, I did bring up the topic of a chest binder (i'm not trans but I just kinda wanted one anyway) but my mom immediately shut that down. I could probably make my own but I'm scared it won't be ready for the expo because i'm still busy with the mask and I don't wanna accidentally make it too tight or something.
I've always been a bit weird about my cosplays wanting them to be as accurate as I can make them so I've been a bit stumped because all the good tanktops show my sports bra. I found a tight fitting tanktop but you can still kinda see my chest, am I just overthinking this and it's fine or is there a way to hide my chest more?
Edit: Not important but there's also a studded belt thats a bit too big so I've been having to drape it over my hip which my mom isn't the biggest fan of but she won't say much. But is there really any way to make it more adjustable?
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u/squidtheinky Jul 02 '26
You can get a grey mens t-shirt and cut the sleeves off. Then the neck would be high enough and the straps would be wide enough to cover your bra, and the fit in the waist will hang straighter off your chest instead of being tapered in at the waist like ladies shirts.
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
Yeah, that was actually my origional plan! Though, the only issue I have with that is sadly the arm holes would droop too low and expose my bra
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u/squidtheinky Jul 02 '26
Could you get a grey sports bra? So it would blend in better?
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
Could but idk. I've never ordered any sort of bra before, I always get them in person but where I got mine it was mainly just pattern or some random color but you never really know. They mainly had bright colors
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u/LocalArcticFox Jul 03 '26
Maybe you could get the excess fabric from cutting the sleeves and use it to make the arm holes smaller
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 03 '26
I do know how to sew but not seamlessly lol. Someone else suggested crew neck tees so I think I may get one of those because I think their arm holes are smaller. Idk, we'll see. If it doesn't work out it'll just become a sleep shirt
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u/LocalArcticFox Jul 03 '26
You could try using an invisible stitch, its commonly used to repair clothing seamlessly
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 03 '26
True, true. Still think I'm gonna try the crew neck first, but if it goes too low I'll definitely use this. Thanks!
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u/TZ_HAMSTER Jul 02 '26
Overthinking it is fine some times but give yourself props for thinking and getting everything else set up and ready already. The tank top is a simple piece so you can find basic grey tank tops basically in any store. I don't find the fact seeing a bit of chest is weird. I find Michael Afton is pretty built. Not buff but muscular. He is fit so it wouldn't look weird.
As a chest binder since you are going to an expo I understand why your mother sit that down but remember you will be walking and moving and standing around practically the whole time, binding restrains airflow and flexibility.
The main part is you're recognizable! Many people will recognize it. And as I have been to a con before, not that many people will go up to you especially if your younger and with an adult but when I go I'm usually like "oh that's denji from chainsaw man, cool!"
So basically just be comfortable with what every you do and have fun! (Sorry if this made no sense I wish you luck!)
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
No it's fine it makes sense to me! I know (hopefully) no one will look at some random teens chest in general, I'm just a overall picky person and love accurate things. And I thought pretty much everywhere would just have a standard normal gray uncroped tanktop but I feel like I've looked everywhere and they seem to have it whenever I don't need it lol. But thanks for the advice! I've never been to a full on con before, but last year was my first time going to an expo soon I see it as special and when I think of special I immediately go to perfect which is honestly probably something I needa work on
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u/Auranonny Jul 02 '26
Absolutely! People generally won't care if you aren't screen-accurate or whatever. It's your interpretation of a character. I also 200% agree that comfort should come first, otherwise you probably won't have a good time at the con in the first place (source: went for accuracy on my wig at my last con, then made it too heavy and had it pulling on my hairline all day. Ow.)
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u/Auranonny Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
As someone who's wearing a binder right now... yeah, when binders aren't an option for my day-to-day stuff, I have some alternatives. It might depend on your cup size, but you should try looking at high-impact sports bras. The kinds people use for martial arts and jogging and so forth. Specifically, you want one that does not have defined and padded cups. Most of them do, so it'll take some searching, probably in-person at stores. Look for a flat front panel. I think I have an underarmour one that works nicely.... Anyways, it absolutely won't redistribute your chest as much as a binder or trans-tape/k-tape (the latter is another alternative for you, see below), but it'll flatten slightly, won't put you on a time limit like a binder does, and it'll keep your chest from moving while you're out an about. Additionally, it's an easier purchase to justify to parents, since you can just..... keep using it as a normal sports bra afterwards....
As a reminder, do not double-layer your sports bras. Do not use ace bandages. Do not buy a size too small of anything for "extra compression". All of these are bad for your ribs. Even if you don't injure yourself permanently, you'll feel it in the sides of your ribs and your back muscles tomorrow. Learn from my mistakes, haha.
If you do want to try trans-tape/k-tape... it's a very adhesive strip that you use to redistributes your chest fat sideways. I say try the sports bra first, but if you want to investigate this then you should look at the FTM trans subreddit.... they know way more about this than I do and probably have a written guide somewhere. Put a test strip on your arm or something to check for an allergic reaction first. Also, application and removal are finnicky. Make sure to remove it with oil and/or in the shower.
For the shirt, you could try a mens-cut tank top... If you're concerned about your bra straps/side of your bra showing then maybe try a crew-neck tee, seam-rip the sleeves off, and then hem the sleeve holes by hand. It should be a smaller width around the arm than a dedicated tank top.
Best of luck!
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
I probably won't even use tape, but thanks! Someone else recommended layering them so that's good to know! I'll try to look more into that stuff
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
I asked her about the bra and she immediately said no cuz she doesnt want me to have a flat chest 😒
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u/EneraldFoggs Jul 02 '26
I just wanted to add that you can also create the illusion of a smaller chest by adding something a bit bulky around your waist under the shirt to make your torso look less curvy and reduce the contrast between your chest and abdomen.
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
True. It's hot as heck though so I'm trying to avoid anything that could make me hotter
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u/EneraldFoggs Jul 02 '26
Only one answer then: inflatable AC puffer vest from asia, lol. Seriously though I feel you on the heat.....
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u/RoxyRevs Jul 03 '26
I don’t know much about binders or tape, but some of the other comments help! But for the tank top, I hear your worries about the mens shirt and showing your bra. You could find a woman’s grey shirt and do the same thing to that one, with just changing the neckline also. Woman’s shirts tend to have smaller holes, haha. Good luck!
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 03 '26
I'm searching Amazon rn for crew cut tees now since someone else said that may work better, but all the women's shirts have been disappointing in one way or another so ive been trying to see if there good gender neutral ones (all that mainly pops up are guy shirts but clothes are clothes, it doesn't really matter)
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u/quartzsong Jul 03 '26
Idk I don’t find boobs a huge detractor from cosplay but hope you figure it out OP because most people at a con could care less and will love the cosplay even with a bra showing
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 03 '26
I think im gonna get a free neck tee and cut the sleeves off! Tysm though!
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u/Fragrant-Reason4216 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
You could do 2 sports bras to smash you in a bit, -edit- NOT ace bandage, i have been misinformed, and now properly informed! Depending on size, i have some tank tops that are tight and stretchy enough that it flattens me out? There are loads of options. They do have binders that look like sports bras, dont wanna get you in trouble but if I saw them out of context in the laundry I wouldn't even know the difference
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u/Octospyder Jul 02 '26
ace bandages are incredibly unsafe for binding. you can end up cracking a rib because they don't have the right kind of elasticity
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u/riontach Jul 02 '26
Please do not encourage people to use ace bandages to bind. That is not a safe binding practice.
OP do not do this.
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u/Fragrant-Reason4216 Jul 02 '26
Did not know, its just something my aunt did because she was well endowed! Thank you for for the info!
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u/riontach Jul 02 '26
Lots of people have done it at various times and for various reasons. It is still not safe and has not always worked out well for them.
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 03 '26
So you seem to know a bunch about them. I asked my mom for just a high compression sports bra and she immediately said no (she's a big transphobe even though i'm not trans) but my dad recommend the ace tapes because him and his brother had them on whenever play wrestling or whatever and that everything would be fine if you didn't tie it too tight. He said they should be fine if it's only for a day, is this true or should I still steer away from it?
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u/riontach Jul 03 '26
You should not use ace bandages to bind, period. It's really not something that's worth any amount of risk.
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
Sorry, I was driving back from something and then forgot to reply. My mom views pretty much all trans things bad so I don't think she'd let me get any kind of binder (i've tried). I've heard people say to layer sports bras but I've always thought that it'd make it more obvious? I only own one so I'd have to ask my mom but that one shouldn't be too hard
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u/Fragrant-Reason4216 Jul 02 '26
For layerd bras (and im thinking of the ones I have in my collection of too many bralettes and sports bras) I have one thats like a thinner strap but full coverage and also thinner material, that I would put under the basic and usually thicker material ones I think the thicker material would hide any double seam bumps? Or a basic one with a long line one? Im just popping off ideas so its less obvious, but maybe just a thicker sports bras in the same grey? Target had one that i got thats like double lined, but without cups if that makes sense? Its just thicker lol
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
Ah. I'm wearing one thats low support with no padding and does a good job overall, but for the tanktop thats the closest to what I could find is a bit tighter so it's still a bit noticable, but the majority of the sports bras I see are all like trying to pad up the chest to make em look bigger
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u/Fragrant-Reason4216 Jul 02 '26
I always look for removable padding, i find them at marhsalls (and stores like that) usually in 2 or 3 packs. It is getting harder to find unpadded or shapeless ones these days
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u/_SoapyChocolate_ Jul 02 '26
I genuinely don't remember the last time I've been in a Marshall's but I'll needa ask my mom! Thanks! But yeah, so true
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u/riontach Jul 02 '26
The best thing would be to get a binder or use another safe binding method like trans tape. If neither of those are an option, then sticking with a sports bra is probably the way to go.