It started with a pair of goggles. Not just any pair, these were mirrored rave goggles with black leather straps. I found them down at Borderline on Queen St among various other goggles, leather collars and urban Goth wear. The moment I put them on my inner freak came out; the extravagant gestures, the swooping hand movements and a Cheshire cat smile that my character would soon become famous for became all the more fluid and memorable. In later games it would be these trademark mannerisms my character, Jess the Tailor, would be known for in the Toronto and Hamilton Changeling the Lost venues.

In Live Action Role Playing (LARP) you can never underestimate the importance of costuming. While acting in any form requires something to come from within, a few of the right accoutrements can help that something find its way out. I played my character for four months prior to finding these goggles and never once connected with him. I was frustrated, annoyed and worst of all not having any fun. Literally, I was ready to tear apart my character sheet and walk out on my role as Toronto’s only darkling tailor. After much discussion in various LARP circles I’ve learned that my experience is common among veteran and rookie players. Like the mirrored goggles, there’s something in the clothes; thanks to the magic of costuming, my mirrored goggles transformed Jess the Tailor into a vibrant, manic, and very rich character.

So when others say, "LARP", I wonder if the first thing that comes to their mind is, like any art form, that it is a craft and all a good craftsmen requires are the right tools. I spoke with Stephen Near, a National Story Teller for Mage the Awakening, LARP consultant for Being Erica and professional play-write. Stephen gave me his perspective on the necessity of good costuming for LARP players.

Brett Boyko: I'm curious about the importance of costuming from a LARP perspective and why it is or isn't important.
Stephen Near: Costuming is hugely important.
BB: Why?
SN: Well, it puts you into the frame of mind of your player’s character, or at least the reality of the game. Otherwise what's the point of LARPing? You could just do tabletop. LARP is theatre in which the players are the audience. The fourth wall doesn't exist because both player and audience create a shared experience without costumes, though, that shared experience is lessened.
BB: Now it all makes sense
SN: This is especially true when one party is costumed and another is not.
BB: So on a certain level its not just how you look it's also how you feel?
SN: The shared hallucination of LARP depends upon the agreement by all players/participants. How you feel is how you interact with others, right?
BB: That makes sense.
SN: But how you look, I think, communicates how you feel and what you want the participants to "buy into".
BB: Thanks a lot Stephen. This consolidates a lot of stuff I think some players do instinctively without knowing why. I really appreciate it.
SN: No problem. This is something I've very big interest in with my plays that deal with the LARP community.

I find that being a first time LARP player can be rather intimidating. It’s one thing to sit down and write a cool background story and decide on powers, but the trick is taking the ideal of a character and translating it into a living breathing person on stage. This is when costuming comes into play, as the beauty of a good costume isn’t how it makes you look, it’s how it makes you feel. This means costuming doesn’t need to be elaborate or expensive. Toronto, like many urban Canadian cities, has a variety of hidden gems when it comes to costume shopping. Some places in Toronto where you can get different stuff.

1) Vintage Clothing Stores: Kensington Market is a great place to start in Toronto. There are a variety of shops featuring vintage, punk and costume clothing and accessories for men and women. While prices are a little more than your average dollar store, the selection and quality is excellent. I picked up a vintage tuxedo shirt, cuff-links, cravat, vest and crushed velvet jacket for $70. What started off as a Halloween costume became part of my LARP outfit which I use every month.

2) Dollar Stores: A great source for costuming make-up and cheap accessories. If you’re after some plastic weapons or would rather start of easy with a few minor pieces instead of a full costume to get a feel for LARPing then your local dollar store is a goldmine. More importantly your pocket book won’t feel the pinch either.

3) Thrift Shops: Whether it’s Good Will, the Salvation Army or the local mission there are always good finds. If your character is a Vampire Artisan, a Fae Assassin or a Mage Guardian, thrift shops have a wide range of dresses, shirts, jackets, jewelry and other odds and ends. The fun thing in White Wolf LARP is most supernatural characters are trying to ‘blend’ into society. This doesn’t mean they succeed. If your costume, doesn’t fit perfectly or match the latest Holt Renfrew fashion, then even better.

4) Professional Theatre Stores: If you have money to burn and are looking for something to spark out your character a bit more, then professional costuming stores and theatre supply are always an excellent place to check out. Malabar in Toronto is a LARPers Mecca. It has everything from costume rentals, high-end make up and masks, to props and paraphernalia. An advantage to spending a little bit more on certain outfits once in an awhile is that you'll rarely need to replace them.

The most important thing about a costume is how you feel when you LARP. Our comfort level is determined by little things, like what we wear, how we act, and how others respond to us, and we have a certain amount of control over these factors. The best part is that with the right piece of costuming, a simple LARP session with friends can be changed into a rich and tumultuous adventure filled with (your) fascinating characters and vibrant settings.