Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
Hand Sewing for Beginners: Button Tree
In this session, learn basic embroidery techniques for backstitching and how to sew on a button, and leave with a finished piece of art! Participants will have their choice of making a summer or fall colors tree for this project. (2 hours. Limit 12 participants. $15 fee.)
Moderator: Whitney Sews
Panelists: Whitney Sews
Tracks: Art, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, General Interest, Workshop
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Body Painting Demo
Join the Creative Countess and watch as they turn a person into a living work of art. From intricate designs to stunning illusions, this live demo will take you on a visual journey that pushes the boundaries of imagination. (2 hours)
Moderator: Creative Countess
Panelists: Creative Countess
Tracks: Art, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Workshop
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: JQH Boardroom presented by Morningstar Storage
Rock a Pocket
Women’s clothes are notorious for having terrible pockets, but have you ever wondered how women carried anything back in the days of enormous dresses? Get up close and personal with 18th century pockets by making one of your own! You’ll be able to decorate and hand sew your very own historic pocket in this make and take. (2 hours. Limit 14 participants. $10 fee.)
Moderator: Britt Alfred
Panelists: Britt Alfred
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Art, Maker, Workshop
1:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Cosplay Shoots for Beginners
Deep dive with Dark Side Cosplay on easy posing techniques you can use for your next costumed photo shoot. Learn about useful resources for sourcing inspiration, getting comfortable with the camera, plus tips for optimizing use of the time and setting during the shoot.
Moderator: Dark Side Cosplay
Panelists: Dark Side Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Art
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Cosplaying On a Budget
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams on a ramen budget? No problem! With these budget-conscious creative tips, you too can create diamond-tier cosplay with coal (well, maybe some thrifted pieces and duct tape to start).
Moderator: TattedSith Cosplay
Panelists: Buck Berlin, Julie Barrett, MadiHatter, Rynaga, TattedSith Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
2:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: My Hero
My Hero Academia cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Anime
2:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Leather for Cosplay for Beginners
Interested in using leather for the first time with your next cosplay build? In this panel Tiffany Gordon Cosplay will help you get started; going over where to get it, what to look out for, what tools you will need and much more!
Moderator: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Panelists: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
3:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Safety in Photography: Finding the Right Photographer and Staying Safe
In this panel, join cosplayer and professional model Christina Dark Cosplay for a discussion about what to look for in photographers, identifying red flags and avoiding predators by keeping yourself safe.
Moderator: Christina Dark Cosplay
Panelists: Christina Dark Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Art
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Costuming and Cosplay for Body Positivity
Cosplay is about freedom of expression, not gatekeeping. This applies to that negative inner voice telling you that you're not pretty/fit/young/whatever else enough to cosplay. But how do you get past that perception and into your new self-concept as a cosplayer? Let's talk about body positivity and why it matters for creativity and joy in cosplay.
Moderator: Chaotic Neutral Cosplay
Panelists: Chaotic Neutral Cosplay, Mimic Rae, Ms Fae Mullens, Tall Chick Cosplay, The Singing Costumer, TKM Cosplay
4:00 PM | Location: Noble
LED Bowties
Bow Ties are cool, and they're even more cool when they light up! Learn how basic electrical circuits work as you build an LED bow tie. (1 hour. Limit 16 participants, suitable for ages 8+. Bring an adult to assist.)
Moderator: Julie Barrett
Panelists: Julie Barrett
Tracks: Kids, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
4:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Cosplay Fashion Show
Walk the red carpet at Soonercon 31! This friendly contest is for attendees to show off their costumes. For those not interested in competing in the staged costume contest, as well as for contestants who have assembled their costume from commercially produced or otherwise alternatively sourced (including but not limited to commissions and closet/thrifted cosplays), this is the cosplay exhibition event for you!
Participants will be expected to show off runway-style in front of a Soonercon backdrop with open photography available, and may be judged based on this presentation (if wishing to participate) for the awards categories:
Most Heroic
Vilest Villain
Broody Anti-Hero
Sickest Cyberpunk
Most Likely to Survive Nuclear Winter
Moderator: MadiHatter
Panelists: MadiHatter, the Lo-Fi Ky
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
7:00 PM | Location: Hotel Suite (look for location on the signage boards)
Historical Fashion Exhibit
Soonercon attendees are invited to join costumer and historic-clothing collector Ms. Kathleen M O'Brien in her parlor for a viewing of antique and vintage garments. Questions welcome! (2 hours, come-and-go viewings.)
Moderator: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Panelists: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, History
8:00 PM | Location: Sooner B presented by Fowler Automotive
Cocktails and Cotton Tails
Soonercon's Cocktails and Cotton Tails is a socialite-style party featuring bunny suits and smoking jackets mashed up with pop culture and fandom elements. Start the con off on the right foot with a cocktail hour and social meetup for adults! Novices and experienced costumers are welcome to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere without judgement to flex their costuming muscles or just rock out casually! Costumes are not required but encouraged for this themed event. Must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Moderator: 0
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Meetup
8:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Furry Meetup
Come-and-go social time with furs and friends before hitting up the dance and other Soonercon evening activities.
Moderator: 0
Tracks: Meetup, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
10:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: JQH Boardroom presented by Morningstar Storage
Costume Contest Prejudging Sessions
All interested costume contest contestants must attend their assigned pre-judging session in full costume. Questions? Find the Costuming Info table near Con HQ/Registration.
Moderator: Dark Side Cosplay
Panelists: Christina Dark Cosplay, Dark Side Cosplay, Tiffany Gordon Cosplay, Whitney Sews
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker, Performing Arts
10:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Suiting up with the 501st Legion
Legionnaires take the public behind the helmet and show how several costumes were put together and how they're put on while taking questions from the audience.
Moderator: James Dock
Panelists: Chris Curtis, James Dock, James Peake, John Eads/Jim Shorts, Kyle Robertson, Steven Manning
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
10:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
Sewing Circuits
Sew up a simple LED circuit as you learn the basics of costume lighting. There will also be a variety of demo swatches available for you to try out so you can see various ways of incorporating switches, sensors, and wiring into your designs. The workshop fee includes fabric, conductive thread, LED sequins, and batteries. (2 hours. Limit 14 participants, ages 16+. $10 fee.)
Moderator: Julie Barrett
Panelists: Julie Barrett
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Workshop
11:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ presented by Robot House
Superhero School
New World Comics presents Superhero School, featuring TV and comic book favorites in this interactive cosplay experience. Learn about your favorite characters! Ask them about their adventures and take time for pictures.
Moderator: La Blanke
Panelists: Buck Berlin, La Blanke, Sentinelbait, TKM Cosplay
Tracks: Kids, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Comics, Performing Arts
11:00 AM | Location: Hotel Suite (look for location on the signage boards)
Historical Fashion Exhibit
Soonercon attendees are invited to join costumer and historic-clothing collector Ms. Kathleen M O'Brien in her parlor for a viewing of antique and vintage garments. Questions welcome! (2.5 hours, come-and-go viewings.)
Moderator: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Panelists: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, History
Noon | Location: Oklahoma G
Queerness in Cosplay
Trans, two-spirit, and nonbinary cosplayers face unique challenges in the costuming world. Issues like dysphoria, body and/or ability shaming, and misogyny can be barriers to support and enjoying the art of cosplay. How is queer identity and acceptance being positively represented in the costuming community? What's being done to encourage the community to be more inclusive?
Moderator: L.L.Killjoy
Panelists: Ash King, Chaotic Neutral Cosplay, L.L.Killjoy, Mica Membrane, MuJooJuJu, the Lo-Fi Ky
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Pop Culture & Entertainment
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: Cyberpunk & Dystopia
Cyberpunk and Dystopia cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Science Fiction, Pop Culture & Entertainment
1:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Pattern Adjustments for Cosplay and Costuming
A grand ol' patterning panel covering: bust and shoulder adjustments, lengthening and shortening, hacking pieces from ready-made garments to incorporate into your new garment, and interpreting fit issues. Learn pro tips for adjusting existing patterns, using your correct measurements (yep, some math is involved), and plotting out a build using digital design files or commercially available patterns.
Moderator: Hall of Femme
Panelists: Hall of Femme, Mace Kendu, Magician Michael Corley, WandererTJ
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
1:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: 90s Cartoons
90s cartoon cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Pop Culture & Entertainment
2:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
How to Make a Breastplate Pattern
Let’s make a breastplate pattern together! In this panel Tiffany Gordon Cosplay will do a live demonstration on how to make a breastplate pattern on a person using plastic wrap, masking tape and Sharpies.
Moderator: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Panelists: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
3:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: Anime (Large Group)
Anime cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Anime
3:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Makeup and Wig 101: How to Enhance Your Cosplay
Explore regular and SFX makeup to help the finishing touches of your cosplay, as well as styling and maintaining wigs in this panel with make-up and modeling maven Christina Dark Cosplay.
Moderator: Christina Dark Cosplay
Panelists: Christina Dark Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
4:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Fan-Made Content: Reimagined Creation or Copyright Issue?
What is considered acceptable (and unacceptable) use of existing works in fan-made creations like art, cosplay, or fan fiction? Isn’t a little creative license part of nerd culture? Where's the line for such creative inspirations?
Moderator: Jan S. Gephardt
Panelists: Hall of Femme, James Farr, Jan S. Gephardt, L.L.Killjoy, Peri Charlifu, Sally Hamilton
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker, Art, Writing & Publishing, Comics, Content Creation & Podcasting, General Interest
4:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
Build a Tiara
Join Sara Felix in a tiara-making workshop. Follow along, or make it your own. She will show you the basic techniques to make a gorgeous tiara fit for any fae prince or princess. (2 hours. Limit 14 participants. $20 fee.)
Moderator: Sara Felix
Panelists: Sara Felix
Tracks: Art, Maker, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Workshop
4:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Coping Through Cosplay
Dark Side Cosplay shares her personal story in this discussion on using cosplay and conventions to help deal with depression and anxiety and to overcome many of life's tougher adversities. Join in this open forum to open up about the therapeutic side of cosplay and creative expression.
Moderator: Dark Side Cosplay
Panelists: Dark Side Cosplay
4:00 PM | Location: Hotel Suite (look for location on the signage boards)
Historical Fashion Exhibit
Soonercon attendees are invited to join costumer and historic-clothing collector Ms. Kathleen M O'Brien in her parlor for a viewing of antique and vintage garments. Questions welcome! (2 hours, come-and-go viewings.)
Moderator: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Panelists: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, History
5:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
So You Want to be a Jedi?
What does it mean to BE a Jedi? A costumer's resource on what the Jedi are, how they dress, how to capture the way they move in a performance, plus a guide to swinging a saber without doing too much damage to the world around you. Be one with the Force in the all-inclusive how to for Jedi Knights to be!
Moderator: James Dock
Panelists: James Dock, Mace Kendu, Whitney Sews
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Pop Culture & Entertainment
7:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Costume Contest Line Up
All Soonercon Costume Contest participants (age 13+ division) report to contest green room (Boomer A ballroom) for placement and line-up assignments.
Moderator: 0
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Contest, Art, Maker, Performing Arts
8:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ presented by Robot House
Costume Contest
Soonercon's 31st annual Costume Contest.
Moderator: John Eads/Jim Shorts
Panelists: Christina Dark Cosplay, Dark Side Cosplay, John Eads/Jim Shorts, Tiffany Gordon Cosplay, Whitney Sews
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Contest, Art, Maker, Performing Arts
10:00 AM | Location: University C
Turn Fandom into Your Job
There's money to be made in being a geek artist/maker/writer etc., if you can turn your passion into your profession. Join our panelists as they discuss tips, tricks, and how-tos on turning your interests into income.
Moderator: FoxDaddy
Panelists: Buck Berlin, FoxDaddy, Kevin Dilmore, Liz Campbell, Robert Daniels, What’s Up Fandom Podcast
Tracks: Business & Marketing, Maker, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Writing & Publishing, Art, Content Creation & Podcasting, Gaming, Comics
10:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma G
Ladies of the Legions
No one knows what this panel is about. Not a clue. They won't even let us in to observe. Okay fine, it's actually useful information for female costumers who want to wear costumes primarily designed for male bodies and how to make those costumes fit better.
Moderator: Denise McKay
Panelists: Denise McKay, Krystal Orpi, Vivian Sloan
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
10:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Sizing You Up: How to Take Measurements
One of the best ways to feel super confident and comfortable in a cosplay is making sure that it fits as best it can. But how? We'll talk about how (and how not) to find your measurements so you're able to either make or custom-order a nearly perfect fit!
Moderator: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Panelists: Kathleen M. O'Brien
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker, Workshop
10:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 1 Boardroom
reSew, reUse, and reCosplay
Let's face it, cosplay is an expensive hobby and not very sustainable. Whitney Sews has spent the past year focusing on finding ways to make cosplay more sustainable (and budget friendly!). This includes things like reusing parts of costumes for other characters, reworking thrifted clothing for thrift flip costumes, and thrifting curtains and tablecloths to serve as materials for completely handmade cosplays.
Moderator: Whitney Sews
Panelists: Whitney Sews
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Workshop
10:30 AM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ presented by Robot House
Children's Costume Contest Line Up
Contestants meet the judges and line up for the Costume Contest during this set up time at 10:30 a.m.. The contest begins at 11:00 a.m. for Soonercon's Children's Costume Contest on the main stage (ages 5-12), featuring costumes imagined and made by younglings. Ensure your child is registered beforehand and at the main ballroom by this time in order to compete in the contest. (30 minutes)
Moderator: 0
Tracks: Kids, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Contest, Maker
11:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma G
Gatekeeping in Cosplay and Breaking Down Stereotypes
A panel addressing diversity and inclusion in the cosplay community, led by Christina Dark Cosplay.
Moderator: Christina Dark Cosplay
Panelists: Christina Dark Cosplay, Lollalotus, Magician Michael Corley, Stellae Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Culture & World Affairs
11:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Horn Building Workshop
Want to make a pair of cosplay horns for the first time? In this workshop, you will be building a pair of EVA Foam horns instructed by Tiffany Gordon Cosplay. All you need is to bring yourself and come ready to make a pair of horns that you can take home and wear at the end of the workshop. All skill levels welcome! (2 hours. Limit 20 participants. $35 fee.)
Moderator: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Panelists: Tiffany Gordon Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker
11:00 AM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ presented by Robot House
Children's Costume Contest
Kids (12 and under) will compete and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen.
Soonercon's annual Children's Costume Contest on the main stage (ages 5-12) featuring costumes imagined and made by younglings. Sign up by close of registration on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Costuming Info table at Con HQ or online. Visit https://www.soonercon.com/kids-costume-contest/ for more info and to register.
Moderator: Mystix Panda
Panelists: Mimic Rae, Mystix Panda, Sentinelbait, TKM Cosplay
Tracks: Kids, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Maker, Contest
11:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: Video Games
Video game cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Gaming, Pop Culture & Entertainment
Noon | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Fountain
Cosplay Meetup: Marvel & DC
DC and Marvel cosplayers meet up on the hotel side.
Moderator:
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Comics, Pop Culture & Entertainment
Noon | Location: Oklahoma G
Cosplay on Location
Love to travel and cosplay? Dark Side Cosplay shares her pro tips for choosing locations, researching and incorporating destination spaces into your next cosplay-spectacular road trip.
Moderator: Dark Side Cosplay
Panelists: Dark Side Cosplay
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
1:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Cosplay Portfolio: How, Why, and What For!
What should be in your cosplay portfolio? How do you decide what to keep? In this panel we discuss how to tailor your portfolio to best show off your work—for your website or contest-judging preparation.
Moderator: Mimic Rae
Panelists: Mimic Rae, Stellae Cosplay, TattedSith Cosplay, the Lo-Fi Ky, The Singing Costumer
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
1:00 PM | Location: University C
Cutthroat Iron Cosplay
The showdown returns! Four cosplayers have 30 minutes to quick-construct the best costume with the provided materials. Basic cosplay materials are provided along with some not-so basic options to use, as well as a secret theme and required materials. The audience is the judge of this creative contest. May the best cosplay win! (Supplies provided. 2 hours.)
Moderator: Buck Berlin
Panelists: Buck Berlin, Hall of Femme, Lollalotus, Rynaga, Whitney Sews
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Gaming, Maker, Art, Pop Culture & Entertainment
1:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Bedlam 2 Boardroom
SFX Makeup for Beginners: Cosplay Edition
There's a world of SFX make-up and prosthetics techniques to help punch your costume up to a new level. In this demo, Creative Countess shows how to complete a basic prosthetic application and shares makeup techniques to blend and shade to achieve a realistic-looking body modification for your next cosplay. Plus, let's learn how to safely remove these when you're finished, and other pro tips for cleaning and storing reusable SFX pieces. (2 hours)
Moderator: Creative Countess
Panelists: Creative Countess
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion, Art, Workshop
2:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Cosplay Over 40: Age Doesn't Matter
Cosplayers of all ages exist and they even age! You're not relegated to just playing the wise old wizard, evil Imperial officer, the doting mom, or eccentric granny for laughs. Our over-40 cosplay panelists discuss tips for making any character your own and feeling fabulous in your cosplay at any age.
Moderator: Ms Fae Mullens
Panelists: John Eads/Jim Shorts, Mace Kendu, Ms Fae Mullens, TKM Cosplay, Vanessa Green
Tracks: Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Steampunk for Everyone
Steampunk style is alive and well nearly two hundred years after its inspiration. An introduction to steampunk for the curious and a resource share for the familiar, we’ll discuss fashion and props, and innovative historical twists on modern amenities as the hallmarks of this community of makers, dreamers and doers
Moderator: Melinda LaFevers
Panelists: Aaron Bossig, Kathleen M. O'Brien, Mace Kendu, Melinda LaFevers, vickey malone kennedy
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, History, Writing & Publishing, Art, Cosplay, Costuming & Fashion