I’m certain by now many of our readers know how passionate I am about cosplaying. I’ve made mention that Link was one of the earliest characters I’ve cosplayed, but I actually did have a different Zelda-themed cosplay long before that. It was my second cosplay, actually. What was it? The Ultimate Zelda Nerd.
Back when I was 14 and attending my first convention, my mom helped me create my very first cosplay; and by that I mean she pretty much made the entire thing for me. I wanted to be Osaka from Azumanga Daioh, so she made me her blue summer uniform since I liked that one more than the red, long-sleeved winter one. Of course, the red would have been much more recognizable, as I would later learn.
It
I was going to wear the same cosplay again the next day, but
I took some thick yarn and snapped my Zelda game cases onto it to create a sash that I would wear across my torso. I printed out screenshots of my favorite in-game moments and taped them onto my pants. I stuck the Toon Link plushie I bought the day before into my pocket, slipped my wooden Medieval Times sword that I painted to look like Twilight Princess Zelda’s in my belt loop, and slid my Fairy Ocarina replica onto a necklace. I also borrowed my friend’s Link cap that he had worn the day before with his Ocarina of Time Link costume. The final touch was a sticky note taped to my back that was labeled “Ultimate Zelda Nerd.”
This costume went over a lot better than I had expected. There was always something among my collection that started a conversation with other Zelda fans, which was amazing. I heard so many stories of what the series has done for these people and was complimented on my own dedication and love for the series. I even got people whistling the theme song somehow!
With this, I saw what cosplay was truly about. It was about having fun with a community of people with the same passion as you. It’s about portraying something or someone that’s an important part of your life. It’s about expressing yourself, and I felt this silly costume of mine did that perfectly. Eventually, this would all lead me to creating my very first Link costume.
