-This topic is one of the most discussed ones in the cosplay community and there are a lot of opinions about it, I also have mine and would like to share it with you guys. For me, buying a costume is fine (there is always that one BUT that I will add later). Why? Well there are a few reasons which I guess some of you would agree with.
1) Time: there are some people who work way too much (or have a lot of schoolwork if they're still studying) and just can’t make enough time to make a costume on their own.
2) Skills: this also somehow comes in a package with the time issue, because not everyone has a sewing machine or time to practice sewing. Yes, you can do it without a machine, but how if you just don’t have time for it?
3) Money: sometimes costumes can be much cheaper when bought complete, because there is often free shipping (if the purchase is made over a shopping site) and the whole costume included, usually featuring some important details as well.



-You can also ask someone to sew it for you, which I believe is also ok! It would sort of be the same as if you bought it from the internet, but you would be able to to check your measurements so it would come out just the right size for you.
*BUT, when is not ok to buy a costume?:
- Contest time! In this case, I think it's ok to ask someone to sew it for you, but from experience, you will need to know the whole process of the making, materials etc. The least you could do is make some accessory by yourself or with the help of your friends and family, to add something of your own to the costume which I think is a good deal.
-It’s also better if, when asked, if you bought the costume, you just say it: “Yeah I bought it.” It’s very stupid to say that you made it by yourself if you really didn't take any part in it? Like why would you do that?
- If you ask some other cosplayers that make their own costumes, they will most likely all tell you how powerful and fulfilled they feel after they sew their costume, make props, style their wig etc. Because, in my opinion, then you see how great your effort payed off and how much you leveled up up by making it.