Convention season is upon us and nothing turns my creative juices more than figuring out what to wear. Since conventions are a multi-day event and involve more walking than Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor, comfort is key. BoxLunch recently released a new line of character-themed jerseys that fit the bill and some double as character-bounding attire.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Quality and Comfort
I was sent the Disney Princess Belle Women’s Cropped Baseball Jersey (BoxLunch Exclusive) to try out. The material breathes well and it felt like something that would pair nicely with a Florida summer day.
The women’s style jerseys are modest crop tops, with enough length to feel comfortable without exposing too much. I still wear a tank top underneath mine because I prefer a layered look.
When it comes to sizing, I normally wear a large in women’s tops; however, I was able to comfortably wear a medium in the Belle baseball jersey. Make sure to check your measurements before ordering.
Each character in the line is well represented in the overall aesthetics. Belle has a patch on her shoulder that says, “Beauty is found within,” and the number on the back represents the year the animated movie hit theaters. It’s the little details that make the design come together.
How to Style It for Casual Cosplay
Now, to the important part. How to style this so you can walk the convention comfortably, but still in character.
Any of the jerseys go well with neutral pants and a t-shirt, but if you want to feel like you put in more effort and maybe get stopped for a photo or two, here are two recommendations I have to style the baseball jersey.
A League of Their Own Inspired
If you want to go old-school Hollywood baseball Belle (or any of the other women’s baseball characters), you can achieve it by using the same outfit formula found in the classic movie, A League of Their Own.
To pull off the look, you will need a skirt and knee-high tights/socks in the main color featured on the jersey, a baseball hat and shoes in the color of the trim, and, if you so desire, a matching tank top or undershirt.
For Belle, it would look something like this:
Mini Skater Skirt in Turmeric (Amazon, $17)
Thigh High Socks in Wine Red (Amazon, $6)
Baseball cap in Mustard Yellow or Wine Red (Amazon, $15)
Sneakers – Any pair in a matching color that you find comfortable will work. I think wine red or mustard yellow works well with the colors on the jersey.
Casual Baseball Player Inspired
If you’d rather go a bit more casual, get a pair of cargo capri pants and shoes in the main color featured on the jersey, a baseball hat and socks in the color of the trim, and an optional matching tank top or undershirt. Belle’s ensemble would look something like this:
Cargo Capri Pants in Wine Red (Amazon, $32)
Baseball cap in Mustard Yellow or Wine Red (Amazon, $15)
Gold socks (Amazon, $7) – Wear these folded down or pulled up.
Sneakers – I think a pair in a matching color that you find comfortable will work. Personally, I’d go with the opposite color of whatever hat you go with.
Optional Final Touches
If you really want to pull the look together, but don’t have the hair length to do it, check out this Belle-inspired wig. It’s the same one I’ve used for my Jedi Belle cosplay and it holds up pretty well and was easy-ish to style with no experience.
Props are always fun and if you can find someone who does wood burning/engraving, getting a bat with either Belle’s or Beast’s name on it would be a fun addition.
If you need a bag, I suggest a crossbody with a baseball theme. A backpack is my go to style, but in this case it might cover up too much of the outfit.
Final Inning
No matter if you go full cosplay, “character-bounding,” or casual, BoxLunch character-themed sports jerseys are a fun way to represent a favorite character without going canon. At around $49 each (prices vary based on character and design), you can do a different one each day with basic stuff in your closet or relatively inexpensive attire found at a thrift shop or Amazon. I like that they are breathable for those hot convention days and easy to clean (toss in the wash and forget). Represent your favorite fandom and sport in one shot.
If you are looking for a fun, casual cosplay (or last-minute idea), check out BoxLunch’s Exclusive selection of character sport attire. They have a wide range of characters and sizes in men’s and women’s styles available.
Shop online or find a store in your area to find your next convention look today.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received a review sample.
