So, you have decided that you want to cosplay Clara Oswald from Doctor Who? Amazing decision! She’s an awesome companion and has some very cute and recognisable outfits. But you’re unsure where to start or how to take care of the items you already have? No problem. Here are the frequently asked questions about cosplaying Clara Oswald:
Where Can I Find Clara Oswald’s Outfits?
Phew, that is a tough question and not all that easily answered. Sometimes, they’re sold by other cosplayers who no longer need them and sometimes you can find them sold by other people who don’t even know they are selling a sought-after cosplay item. Here is a list of places you can use to hunt for your next Clara Oswald cosplay:
- Vinted
- eBay
- eBay Kleinanzeigen (Germany)
- Depop
- Videdressing
- Vestiaire Collective
- Facebook Marketplace
- Mädchenflohmarkt (Germany)
- Poshmark (US)
Vinted is available in many countries, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Spain, Poland, and others. I recommend checking out other Vinted versions aside from your own county as popularity varies. Germany and France have a larger selection than the UK, so it might be worth having a look at these, too. Some sellers might be willing to shop abroad. Especially when it comes to brands like Sessun or Claudie Pierlot, the French version of Vinted is excellent.
When searching eBay or Depop for Clara items, you can type in “Clara Oswald” and will probably come up with a few results already. However, these are sold by people who already know these are cosplay items, so prices are likely going to be higher. You can get lucky and instead search for the brand and the item instead. This will take some time and probably involves scrolling through countless items, but you can save a lot of money this way. For example, if you are looking for Clara’s Topshop Hybrid Jumper from Face the Raven, you might search for “Topshop Jumper Grey” instead.
How Do I Care For My Cosplay Items?
When buying used clothes, there is a chance of receiving an item without a label because the previous owner decided to cut it out. I often include care instructions in my item reviews and list the materials the items are made of. Many of Clara Oswald’s clothes are safe to go in the washing machine, but certainly not all. All items that contain leather, such as the Kooples Jacket or All Saints Elias Mac, should be dry cleaned properly. Jumpers that are made of merino wool are recommended for dry cleaning, too, but they are also safe to hand-wash. If in doubt, I recommend giving your clothes a gentle rinse in the sink.
Some items, such as the Topshop Diamond Print Blouse from The Caretaker, are prone to wrinkling. Investing in a steamer can help tackle this annoying problem. There are small hand steamers available on Amazon for around 40-100 €.
Beware of Scammers!
Cosplay is a wonderful hobby and I found the Clara Oswald cosplay community to be a very nice and helpful one. Someone will always be willing to help you out. However, scammers have also realised that cosplay can be a bit of a goldmine, so they buy and re-sell Clara items for much more than they are worth and what they paid for them. Some Clara Oswald items are pricey, yes. This includes the more expensive brands, such as The Kooples or All Saints, and also very rare items, like the Topshop Check-Lined Mac. If cosplayers are selling these for higher prices, they very likely paid as much in the first place. However, items, such as the Topshop Diamond Print Blouse or the Urban Outfitters Playsuits, are very common and can be found for very little money if you look for them for a while. Please don’t spend too much money on those.
If you’re unsure how much an individual item is worth, you can check out my item reviews. I researched all the original prices and give my opinion on rarity so that you can better judge how much to pay for each Clara Oswald cosplay item.