The last time I went to a summer con, I immediately thought: why THE FUCK did I think cosplaying Shanks in the dead heat on a July day in TEXAS was a good idea? This summer, to avoid heat stroke, I put together the best summer cosplay ideas for you and your friends!

First up are the Strawhats!

One Piece is always popping; but who is wearing shorts, flip-flops, and bikini tops in the winter? Let’s embrace the heat. The Straw Hats live at sea under the blazing heat, so these cosplays are foolproof. For the coolest fits: go with a Nami, Luffy, Robin, or Chopper cosplay! If you’re feeling super hot, go for the Franky fit because frankly, it could not get cooler than that!

Swap out Zoro’s samurai coat for a swim cover-up or light cardigan. Brook and Sanji’s iconic suits can be a breathable button-up (buttoned or unbuttoned). But also, be creative! the Straw Hats have so many iconic fits from different arcs that may be cooler! For example, Zoro's pre-time skip or Sabaody Archipelago outfit, Sanji's Skypiea outfits, or Brook’s iconic Strong World fit. 

Bodysuits are a great way to show off your arms and legs so perfect for a cool down.

Mirko from My Hero Academia and Yoruichi from Bleach are great options for this. If you want to be a bit creative, cosplay Hawks with a bodysuit, or even All Might. A character in a bodysuit adds a bit of femininity and boldness to the cosplay, especially with superhero characters. 

Back to the group cosplays, we have literally anyone from Haikyuu!

These boys can survive the heat on the court, you can survive the con floor. The shorts agenda wins again, put them on!  There are so many teams to choose from so make it a group with your besties. Amazon also has an extra short/cropped version for extra coolness! If you really want to shake up, get a group to do the boys from the honorary beach episode. It's perfect for the heat! 

Another group that is perfect for the summer heat, are the Sailor Scouts!

You can buy the complete cosplay, or piece it together with a body/bathing suit + shorts that match your fave scout! The bathing suit option is perfect for after-con pool parties. Fighting evil by moonlight, winning the harsh battle of the heat by daylight! 

The Hunter × Hunter Duo is a great option for a summer cosplay!

Both characters are in shorts, and their tops are compatible with the summer heat. At their basics, both are great but feel free to ditch Gon’s jacket or crop it more. As for Killua, the drip king, choose from many of his other iconic outfits. These two make a great duo perfect for summer.

For a cosplay with pants, try a character that has something more loose and flowy.

Erza Scarlet's fire pants may have fire on them but they beat the heat especially when combined with a tiny top! Other characters with the tiny shirt big pants combo are Inosuke (Demon Slayer), Winry (FMA: Brotherhood), and Sai (Naruto).

If none of these work for you, don't worry! Give your fave a beach day makeover!

Go ahead and put Juvia in a swimsuit, and Ichigo in some swim trunks and call it a day! Part of the fun of summer cons is being creative while beating the heat. Embrace your creativity. Pair a black bathing suit with Tanjiro’s kimono, or sneak a bucket hat into your cosplay.

At the end of the day, the goal is to stay cool and slay the summer cosplay game.

It’s HOT, no one is gonna judge you if you don’t pull out the floor-length giant pink fur coat for Doflamingo. Keep cool, wear sunscreen, and drink lots of water.

To see how the Girltaku fam is staying cool this summer check out some of these entries from our Beach Episode Cosplay contest!