Costume designers head to Comic Con

Aziza Mansuri, 25, (left) from Seattle, Wash., and Cae McDonald, 25, prepare for New York Comic Con in Cae's Brooklyn apartment, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae and Aziza have been friends since high school and in recent years, have also been avid cosplay, or costume play, participants. Together, they create elaborate costumes under the name Peabody Tailoring. Cae is responsible for most of the sewing, while Aziza has become skilled at creating life-like armor and weapons.

For the first day of New York Comic Con, they have decided to dress as characters from the video game "Skyrim."

Cae McDonald, 25, works on a weapon for her Comic Con costume. McDonald used a Camel's bone purchased online to create a "dragon" bone club, Sept. 28, 2013.

Cosplay is strictly a hobby for McDonald, who works full time as a junior literary agent in New York.

Cae McDonald works on a chain mail detail for her New York Comic Con costume, Sept. 28, 2013.

It can take Cae and Aziza weeks to finish the detailed costumes.

The faux-fur cape for Cae's Comic Con costume, featuring handmade plaster claws and chain mail, rests in Cae McDonald's apartment, Sept. 28, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri applies makeup as she prepares for New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza regularly attends cosplay events in Seattle, where she works as an administrative assistant, prop designer and illustrator. She flew in to New York just to attend Comic Con with Cae McDonald and other friends in the cosplay community.

Aziza Mansuri puts in novelty contact lenses, which will help her transform into Serana, a vampire character from the video game "Skyrim," Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri's fangs sit with a wallet and contact case as the group prepares for Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri helps Cae McDonald apply lipstick "war paint," as part of her "Skyrim" costume, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald helps Aziza Mansuri lace her arm bracers, Oct. 11, 2013.

Doug McDonald, 15, Cae McDonald, 25, and Aziza Mansuri, 25, ride the subway to New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013. Doug is dressed as the character Zacharie from the video game "OFF."

Doug McDonald, Cae McDonald and Aziza Mansuri wait for the N train as they make their way to New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

The group, in partial costume, draws some attention from pedestrians as they cross 9th Ave on the way to the Javits Center in Manhattan, where New York Comic Con is held, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri helps Cae McDonald with the final touches to her costume soon after arriving at the Javits Center, Oct. 11, 2013.

Once in full costume, Cae McDonald and Aziza Mansuri pose as their Skyrim characters, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald, Aziza Mansuri and friends make their way through New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri, dressed as the vampire Serana from the video game "Skyrim," at New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald, Aziza Mansuri and friends walk through New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald and Aziza Mansuri pose with admirers at Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansurimade her choker by hand using epoxy and other materials, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri handcrafted the necklace for Cae's costume, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald and Aziza Mansuri meet up with other friends from the cosplay community at New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Passers-by ask to pose for photos with Cae McDonald, Aziza Mansuri and their friends, Oct. 11, 2013.

Aziza Mansuri adjusts her "fangs" as the group checks out the exhibitors hall at New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.

Cae McDonald poses as her Dragonborn character for a fan photo in the exhibitors hall at New York Comic Con, Oct. 11, 2013.