Fursuits: fur, paint and rubber

Fursuits are costumes that make a person look like a alter-ego that is partly or entirely non-human animals. The costumes are associated with what s known as furry fandom, zoo- or anthropomorphism. Some of these costumes are professionally made and others are amazing amateur creations.

Zentai are body suits that cover the entire body quite closely, including the hands, feet and face. These can be use as an inexpensive and convenient base for a fursuit. You can get a very simple complete catsuit with ears and tail for less than $50 (e.g. leopard zentai, mermaid zentail).

However a fully pulled together look normally requires the addition of custom head-pieces, painted texture, and hand or foot pieces. People who use this kind of costume are sometimes called "spandex furs".

A mainstream example of this type of costume would be the musical "Cats".

Examples of zentai and similar body fitting fursuits:

• Smashwolf--Fox costume (2009)
• Dombrus Dhour--rubber gazelle* (2011?)
• Taun-taun (Star Wars) by Zhon (2011)

*A note on rubber furs: Rubber fursuits (something of a contradiction in terms) are a kind of cross-over between the rubber fetish and the fursuit. Some are more like fetishwear (see: morkaii) and others more like traditional fursuits that just happen to be made out of rubber.

The is also the option of a looser fitting suit more like a sports mascot costume. These can be brought pre-made but are far more attractive when scratch-made or extensively customized--as mascot costumes are not really designed to look good close up. Looser designed are often sculpted and padded to create a more animal-like body shape.

Examples of mascot-style fursuits and similar looser-fit costumes.

• Luskwood--Mammoth (2008, pictured).
• Furducers--blue wolf (2009)
• Horse (2010)
• Hellcat (2011)
• My Little Ponies (2011)

Another option is to have a partial costume that you wear with normal clothes. This might include a full-head mask, mittens and tail--or other parts as required by species and parts of the body not covered by clothing.

Lauren, a habitual partial fursuit wearer, was featured on a 2011 episode of the real show My Strange Addiction.

Examples:

• Gray Wolf (2011)

Quadsuits are the least human-looking options, often involving arm-stilts and other props to create quadrupedal stance and gait.

Quadsuits can even be made strong enough to serve as mounts.

The preeminent maker of quadsuits is Lilleah West.

Examples:

• Cyan (2011)
• Soroxas--Horse/Epona (2010)
• Beastcub--Sabretooth quadsuit (2009, pictured)
• LilleahWest--wolf (2009)
• LilleahWest--unicorn (2009)
• Red XIII (2007)

Kigurumi are suits that represent cartoon characters, many of which are animals. These include full fur suits with cartoon styling, or pajama style costume with an open face which is worn as street fashion.

Body paint isn't really a 'furry' costume mainstay--but it does make an appearance outside of fandom. For example:

• PeTA foxes (2010)
• Whatever this is (2011)

Note: be aware that if you search for these terms you are likely to come across some adult/bondage material (a.k.a. puppy girls).