In 1980, the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) hosted Westercon, one of the country’s most beloved annual gatherings for sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book fans. The convention drew hundreds of attendees to Los Angeles, many of whom spent months preparing elaborate, handcrafted costumes for the event.
These were not simple store-bought outfits. Cosplayers built detailed armor pieces, applied complex makeup, and sourced or sewed every part of their costumes by hand. The level of craft on display across the convention floor was remarkable.
Characters from Star Trek were among the most popular choices. Fans dressed as Klingons, Vulcans, and Starfleet officers roamed the halls, debating everything from starship design to the finer points of Klingon grammar.
The convention floor buzzed with energy. Cosplayers posed for photos, traded costume-building tips, and connected with others who shared their passion. For many, Westercon was a rare space where their interests were celebrated rather than mocked.
Fantasy characters were just as well represented as sci-fi ones. Attendees drew inspiration from novels, comics, films, and television, creating costumes that spanned a wide range of genres and fandoms.
Groups of friends often coordinated their costumes, arriving together as full casts of characters. These group efforts took months of planning and turned heads the moment they stepped through the doors.
The craftsmanship extended well beyond clothing. Prop weapons, shields, helmets, and accessories were all part of the package. Some attendees carried handmade replica gadgets and tools that matched their characters down to the smallest detail.
Westercon also drew fans who had followed science fiction since its pulp magazine days. For them, the convention was a decades-long tradition. Newer attendees brought fresh energy and introduced fandoms that had only recently gained mainstream attention.
The late 1970s blockbuster wave had a clear effect on the costumes at the 1980 event. Star Wars, released just three years earlier, inspired countless attendees to suit up as Stormtroopers, Jedi, and alien creatures from a galaxy far, far away.
Makeup artists and body painters also made their mark at the convention. Prosthetic foreheads, pointed ears, painted skin, and sculpted latex features transformed ordinary fans into creatures from other worlds.
Children attended alongside adults, dressed in their own miniature versions of beloved characters. Parents helped their kids build costumes, turning the preparation itself into a shared hobby long before the convention began.
Costume contests were a major highlight of Westercon. Judges evaluated entries on construction quality, accuracy, and presentation. Winners earned bragging rights in a community that took craftsmanship seriously.
Not every attendee came in costume, but those who did set the tone for the entire event. Walking the floor, you encountered aliens, warriors, robots, wizards, and space explorers all in the same room.
Panels and discussions ran alongside the costume activity. Authors, artists, and industry figures spoke to packed rooms while the hallways outside remained alive with photo opportunities and spontaneous performances from cosplayers staying fully in character.
By 1980, Westercon had been running for over three decades, but the energy of that year’s Los Angeles edition felt particularly charged. The sci-fi genre was at a commercial high point, and fan culture was growing faster than ever before.
These photographs capture a community at the peak of its early enthusiasm — creative, dedicated, and deeply proud of what they built with their own hands.
