I'm not a real cosplayer ?

To me it doesn't matter if you buy it or make it yourself. You cosplay because YOU love to dress as one of your favorite characters and that's it. Who cares what everybody else thinks!

You are a real cosplayer. Cosplay is the wearing of the costume, not the making. I buy almost all of mine, and the ones that I had a hand in making are just bits bought online and worn together. There's no rule that says you have to be a seamstress/tailor and make the costumes yourself. So long as you aren't entering masquerades to show off costumes you made yourself then anything goes.

You are still a cosplayer, no matter what. No one can tell you otherwise. Harsh thought, though: even in cosplay communities, there is some stark discrimination between crafters and buyers. (And you'd think the Cloth vs Mecha faction wasn't enough.) Like in Cosplay Summit, about 80% of attendees' costumes must be made by themselves (they had guidelines for those interested to be delegates/participants). Including props. Sad, indeed. I am a fan of those who put together stuff from scratch. If I had the time, I would like to sit down and do my own costumes, too, even if my skills are hardly as good as the monsters out there.. I don't have equipment to sew clothes together with (but if time permits, I settle down to make little accessories and props), so there's a personal seamstress/tailor <<< but even they need supervision, just to keep 'hiccups' from happening on your costume. It takes your own effort to hunt down the right materials for those (a little know-how about cloth -for example- helps with the final products' impact). Thing is, it feels nice to wear something you've made or you've put effort on, whichever way you've had it done.

Making your own cosplay bring a lot of nice feelings but it's not an obligation. Really, cosplaying is all about having fun. Just ignore the haters and have fun.

Perhaps they ask so you can be a reference for them. Personally I'm more interested in people who make atleast a part of their costume knowing I can learn more from them. I think just props-making is enough to make your work interesting to another cosplayer. Even if they brush you off, screw them you still made an effort and they're just bitterellas cause you gots yourself a nice fancy costume and they don't :P I have experienced both making my own costumes from scratch, making half the costume myself with others' help and asking someone else to make my costume entirely. Been cosplaying since 2006 and this was never an issue in countries I have cosplayed at cause very few make them from scratch(even in Japan). It's always how you project and pose and how in character you are. Heck, in Japan I have never even been asked if I made my costume or what, they just take pictures and do small talk.

Looking at this from the other end of the spectrum, you should be proud your supporting people that produce those costumes. You're giving them service and helping them out. If somebody asks you if you made it or not, simply say no, then explain you bought it from a friend or someone who's much more versed in cosplaying than you are. Use that as a segway, then point out pieces you made. Don't let a few one liners end a quick convo. If you ever feel like they are being to negative on your cosplay, ask them something about theirs. If you feel pressured, change the subject. I think the reason you're feeling so weird about all this is due to the short and sweet conversations with no leads. I'm not saying they have to lead into other things, but conversations that last than a minute are forgettable and disheartening to people, me included. Sorry to ramble on.

Screw 'em. Not a SINGLE Soul can say who is, or who isn't a 'Real' Cosplayer. It's honestly sad to see people act that way towards others. You do what makes YOU happy. If people don't like it, Eff 'em.