Riverdale has swept up the newer generation's fascination with quirky character tropes, mysterious murderers, small-town gossip, and time period ambiguity.
In fact, the ambiguous costumes, based on the Archie Comics, have been the inspiration for cosplayers around the world to evoke their inner girl next door, Betty Cooper, and mobster princess, Veronica Lodge. Here is a look at five great Betty Cooper cosplay and five great cosplay of Veronica Lodge.
Betty: Pop's Milkshake Connoisseur
This cosplay of Betty was done by Turtleylois and was photographed by Frenchstick Photography. Positioned at a recreation of a table at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, this cosplayer incorporates the importance of a good milkshake to Betty Cooper. This was a prominent characterization for Betty in the first season, and it is nice to see a cosplayer that.
Veronica: Not Your Average Riverdale Vixen
If there were any two characters that needed each other to help even them out, it surely was Betty and Veronica.
With their friendship born from a shared ion to be a Riverdale River Vixen, the dynamic duo that is Betty and Veronica was molded.
Betty: The Iconic Ponytail
This cosplayer does a great job incorporating Betty as Riverdale's newest River Vixen, by wearing the cheerleading costume, posing under the supposed bleachers, and even carrying mismatched pom poms. Perhaps, the nonmatching pom poms are even a subtle insinuation that Betty does not entirely fit into this cheerleading squad.
Veronica: Heiress Extraordinaire and Le Bonne Nuit's Entrepreneur
This cosplayer works to recreate Veronica Lodge in the comfort of what looks to be a set that is unlike Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.
The side by side shows the magical effects that digital editing can bring to a cosplay. Perhaps, it isn't just makeup, hair, and a good costume; now cosplayers are bettering their design by adding an artificial aesthetic.
Betty: Riverdale's Girl Next Door
This cosplayer shows Betty Cooper at Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe. With her pose, hair, and choice of shirt, it is safe to say this is an early version of Betty. This is a version of Betty Cooper who is known as the girl next door, rather than the serpent queen or daughter of the Black Mask.
Veronica: Cateyes, Cheer Costumes, And Pearls, Oh My!
This cosplay looks like it came straight out of a promotional campaign for the show.
At first glance, this cosplay is so spot-on that viewers think this could be Camila Mendes who plays Veronica Lodge, but they would be fooled. Still, this cosplayer could as the stunt double for sure.
Betty: The Festive "Bughead"
This cosplay duo shows off the relationship between Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones, also known as "bughead". The two pose under Christmas lights while wearing recreations of the characters' clothing from the show.
It is refreshing to see a Betty cosplayer wear her great peacoat, instead of putting emphasis on a blush-colored polo. As always, a Betty cosplay would not be complete without her iconic blonde ponytail.
Veronica: Smells Like Cheer Spirit (And Maybe A Birkin Bag)
Veronica's main goal in the first season was to break away from the shadow of her mobster father and establish her own presence at Riverdale High. Part of that plan was to the River Visen cheerleading squad. When that wasn't enough, she ran for student body president, and opening up The Bonne Nuit in the basement of Pop's Chick'lit Shoppe.
It seems that Veronica is the type of character to set her sights higher and higher, and this can be seen through the cosplayer's pose. The edited light glimmer in the top right corner of the image was a good tough, as well.
Betty: Riverdale's Yin And Yang Cheerleaders
All the way does to the hair color difference, betty and Veronica are best friends that represent a personality balance like the Yin and Yang. While one character is more reserved and modest, the other is not afraid to speak her mind.
It seems that while Veronica works to clean up the mess her family made, Betty delves deeper into her own family's closets and begins to turn into a darker version of herself. Nevertheless, this cosplay shows the balance that these two characters bring to the show.
Veronica: Ronnie and Archiekinz
This cosplaying duo does a great job of embodying the teen couple. Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge were seemingly meant to be in the first few seasons and this cosplay hearkens to a moment where the two were sitting together at Riverdale High and having a heart-to-heart.
Just as the cosplayer says in the image bio, Veronica may be a strong character (if not the strongest female lead), but she's human and could use someone to lean on and bear the weight of the world with her.