First time making a costume, I honestly don't know where to start.

[Miss Manipulation]

I don't even know how to sew! But I've got my mom to teach me that part. Well anyways. I decided if my mother is not going to let me buy and cosplay, if I make it she might be proud of the end result and let me finally cosplay. I, however, have no idea how to start. All the characters I'd like to cosplay as have such... extravagant if not oddly-made costumes. Such as:
http://images.wikia.com/aselia/image...fg225toa12.jpg
http://cosplayreferencelibrary.files...2/04/46107.jpg

I don't know what fabrics, or what part to start at, or... I just. Oh gosh, and wigs. Not quite sure how I'm going to pull that off without buying one.

[threewolves]

Hmm, to just start out, I would probably start small and work yourself up to the main stuff. A whole costume can be a daunting thing, but if you look at it in as very small stages, it doesnt look so big and next thing you know its done.

Since your just starting out to learn to sew, I would pick easy pieces of the costume, get some very cheap fabric to work with and practice on that. Last thing you want to do is mess up the good stuff. Plus it will let you learn what is good to work with or not.

I havent cosplayed yet, but I do medieval fighting, so a couple of things I have learnt from that could help here. Work with breathable materials. I know the difference between wearing nonbreathing material and breathing material, as in linen under my armor, is night and day as far as surviving the heat.

I'm sure plenty of folks will jump in here soon to help you out, those are just some ideas I have from what I have learnt over the years in my other hobby, that translates well to here.

[Jacob's Ladder]

Wow that would look amazing if you can pull it off. I have a few friends that cosplay, and they use material that is sturdy, but breathes. They never want to be hot...so make sure to research what types of cloth work well together and won't leave you drenched.