How do you make an outfit look more dirty or aged, with out acualy (for example) throwing it in the dirt?
or staining it with things that might smell later? lol
Some of my cosplays have a more rustic look to them.
need help, so a few pointers please?

Instead of actually throwing it in the dirt you could maybe rub a tiny bit of dirt into the fabric.

I know when your painting things you can put a tiny bit of paint onto a dry brush and dry brush the area (rubbing the brush on the area) I don't know if you could try something similar with your costume. Maybe you could try it on a piece of scrappy fabric first and see how that looks. Remeber to use a tiny, tiny amount of paint, rub most of it off on something first.

If it's a light fabric it might be worth trying to use an old tea bag - if you're looking for an aged look, that is.

For my Silent Hill Nurse and for Nick from L4D I used coffee, tea and watered down black/brown paint. It's just down to making is stronger or lighter for the shade of staining you want. Admitidly you then smell like burning electricals (As the Auchinawa Committie thought) but it can be worth it

I used dirt, coffee, paint, glue (then peeled it off) and tea on my Riddler costume and I also took sandpaper and other stuff to wear it out.

Although it smelt a bit, it stopped after I stuck it in the wash.

go outside and roll around in damp grass

Rub a used tea bag or coffee grounds on, or brown/black boot polish for a dirt effect, or soak it in tea/coffee for an all over browning.

You can also take the tip of a scissor blade to the knees of trousers and such for a worn effect.

what about loosely sponging on darker fabric paint onto the clothing in some areas? to create a more rustic dirty game effect. would 3d work better because it turns out shiny?

I mostly need this for my Lilith cosplay. '

You'd need to make sure the paint is really watered down, but it might work. Try it on a piece of spare fabric first!

This might sound more crazy but what about dark blusher? Brush blusher over the costume?

I have to agree - the classic tea and coffee stain technique is a cheap but effective one!

I generally just go and roll around in the garden for half hour or so, but that's probably because I'm a bit strange.

I do this too. It's the most fun part!

(but if you really don't want to be dirty, watered-down acrylic paint is great and won't smell)

If you want to weather down clothes to make them look used or "sandblasted" then use a small sheet of fine sandpaper. The more coarse stuff you have to be careful with otherwise you just end up with big holes where your costume used to be!

Also on the dirtying side, if you want to try something without smelling like a Nescafe ground blend then maybe something as simple as some light brown face paint or equivalent, which can then also be used on your skin.