I am not a girlyl girl. I don't like dresses and I’m
not overly fond of skirts, though they are growing on me. I will take an action
film over a romance any day. I can't use make up in a convincing fashion and my
only hair styles are up, down or in a hat. That said, I LOVE to play dress up,
or as I like to call it, make believe. Some little girls wanted to be a princess
when they were growing up. I wanted to be a pirate...or Indiana Jones. My
heroes were Mr. T, Hulk Hogan, Batman and Fragles. My poor mother had to be on
constant alert lest I attempt to tear my shirt down the middle whilst shouting
"I pity the fool."
When I was growing up, there weren't very many
worthwhile costumes for girls. I could either be Barbie (too much pink),
Strawberry Shortcake (too frilly), a princess (ugh yuck no), or a ballerina
(too much like a princess). What I really wanted to be, they never had costumes
for. No Neverending Story (and how does one dress up like the Nothing anyway).
No Dark Crystal (ask for a Gelfling costume and people look at you funny). Mom
wasn't really into me being a Ninja Turtle, so for years I settled for being a
really hideous clown. I am ashamed to even admit it. I hated that costume. I
still do in fact. I think I inherited it from my older cousin. It was itchy,
came with a truly vile mask that I really couldn't see out of and it made my
face sweat.
I don't remember what happened to the costume. I'd
like to say I took it out back one dark evening and buried it, but it probably
got donated to Goodwill. Poor kids. I pity the fool. The hideous clown was
replaced by a leopard unitard that came with a snap on head piece and already
affixed tail. It was my favorite costume of my childhood. Mostly because I had
a tail to twirl and the fact that I felt compelled to make the cutest growling
noises known to man while wearing the costume. I did it so much in fact that
dad had to threaten to take my candy away to make me stop. It was no use
telling him that the suit was making me do it. I wore that costume until I
couldn't squeeze into it anymore. At some point my head got too big for the
hood and the leggings that used to go to my ankles started to reside somewhere
past my knees. It was a good run and a great costume. Plus I really enjoyed
having whiskers drawn on with eyebrow pencil.
Costumery in our house was pretty low key until I
started going to college. Then I could choose my own costume. My favorite
college costume was Queen Amidala from Star Wars. I did the full make up and
everything. I looked so convincing in fact that at my part time job (where they
encouraged us to wear costumes on the day) little kids kept coming up to me to
get their picture taken. It was a blast.
I love costumes. I love that now there are so many
more things to choose from, in a way. But it is still hard finding things to my
exacting specifications. For years I have wanted to be Charlie Chaplin, but I
can't quite find the right bits. One can't simply stick on dark pants, a hat
and a fake mustache and call it good. They have to be the right corduroy pants
with a black bowler, a rounded cane and big, slightly clownish black shoes.
I also don't like to settle for mainstream. Why be
Katniss Everdeen when I can go as Charlotte from Making Fiends. I like
elaborate or quirky, or a combination of both. I can't wait to find a good
steam punk costume. As soon as Halloween is done and I have had time to
appreciate the month, I start searching for next year’s costume. Sometimes I
buy two or three out of season just so I have options if it comes down to the
wire and I still haven't found "the one"?
But
why do I like costumes so much? I think it is because I live more in my
imagination than most people. Getting to wear a costume is a way to express
that after a fashion. How cool to suspend disbelief for just one night and
pretend you really can fly, because you are Peter Pan or Tinker Bell. For one
night you can be a princess if you want (ugh yuck). You can be a mummy without
the nasty side effects of being dead for years. You can be a dashing pirate or
a super hero. You can walk around shouting "I'm Batman" and people
will only think you are a little crazy.
In
one of my favorite TV shows, the characters dress up for Halloween and due to a
little magic snafu, find themselves stuck as their costume for the night. When
picking a costume I always have that idea floating around the back of my head.
Sure, I want to be a Twister game board. How funny. But what happens if I get
stuck this way? It is an interesting
idea to think of. Maybe this year I will go as rain. Not quite sure how to pull
that concept off. Maybe paint myself blue and stick clear beads all over to
show moisture.
Whatever
I choose to be, I know I will have fun doing it. What is your favorite costume
past, present or future?
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