2008 Woodie Awards
Viva la Moda:
Emilie's take on costume casual
Emilie Lindermann
Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: Fun House
- Page 1 of 1
My mom once made my younger sisters and me matching Crayola crayon costumes. She started in late August and used her glue gun and pinking shears to transform the colored felt from the fabric store. She sat on the driveway with us, cutting out the pattern pieces while we drew chalky tulips on the cement. And in the end, we even had cone-shaped hats to represent the tip of the crayon. Mine was lilac.
Being a purple crayon worked back then, but sometimes when you are in Rome, you have to do as the Romans do. However, when it comes to Halloween, you may as well throw that adage out with the pumpkin pulp. Especially in this quaint corner of Wisconsin, the protocol is pretty damn difficult to predict. Let's see: guests could arrive at a seasonal fête decked out in street-corner fishnets with French maid dusters. Or, they could show up at the door in utterly normal attire simply bearing a tray of ghoulishly iced cookies. You just don't know.
So let's implement a happy medium. Here's to the new "costume casual:" Imagine a gleeful mixture of normal clothes which could be a costume or just an artsy outfit. It doesn't involve renting an enormous M& M suit or painting your face Mr. Yuck-green. It's all about the "is it or isn't it" potential. As an added bonus, you can wear this baby again (not just at the next costume party).
Someone has to pop the first kernel, so I'll get this brainstorm started:
Swan Lake Lady: Wear a delicate chiffon dress over a pair of jeans (the dress shouldn't be any longer than just below the knees). Add sparkly sandals and a white feather pinned elegantly in your hair. Hmm...maybe a sweater or jacket would help.
Beatnik/Artsy New Yorker: Don all black: trousers, turtleneck-whatever. But make it stream-lined instead of gothic and wear a bulky camera around your neck. And if you think you can pull it off, a beret would be cool.
Stylish Haus Frau: Gear up in a pleated full skirt with or without stockings. Keep warm in a colorful, if kitschy, sweater. Make sure the sweater is short and fitted and the shoes are modern to keep the whole shebang from becoming just plain frumpy. Bonus points if you wear an apron!
But this sure as hell isn't a manual. Just go with what fits your persona and blip past the weirdo radar without being too un-festive.
Being a purple crayon worked back then, but sometimes when you are in Rome, you have to do as the Romans do. However, when it comes to Halloween, you may as well throw that adage out with the pumpkin pulp. Especially in this quaint corner of Wisconsin, the protocol is pretty damn difficult to predict. Let's see: guests could arrive at a seasonal fête decked out in street-corner fishnets with French maid dusters. Or, they could show up at the door in utterly normal attire simply bearing a tray of ghoulishly iced cookies. You just don't know.
So let's implement a happy medium. Here's to the new "costume casual:" Imagine a gleeful mixture of normal clothes which could be a costume or just an artsy outfit. It doesn't involve renting an enormous M& M suit or painting your face Mr. Yuck-green. It's all about the "is it or isn't it" potential. As an added bonus, you can wear this baby again (not just at the next costume party).
Someone has to pop the first kernel, so I'll get this brainstorm started:
Swan Lake Lady: Wear a delicate chiffon dress over a pair of jeans (the dress shouldn't be any longer than just below the knees). Add sparkly sandals and a white feather pinned elegantly in your hair. Hmm...maybe a sweater or jacket would help.
Beatnik/Artsy New Yorker: Don all black: trousers, turtleneck-whatever. But make it stream-lined instead of gothic and wear a bulky camera around your neck. And if you think you can pull it off, a beret would be cool.
Stylish Haus Frau: Gear up in a pleated full skirt with or without stockings. Keep warm in a colorful, if kitschy, sweater. Make sure the sweater is short and fitted and the shoes are modern to keep the whole shebang from becoming just plain frumpy. Bonus points if you wear an apron!
But this sure as hell isn't a manual. Just go with what fits your persona and blip past the weirdo radar without being too un-festive.