Costume Help!
September 27, 2011 9:55 AM Subscribe
I need some help trying to come up with an idea for a good lady Halloween costume this year! Hoping to do something a little.... nerdy
I'm trying to plan a little bit ahead so that I have time, if needed, to make any parts of a costume, or quest thrift stores for the perfect piece. Last year I went as Leela and was working a little last minute, so the costume wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, and I don't want to do the same thing this year. The only problem is I am having a really hard time coming up with a girl costume! (I always seem to be great coming up with ideas for my boyfriend)
I'd like to go as something a little on the nerdish side as thats kind of my style anyway. Preferably a girl, although I've gone as a dude before and I'm not above it. Actually, was trying to get my boyfriend to go with me in drag as the Gatekeeper and Keymaster (with me as Rick Moranis, and him as Sigourney Weaver), but my idea was shot down, as he is reluctant to dress in drag :P. Only real specifications are that I don't really want anything slutty or something that is going to cost me an arm and a leg. Just to give you kind of an idea of what I generally like, these are some of the costumes I've done the past few years: Death (from The Sandman series), zombie Carl Sagan, and of course Leela. I've been thinking about trying to do a Song of Ice and Fire thing, but I'm worried about making it work as far as being identifiable, and not having to go over the top cost wise. I've also convinced my boyfriend to go as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, and was considering a way to tie into that without just being an extra. Other than that I am at a total loss and need some inspiration. Can anyone inspire me!!?
I'm trying to plan a little bit ahead so that I have time, if needed, to make any parts of a costume, or quest thrift stores for the perfect piece. Last year I went as Leela and was working a little last minute, so the costume wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, and I don't want to do the same thing this year. The only problem is I am having a really hard time coming up with a girl costume! (I always seem to be great coming up with ideas for my boyfriend)
I'd like to go as something a little on the nerdish side as thats kind of my style anyway. Preferably a girl, although I've gone as a dude before and I'm not above it. Actually, was trying to get my boyfriend to go with me in drag as the Gatekeeper and Keymaster (with me as Rick Moranis, and him as Sigourney Weaver), but my idea was shot down, as he is reluctant to dress in drag :P. Only real specifications are that I don't really want anything slutty or something that is going to cost me an arm and a leg. Just to give you kind of an idea of what I generally like, these are some of the costumes I've done the past few years: Death (from The Sandman series), zombie Carl Sagan, and of course Leela. I've been thinking about trying to do a Song of Ice and Fire thing, but I'm worried about making it work as far as being identifiable, and not having to go over the top cost wise. I've also convinced my boyfriend to go as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, and was considering a way to tie into that without just being an extra. Other than that I am at a total loss and need some inspiration. Can anyone inspire me!!?
How about Mary Todd Lincoln, vampire.
posted by pappy at 10:03 AM on September 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by pappy at 10:03 AM on September 27, 2011 [3 favorites]
The White Violin from Umbrella Academy?
Pris from Blade Runner?
Ripley from Alien?
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:07 AM on September 27, 2011
Pris from Blade Runner?
Ripley from Alien?
posted by Kafkaesque at 10:07 AM on September 27, 2011
Best answer: Elizabeth Bennet, Zombie Slayer.
You'd get to wear a great dress and add a few fun accessories. You could even be slightly gore splattered as if you'd been kicking butt all day.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:09 AM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
You'd get to wear a great dress and add a few fun accessories. You could even be slightly gore splattered as if you'd been kicking butt all day.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:09 AM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Elizabeth Bennet is a zombie slayer in her own right, and would make a cute couple with Abraham Lincoln.
posted by motsque at 10:11 AM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by motsque at 10:11 AM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
This is journalism nerdy: You and your SO dress up as Woodward and Bernstein. Use "All the President's Men" for ideas.
Also, this post from the blue. It fueled my Halloween ideas.
posted by hot_monster at 10:15 AM on September 27, 2011
Also, this post from the blue. It fueled my Halloween ideas.
posted by hot_monster at 10:15 AM on September 27, 2011
monkey puppets are fun, right? how about Dr. Jane Goodall? or you could dress the BF in a gorilla suit. actually, switch that 'or' to an 'and'...more monkeys=more fun.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:16 AM on September 27, 2011
posted by sexyrobot at 10:16 AM on September 27, 2011
My best-ever home-sewn "girlie" costume is one I plan to hopefully repeat this year because it's just that good, and I haven't worn it in eight years. It's a Christmas tree costume! (First time out I was married, so my husband went as my too-tall elf.) Feel free to steal this idea and run with it because helllloooo... the world can't ever have too many weird Christmas trees.
I took an old (super ugly) off-the-shoulder prom dress, complete with giant hoop skirt, which I'd picked up at a thrift shop years prior, and I sewed 90 feet of heavy gauge, treelike garland to it to make me look like a for-reals tree; it has little tiny branches on it that stick out, and it actually does look like the real deal! (On the crapside, it also feels like the real deal, but what price, fashion?) The heavy wire shaped the skirt so that it appeared that I was wearing a hoop-thing underneath, which worked perfectly to give me that ever-alluring Christmas tree shape that all girls aspire to.
Then I decorated the shit out of it to create the best Hallowe'en/Xmas mashup I could — it has a mix of Christmas lights and Hallowe'en skull-lights on it (a TON of lights, which is key), and a bunch of handmade ornaments (think: clothespin reindeer, those stiff little snowflakes made with crocheted string and glue, little ghosties and pumpkin decorations).
It's so big I can't fit into a cab when I wear it, nor can I take a city bus, but I found that I can fit through some train doors... but for the most part, this costume is best suited to loft parties that have large [bathroom] doorways. Yeah, it's a total pain in the ass, but it's six kinds of awesome, so whatev. On my head I wore a wreath made from the leftover garland, and sitting atop that is a 16-pointed cardboard-spray-painted-gold star! I tie it all on with a wired ribbon, making giant bow at my jawline, which adds a decidely Scarlet O'Hara layer to it, which is interesting.
Although I could, I don't use a battery pack for the lights. Instead, I stand near an outlet, and I plug myself into the wall and stay right there all night. I've worn this twice now, several years apart (and not around the same people, of course), and both times two things happened:
1. I became the only light source of the rooms I stood in because the hosts preferred my dress to the room's lighting,
2. Men hardcore flirted with me all night* — like far more with the tree than with the super sexy kitty-cats and hot, punkrock vampire nurses, etc. — it was clearly not about me, but THE TREE itself. Apparently men dig Christmas trees. Who knew? Men are so weird, truly.
*Think: "Can I check under the tree for my gift?" comments all night long, which is where the house-party booze comes in reallysuperhandy.
Oh, also... the trial run of this costume included Learning How To Pee While Standing In an Alley and Note To Self: Diuretics Next Time!
And the next wearing of the tree included an OTC diuretic in advance of the party — total lifesaver. I drank all night and peed exactly ONCE, after I got home. Perrrrrfect! Seriously... what price, fashion?
Oh, also again... First year I wore it I went to my neighborhood parade first, and I carried around a Christmas stocking filled with candy that I handed out to little kids. Next thing I knew, I had a gaggle of little kids following me, all singing O Christmas Tree! True story.
posted by heyho at 10:50 AM on September 27, 2011 [16 favorites]
I took an old (super ugly) off-the-shoulder prom dress, complete with giant hoop skirt, which I'd picked up at a thrift shop years prior, and I sewed 90 feet of heavy gauge, treelike garland to it to make me look like a for-reals tree; it has little tiny branches on it that stick out, and it actually does look like the real deal! (On the crapside, it also feels like the real deal, but what price, fashion?) The heavy wire shaped the skirt so that it appeared that I was wearing a hoop-thing underneath, which worked perfectly to give me that ever-alluring Christmas tree shape that all girls aspire to.
Then I decorated the shit out of it to create the best Hallowe'en/Xmas mashup I could — it has a mix of Christmas lights and Hallowe'en skull-lights on it (a TON of lights, which is key), and a bunch of handmade ornaments (think: clothespin reindeer, those stiff little snowflakes made with crocheted string and glue, little ghosties and pumpkin decorations).
It's so big I can't fit into a cab when I wear it, nor can I take a city bus, but I found that I can fit through some train doors... but for the most part, this costume is best suited to loft parties that have large [bathroom] doorways. Yeah, it's a total pain in the ass, but it's six kinds of awesome, so whatev. On my head I wore a wreath made from the leftover garland, and sitting atop that is a 16-pointed cardboard-spray-painted-gold star! I tie it all on with a wired ribbon, making giant bow at my jawline, which adds a decidely Scarlet O'Hara layer to it, which is interesting.
Although I could, I don't use a battery pack for the lights. Instead, I stand near an outlet, and I plug myself into the wall and stay right there all night. I've worn this twice now, several years apart (and not around the same people, of course), and both times two things happened:
1. I became the only light source of the rooms I stood in because the hosts preferred my dress to the room's lighting,
2. Men hardcore flirted with me all night* — like far more with the tree than with the super sexy kitty-cats and hot, punkrock vampire nurses, etc. — it was clearly not about me, but THE TREE itself. Apparently men dig Christmas trees. Who knew? Men are so weird, truly.
*Think: "Can I check under the tree for my gift?" comments all night long, which is where the house-party booze comes in reallysuperhandy.
Oh, also... the trial run of this costume included Learning How To Pee While Standing In an Alley and Note To Self: Diuretics Next Time!
And the next wearing of the tree included an OTC diuretic in advance of the party — total lifesaver. I drank all night and peed exactly ONCE, after I got home. Perrrrrfect! Seriously... what price, fashion?
Oh, also again... First year I wore it I went to my neighborhood parade first, and I carried around a Christmas stocking filled with candy that I handed out to little kids. Next thing I knew, I had a gaggle of little kids following me, all singing O Christmas Tree! True story.
posted by heyho at 10:50 AM on September 27, 2011 [16 favorites]
Response by poster: These are all great ideas!!! So far, I really like the Elizabeth Bennet Zombie Slayer idea! I can't believe that hadn't crossed my mind. Not only would it be cute with Abe Lincoln, but shes also just a pretty awesome strong female character, which I love!
posted by Quincy at 10:50 AM on September 27, 2011
posted by Quincy at 10:50 AM on September 27, 2011
Along the same nerdy and simple lines as Velma, I'm planning on going as Daria this year.
posted by Akhu at 11:04 AM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Akhu at 11:04 AM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
Obviously, this should be your costume. And instead of saying "trick or treat" just sing "dance magic! dance..."
posted by matt755811 at 11:22 AM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by matt755811 at 11:22 AM on September 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm coming in late, but ... Chell.
She's like the ultimate female game character. Very geeky, clothes are pretty easy, the weapon would be the hard part.
posted by timepiece at 12:47 PM on October 5, 2011
She's like the ultimate female game character. Very geeky, clothes are pretty easy, the weapon would be the hard part.
posted by timepiece at 12:47 PM on October 5, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:00 AM on September 27, 2011 [2 favorites]