What comes to mind when you hear "Shelley Duvall"?
October 18, 2011 2:46 AM Subscribe
How can I dress and look like Shelley Duvall?
I'm going to a Halloween party where a fair number of people enjoyed this video. My plan is dress as Shelley Duvall (with a "Hello, my name is ______" sticker and everything). But what clothing should I actually wear to complete the costume? Is there a quintessential Shelley Duvall uniform? What combination would tip off other party goers, who haven't seen the video, that I am paying homage to our dearest Ms Duvall? Other costume tips on becoming a more believable Shelley are also welcome.
(I checked the archives and didn't find a thing on this question, so I just had to ask.)
I'm going to a Halloween party where a fair number of people enjoyed this video. My plan is dress as Shelley Duvall (with a "Hello, my name is ______" sticker and everything). But what clothing should I actually wear to complete the costume? Is there a quintessential Shelley Duvall uniform? What combination would tip off other party goers, who haven't seen the video, that I am paying homage to our dearest Ms Duvall? Other costume tips on becoming a more believable Shelley are also welcome.
(I checked the archives and didn't find a thing on this question, so I just had to ask.)
What i would do is get an enormous curly blonde wig. Then I would go to a thrift store and try to find something that resembles the first outfit in the video. Or at least the most outrageously 80s outfit they have. An enormous blue long-sleeved number with shoulder pads.
posted by bleep at 2:58 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by bleep at 2:58 AM on October 18, 2011
baseball bat.
posted by Yowser at 3:04 AM on October 18, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 3:04 AM on October 18, 2011 [7 favorites]
I always picture her with long, stringy brown hair, but that video shows she's had a number of different hairstyles over the years. She does tend to wear long-sleeved, flowy outfits that accentuate how thin she is, and of course, she has teeth that are quite large. If you can find a set of "flippers" (temporary false teeth) that are a little too big for your mouth, wear the palest makeup you can all over your face, and wear a limp, long-sleeved blouse to match some limp, scraggly hair, I think you'll have it.
posted by xingcat at 4:29 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by xingcat at 4:29 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Long dresses and Long tresses.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:31 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:31 AM on October 18, 2011
Yeah the Olive Oyl look is what you want: it's almost Shelly Duvall parody.
posted by rokusan at 4:34 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by rokusan at 4:34 AM on October 18, 2011
This is the outfit you want: Brown overalls (corduroy if possible), green plaid shirt, beige turtleneck, lank hair, baseball bat.
posted by hot soup girl at 4:43 AM on October 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by hot soup girl at 4:43 AM on October 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
+1 to The Shining outfit - don't forget the too-big, weirdly fitting Ugg boots!
posted by pazazygeek at 5:36 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by pazazygeek at 5:36 AM on October 18, 2011
May I suggest that rather than the nametag, you write "HELLO, I'M SHELLEY DUVALL" on the bat?
posted by griphus at 6:05 AM on October 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by griphus at 6:05 AM on October 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
I only think of The Shining. (Love the baseball bat "name tag"!)
posted by mrs. taters at 7:59 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by mrs. taters at 7:59 AM on October 18, 2011
You need long straight dark hair, some big teeth, and put a generous line of dark pinkish brown eyeshadow on the crease of your eyelid to make your eyes look buggy.
Geez, if I could choose some other lady to look like, it would totally be her, she is awesome.
posted by milk white peacock at 9:13 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Geez, if I could choose some other lady to look like, it would totally be her, she is awesome.
posted by milk white peacock at 9:13 AM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I get the feeling reading your question that you haven't seen the Shining, or maybe haven't seen it in a long time and don't associate Shelley Duvall with Wendy Torrance. Apologies if that's incorrect, but if it is, see the movie and along with the other great answers in the thread, you'll get a much better sense of how to "play" her for the party (if you're going with the Shining character, which I think you should.)
posted by sweetkid at 10:07 AM on October 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 10:07 AM on October 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is the outfit you want: Brown overalls (corduroy if possible), green plaid shirt, beige turtleneck, lank hair, baseball bat.
In fact, I would say this is the ONLY Shelley Duvall outfit that says only Shelley Duvall. Everything else is off message.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:07 AM on October 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
In fact, I would say this is the ONLY Shelley Duvall outfit that says only Shelley Duvall. Everything else is off message.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:07 AM on October 18, 2011 [4 favorites]
Guys, the OP is dressing as Shelley Duvall specifically as an homage to the video (s)he posted. Shelley doesn't appear as Wendy Torrance or Olive Oyl in the video, so those costumes may not be appropriate in this case.
posted by milk white peacock at 12:26 PM on October 18, 2011
posted by milk white peacock at 12:26 PM on October 18, 2011
I think this will work even better if you hustle up several outfits and change frequently.
posted by theora55 at 2:21 PM on October 18, 2011
posted by theora55 at 2:21 PM on October 18, 2011
Shelley doesn't appear as Wendy Torrance or Olive Oyl in the video
Which would just make it even funnier when you wear one of these outfits with a "HELLO MY NAME IS" sticker on the front of the shirt.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:57 PM on October 18, 2011
Which would just make it even funnier when you wear one of these outfits with a "HELLO MY NAME IS" sticker on the front of the shirt.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:57 PM on October 18, 2011
In addition to the obvious round mouth, big teeth, and buggy eyes, pay attention to her eyebrow arch and the long, thin nose. Her cheeks are also a bit sunken. If you can pull that off with makeup, you'll be in.
posted by chairface at 5:33 PM on October 18, 2011
posted by chairface at 5:33 PM on October 18, 2011
What comes to mind when you hear "Shelley Duvall"?
Diane Chambers from Cheers because I always Shelley Duvall and Shelley Long confused. Second thing I think of is Faerie Tale Theatre. I guess you can't dress up as a kids' show, but Duvall did play Rapunzel, naturally, and she was in the Rumpelstiltskin episode.
(Or, you know, The Shining.)
posted by Mael Oui at 8:37 PM on October 18, 2011
Diane Chambers from Cheers because I always Shelley Duvall and Shelley Long confused. Second thing I think of is Faerie Tale Theatre. I guess you can't dress up as a kids' show, but Duvall did play Rapunzel, naturally, and she was in the Rumpelstiltskin episode.
(Or, you know, The Shining.)
posted by Mael Oui at 8:37 PM on October 18, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Olive Oyl and Wendy Torrance.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:54 AM on October 18, 2011 [3 favorites]