Don't look at me

October 25, 2007 1:44 PM

Last minute Halloween costume help! I need a costume with a veil.

I'm posting this anonymously because someone on the site is going to the same party as me, and I want to keep my costume a surprise.

Okay. I've been invited to a Halloween party on Saturday. I had an incredibly tacky, "sexy" Marie Antoinette costume at the ready. I even bought the most fabulous wig in the world - it's about three feet tall.

So, Tuesday I had full-face laser resurfacing. I scheduled this procedure months before I knew about the party. My face is one giant weeping wound. It's clearly not going to be party-ready by Saturday. Some people have suggested that I go as Marie post-guillotine, but my face isn't really a good match. My face is too raw for make-up and a mask would be too irritating. I'm thinking maybe a veil would be the way to go, but what can I wear with it? I have a medieval wench costume and a flower wreath. I thought I might attach a veil to the wreath and go as a bride or the May Queen. Any other ideas? And if I do go the medieval bride route, what material should the veil be made of? Thanks.

posted by anonymous to clothing, beauty, & fashion (19 comments total)

Do you have to keep any parts of the original costume? A ninja is an easy costume, and will cover your face.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 1:59 PM on October 25, 2007

You could be the headless horsewoman - get one of those big plastic pumpkins. Or maybe they have a helmet-like one now specially made for this purpose. It wouldn't be on your face really. Then get the black cape and stuff, and you're set.

You could be a knight if you could get a helmet. Or you could be a motorcyclist if you can get a motorbike helmet. Or you could be daft punk if you can get a motorbike helmet. Welder?

On the veilless side, you could buy $15 worth of those cheap tweezers and separate-them, wishbone style, and then affix them in various areas. You add padding to one breast and tape the other one down. You put those dotted marker-marks on arms and legs and butt. You're "plastic surgery"

On the insane side, you could get a tinted plastic folder and bend it, dress in white or gray, and eat popcorn all night. You're a popcorn making machine. When you get near people, spit it out at them.

That's all the batshitinsane suggestions I have at the moment. Perhaps ParmanParman will be the next commenter so I can get a cheap laugh from the "man" responders.
posted by cashman at 2:20 PM on October 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Perhaps you could go as Zombie Marie Antoinette?
posted by duckierose at 2:31 PM on October 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you could find a way to color the wig (depending on if you want it permanent or not) black with a white stripe and wear a white dress all ripped and bloody (with accompanying white and trashed veil), paint a couple of visible scars on you, and go as the bride of Frankenstein.

My sympathies--I applaud your choice to still go to the party!
posted by eralclare at 2:32 PM on October 25, 2007

Widow ghost? Ghost Ophelia? Something ghost, that's for certain.
posted by SassHat at 2:32 PM on October 25, 2007

if I do go the medieval bride route, what material should the veil be made of?

Presuming you are not going for historical accuracy, most material you will find that is suitable for a veil covering your eyes is going to be nylon, polyester, or silk. A fabric store will have plenty of choices on this.

A witch hat with a black veil over the top will give you minimum contact with your face, and make your face far less visible to others than a light colored veil. You should still be able to see out ok as long as the party isn't too dark.
posted by yohko at 2:32 PM on October 25, 2007

Oooh! The creepy little girl from The Others!
posted by SassHat at 2:33 PM on October 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

The fabric you want for a veil is tulle, and it is inexpensive in most Walmart-type stores. Usually, it's available in pink and light blue as well as white. You can layer it and pin the top edges of you veil to your hat. I would recommend an asymmetrical cut on the bottom, slightly longer on one side to form a kind of \,---' shape.
posted by misha at 3:42 PM on October 25, 2007

In terms of costumes that veils befit, I can't believe nobody's suggested belly dancer yet, so there you go: Belly Dancer.

Or if you want to do something in very bad taste you could forego the veil and let your skin be seen in all its current glory. Take a big fake designer handbag, big sunglasses, a long blonde wig, some trendy, trashy clothes, maybe a little stuffed dog, and make it look like it's all been set on fire (either by setting it on fire - not the wig, of course, that would be dangerous - or rubbing charcoal on it). Voila: Southern California Wildfire Burn Victim.
posted by jocelmeow at 4:15 PM on October 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Zombie! Put some red splotches on gauze, wrap it gently around your head letting the most interesting parts of your face show through! Really you've got a unique ability to own Halloween this year.

Alternatively, the witch idea is good, but put the veil under the hat--pin it out to the edge of the brim with small black safety pins, then bobby pin or clip the veil to your hair. Keeps your hat on as well as keeping the veil away from your face. (Black with gold or black with silver tulle is best.)
posted by anaelith at 4:42 PM on October 25, 2007

The Black Death. Black veiling with your wench costume.
posted by desuetude at 4:50 PM on October 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

Choose your favorite threat, write it in marker on an old t-shirt, and go as a veiled threat. Anyone want to build on that idea, and suggest a great threat? Or suggest how to be add something so you're a thinly veiled threat?
posted by daisyace at 5:14 PM on October 25, 2007

Riffing off jocelmeow and anaelith -- Zombie Paris Hilton! You could (loosely) wrap the gauze on your (antibiotic-smeared) face and wear those idiotic bug-eyed sunglasses. Small dog/monkey as an accessory.

Seems like a shame to waste that wig, though. Try something from "The Masque of the Red Death". Published in 1842 but set in some indefinite and decadent past, so your Marie A. outfit would qualify.

Or you can be the shade of Marie by pinning a length of bright red, fine organza around your throat and letting it spill down.

Whatever veiling you use, you'll want to have it away from your skin, so find some nice flowers or birds or random architectural models to jam into the front of the wig. (This is not that far away from historical accuracy; the sailing ships and bucolic meadows were usually sited atop the wigs.) Tulle is good and cheap; organza is another (I think better, if not too expensive) option. Just go to a fabric store with a friend and try out stuff. Crumple up a foot or so in your hands, held about a foot apart, and hold it up to make sure you can see through it.

Buy twice as much as you think you'll need. Drapery is your friend.

And have a great time!
posted by cat.dog at 5:24 PM on October 25, 2007

Devil bride!

Get:
Big red prom dress (thrift store)
Devil-horns headband (party store)
About 4 yards of red tulle (fabric store)

Glue the tulle to the headband, put on the prom dress and any accessories you like (red gloves, fishnets, etc). Crazy eyemakeup if you can stand it.

Voila!
posted by exceptinsects at 5:31 PM on October 25, 2007

Choose your favorite threat, write it in marker on an old t-shirt, and go as a veiled threat. Anyone want to build on that idea, and suggest a great threat? Or suggest how to be add something so you're a thinly veiled threat?

Oh, wait, of course! Obviously, the threat to use is, "Trick or treat?"
posted by daisyace at 5:36 PM on October 25, 2007

Or... you could save the wig for next year, wear a Burqa. Nobody will know you, and you can wear leggings and a t-shirt underneath and be comfortable.
posted by WaterSprite at 5:37 PM on October 25, 2007

Be what I am being, a lawn. Get some Astroturf and make a large poncho with eye holes. You could also be a lawn wearing a Marie Antoinette costume. That would be funny.
posted by ooklala at 6:00 PM on October 25, 2007

I was at a party once with a woman who said she was determined to wear her wedding gown more than once. The gown was spattered with "blood" and her husband had an axe in his head.
There are usually tons of bridal gowns at the thrift stores and here are some recipes for fake blood.
http://www.halloween-website.com/fake_blood.htm
posted by BoscosMom at 6:52 PM on October 25, 2007

If you decide to go the blood-spattered bridal gown route, you could call yourself the Bride of Lammermoor.
posted by Lycaste at 3:41 PM on October 27, 2007