Half-assed costumes?
October 10, 2013 8:00 AM Subscribe
We have two events on a single Saturday: one is a costume party in the middle of the day, and the other is a concert that evening. Costume-to-street-attire ideas needed!
We want to leave the house, without having to come home to change before the concert.
So! We need "costumes" for the party that can live on top of an acceptable street outfit. We don't mind dressing up or down, as the concert is neither dressy nor casual.
I have a few cocktail dresses, and he owns a suit and a tux. The rest of our wardrobes are typical sweaters/jeans/button-downs/nice shoes/sneakers, and casual dresses/heels for me.
Along the lines of what we're thinking, which could actually be really funny: "Craft Punk." Create papîer-mache balls, spray paint them gold/silver/black, and wear suits and gloves.
Any other ideas?
Additionally, if we do go for Craft Punk, what's the best way to make a papîer-mache ball that will fit over our heads, not completely suffocate us, and let us see out?
We want to leave the house, without having to come home to change before the concert.
So! We need "costumes" for the party that can live on top of an acceptable street outfit. We don't mind dressing up or down, as the concert is neither dressy nor casual.
I have a few cocktail dresses, and he owns a suit and a tux. The rest of our wardrobes are typical sweaters/jeans/button-downs/nice shoes/sneakers, and casual dresses/heels for me.
Along the lines of what we're thinking, which could actually be really funny: "Craft Punk." Create papîer-mache balls, spray paint them gold/silver/black, and wear suits and gloves.
Any other ideas?
Additionally, if we do go for Craft Punk, what's the best way to make a papîer-mache ball that will fit over our heads, not completely suffocate us, and let us see out?
All blue clothing, "Hello! Name name is:" tags with Gene/Jean.
A pair of blue jeans.
posted by hwyengr at 8:17 AM on October 10, 2013
A pair of blue jeans.
posted by hwyengr at 8:17 AM on October 10, 2013
There are many costumes that can be built on street clothes.
For example, my kid was a spider a few years ago. He wore black sneakers, pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I cut up a skinny feather boa from a craft store and made 6 "legs" that attached the side of the shirt/hung from his wrists on fishing line. I made the face by using a standard black mask from the craft store with big glittery balls for the "spider eyes" glued above the eye holes (so he could see out) and used more boa scraps to create "fangs" that hung from the mask. He wore a black knit cap to cover his hair.
We ended up painting part of his face black too, but you don't have to do that part.
Anyway, you could cut off the spider arms and take off the mask and have a perfectly normal set of street clothes.
Bug costumes in general are easy to do this way. The year before, he was a bumblebee. I took a black t-shirt, put yellow duct tape "stripes" on it, added some store bought wings and antenna, and bam. Adorable. All you'd have to do is take the duct tape, wings and antenna off.
posted by emjaybee at 8:18 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
For example, my kid was a spider a few years ago. He wore black sneakers, pants and a long-sleeved t-shirt. I cut up a skinny feather boa from a craft store and made 6 "legs" that attached the side of the shirt/hung from his wrists on fishing line. I made the face by using a standard black mask from the craft store with big glittery balls for the "spider eyes" glued above the eye holes (so he could see out) and used more boa scraps to create "fangs" that hung from the mask. He wore a black knit cap to cover his hair.
We ended up painting part of his face black too, but you don't have to do that part.
Anyway, you could cut off the spider arms and take off the mask and have a perfectly normal set of street clothes.
Bug costumes in general are easy to do this way. The year before, he was a bumblebee. I took a black t-shirt, put yellow duct tape "stripes" on it, added some store bought wings and antenna, and bam. Adorable. All you'd have to do is take the duct tape, wings and antenna off.
posted by emjaybee at 8:18 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Put on a white t-shirt, blue jeans, a red windbreaker, and a stop on the way to the party to pick up a pizza: Instant Phillip J. Fry from the pilot episode of Futurama.
plus everyone will thank you for bringing pizza. Just remember to ask for 'I. C. Weiner' when you arrive at the party.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:38 AM on October 10, 2013
plus everyone will thank you for bringing pizza. Just remember to ask for 'I. C. Weiner' when you arrive at the party.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 8:38 AM on October 10, 2013
Disclaimer first: I do not work for this site, I just think it's cool.
Take Back Halloween is a DIY-costume-idea site pitched to women (its specialty is "non-skanky costumes"), and right in the opening description of the one for Medusa, they say that it's perfect for if you only have a few minutes to get ready- get the Medusa wig, put it on your head, bingo.
But their suggestion to "use a duster like the one that Trinity wore in The Matrix" then lead to the obvious oh-duh idea that you could be Neo and Trinity just right there - all you need are the long black coats and the shades, and to dress otherwise all in black. Or, any of the other Matrix characters; here's a site with some DIY tips.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:46 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Take Back Halloween is a DIY-costume-idea site pitched to women (its specialty is "non-skanky costumes"), and right in the opening description of the one for Medusa, they say that it's perfect for if you only have a few minutes to get ready- get the Medusa wig, put it on your head, bingo.
But their suggestion to "use a duster like the one that Trinity wore in The Matrix" then lead to the obvious oh-duh idea that you could be Neo and Trinity just right there - all you need are the long black coats and the shades, and to dress otherwise all in black. Or, any of the other Matrix characters; here's a site with some DIY tips.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:46 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
I havent made a papier-mache ball in years, but didnt we used to lay the paper over a blown up balloon, the bigger the better. that can get you the size you need, then just cut eye holes and cover with a visor.
or just go to the costume party full on and stay in costume for the concert...best part of concerts at halloween time is getting to go in costumes!
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:01 AM on October 10, 2013
or just go to the costume party full on and stay in costume for the concert...best part of concerts at halloween time is getting to go in costumes!
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:01 AM on October 10, 2013
I think asked and answered with Craft Punk. That's cute.
posted by sweetkid at 9:59 AM on October 10, 2013
posted by sweetkid at 9:59 AM on October 10, 2013
Make a fake stamp out of cardboard or construction paper or something. Wear all black. Hang stamp around your neck or pin to shirt.
You are blackmail.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:28 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
You are blackmail.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:28 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Got so excited I didn't see you want a pair of costumes. I now submit the following.
He wears tux + white scarf. You wear cocktail dress + pearls (fake fur coat or something if you have it). Cut out some red paper that looks like blood pools. Pin to outfit.
You are Bruce Wayne's parents.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:30 AM on October 10, 2013
He wears tux + white scarf. You wear cocktail dress + pearls (fake fur coat or something if you have it). Cut out some red paper that looks like blood pools. Pin to outfit.
You are Bruce Wayne's parents.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:30 AM on October 10, 2013
When I was a kid my parents went to a party as Cold Duck and Sparkling Burgundy. I think the idea evolved out of a similar desire as yours and the fact that she owned a sparkling burgundy dress. He wore regular clothing with a scarf and a duck nose. They wore labels like you might see on a fancy bottle, but large and made of cardboard with scalloped edges and fancy writing, and then hung from loose chains around their necks.
People thought they were so clever.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 10:38 AM on October 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
People thought they were so clever.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 10:38 AM on October 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh! It doesn't necessarily need to be a pair costume. It just... kind of made more sense.
posted by functionequalsform at 10:39 AM on October 10, 2013
posted by functionequalsform at 10:39 AM on October 10, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:03 AM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]