Christy Lorio (photo by Leslie Almeida)
Halloween is a half a month away — are you prepared? I’m on the lookout for costumes year ‘round, and this past year was no exception. Even though I won’t wear all of it this season, I bought two outrageous hats, one hoop skirt, and a handful of miscellaneous pieces and those were just my 2011 purchases.
What can I say? I’m pretty serious about costuming, given the hours upon hours I’ve spent hand stitching leather strips to my husband’s Roman solider costume last Halloween, or turning a pillowcase, fuzzy leopard print fabric, and feather boas into an Amazon warrior outfit the year before that. I definitely get a kick out of creating killer get-ups from everyday objects, and from the sense of pride that I didn’t take the easy route and purchase a bagged costume.
I hate bagged costumes, especially the sexy Halloween costumes. Can we move on? Isn’t that a little played out? Last year I went to a costume event at a local night club wearing a corset and I felt….ready for it? COVERED UP. Girls were essentially wearing glorified lingerie but it wasn’t sexy, it was just predictable and boring. I’m down for a little risque but not everything needs to be sexy, unless it is funny. A sexy shrimp po-boy costume? Now that is something I’d like to see. Sexy snow white? I’m over it.
Get creative with your costume. Go to a thrift store and gain inspiration from your finds. Bloomin’ Deals on Freret Street has a sizable formal wear section that is a treasure trove of raw materials. A taffeta skirt was easily turned into a cape last Mardi Gras and a woman’s size XL sequined blouse was transformed into a men’s Poseidon costume with little alterations. One woman’s retired 1980’s cocktail dress is another woman’s flamingo costume. Well maybe it shouldn’t have been worn in a serious manner the first time around, but I’ll leave that judgement call up to someone else.
You may even have some household objects floating around that are costume appropriate. When we got new curtains for the living room I protested against getting rid of the old ones. How could I let all of that perfectly good purple fabric go to waste? There is bound to be a costume coming out of that. Hell, maybe I’ll be a sexy eggplant this year after all.
A few places to score costumes:
- Buffalo Exchange, 3312 Magazine St.
- Fifi Mahony’s, 934 Royal St.
- Funky Monkey, 3127 Magazine St.
- Miss Claudia’s, 4204 Magazine St.
- New Orleans Party & Costume, 705 Camp St.
- Uptown Costume & Dancewear, 4326 Magazine St.
Christy Lorio, a native New Orleanian, writes on fashion at slowsouthernstyle.com and is also a freelance writer whose work has been featured online and in print magazines both locally and nationally.
Eh, that’s great that you have all that free time to make your own costume but not all of us do. Don’t be so judgmental that others might have to wear a store-bought costume.
Heather that is why I provided the list of costume shops that provide not only bagged costumes but other options as well.
Or it could be that she plans ahead.
Christy, since you have all that free time, can you get back to work on my cats’ costumes, please? Thaaaaanks.
Les I already have your cats costumes planned out for the next 6 years, hope that isn’t too presumptuous of me.
Not at all. My cats don’t have time for such things. They’re just too busy.
Great pointers! I love to make something out of nothing! You can even take that “bagged costume” and kick it up a notch with some simple additions that trick it out! Hot glue is super fast! You can sure save a lot of money on a DIY ensemble…but if money is not problem then splurge! Miss Claudia’s has great items that are ready to roll! Have fun!