Spooky spare time
(Mr Nice and myself in costume: Glasgow, Scotland)
I haven’t painted my nails black since I was about 14 years old – that was, until yesterday. Yesterday I felt attractively pseudo-masculine and today I feel like a faded goth. As I watch my fingers tap out these words, the hands don’t appear to be mine, but those of a band member for a metal group or a teenage boy experimenting with ‘image’. Anyway, paint them I did as part of my dedication to the cause of dressing up. On the left is Andrew Nice, ex-flatmate, fine artist and honorary brother – he painted his Hallowe’en costume with a blend of too much spare time, poster paint and acrylic. Leggings were the general order of the day, as you can see. I’m getting more mileage out of my silver lamé pair, though every time, I tentatively hope not to burst the seams – they are rather snug to say the least. Mr Nice and I take dressing up very seriously indeed and although we weren’t due at a party until at least 6pm, we were already dressed at 4pm and working tirelessly on hair and makeup for a further hour at least. He’s one of the only people I know that can sustain such a performance of costume perfectionism such as I am capable.
Mr Nice opted for a traditional Hallowe’en approach with a skeleton, though I usually take liberties and simply dress as a recognisable figure or character – usually male, of course. In reverse order, I believe I have managed the following in the past; The white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, Medusa, a court jester, a city (that was a bit conceptual), Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Captain Jack Sparrow. There have been many more, but those are specifically Hallowe’en. In case you’re not aware of this year’s muse – ‘Adam Ant’, eighties pretty-boy pin up icon and all round oddball – then do a quick web search. You’ll trawl up military regalia basted in androgyny, face paint and lashings of lace and lamé. I have been waiting for an opportunity to dress as this particular person for many a Hallowe’en, but I’ve never quite had all the pieces to make it really splendid. Finally, the jacket, boots and leggings appeared in my ‘costume assets’ cupboard (or wardrobe) and the rest just came together.
Most of the excitement of Hallowe’en for me is in the dressing up. In discussion with Mr Nice, we concluded that the preparation of the costume is the key element for fun to ensue – most of the time I enjoy the anticipation of the eventual party just as much as I do the challenge of creating the best costume possible with minimum expenditure of money. Aside from a few kirby grips and some borrowing, I actually spent nothing this year. Nothing that is, except valuable time that should possibly have been spent on other slightly more productive things… However, I can’t possibly put a price on how fabulous my costume is and how much I loved dressing up and strutting about. You can’t buy memories like these; Mr Nice helping curl my hair, being allowed to draw on a party mole, legitimately wearing my favourite hat, trying on all the other hats at a party, dooking for apples and being silly. I cannot wait till next time.
Thanks to my mother for crocheting the gold trim for my hat during her visit to Glasgow on Friday!
– Today Rosie is working on her calendar (still), going to meetings and playing badminton in Glasgow, Scotland –
