I have been thinking a lot about costumes.
Mostly because of Anna. Anna is wonderful.
You can completely count on her to put together a fabulously crazy outfit. Even when she’s traveling.
If you decide you want to do Ironic Aerobics (which I often do — step touch step touch step touch KICK jazz hands!), Anna will have a better costume than you.
She’s teaching me.
When I was being Metaphor Mouse, and trying to come up with a better way to interact with filing and all the dread and horribleness associated with said files, her contribution was:
What’s your costume?
I didn’t get it.
But then I did.
When you put something on for the duration of a task or a project, you’re setting a boundary. You’re marking time.
You’re designating the space in which something happens. It’s a more conscious interaction with your own capacity.
And you’re symbolically taking on something that symbolizes a specific quality that can serve you in doing what needs to be done.
You’re appropriating an identity (or a part of an identity) that can be put to use for what you’re working on.
What’s your costume?
I tend to think of costumes in terms of identity. In terms of passing. In terms of play.
But I haven’t been thinking about using them specifically to make work better.
Anna has her Working On A Difficult Project Gloves.
Jenny the Bloggess has her confidence wig.
I have my tiara and my pirate hat … and an entire box of playclothes that is going to live at The Playground (see my love-letter for more on that).
Putting things on. Taking things off.
I’ve been having my whole hissy fit growth period (see, I’m totally a grown-up) about being a grown-up.
And now I have to do stupid annoying grown-up shit like meeting with my CPA and my attorney and the other pumpkins and mice in my grown-up Cinderella entourage.
And dammit, I want a costume.
I don’t think I have the confidence to wear an actual Confidence Wig (ooh, another link).
But I am a fan of play.
And of rituals. Of starting and stopping.
And putting something on and taking it off feels like ritual. And also like play.
Like the spirals of deconstruction-and-creation in Shivanauttery.
So I’m looking for an outfit. Or part of an outfit.
Here’s what it needs to do.
Inspire confidence. Make me laugh.
And be different enough from Usual Me to feel like play … but not so different that I can’t walk down the street without causing traffic accidents.
And I’m going to wear this to a meeting with a total grown-up, so it can’t be too outlandish.
It could …
- Make me look “like an adult” while simultaneously poking fun at being an adult by virtue of being a costume.
- Be invisible. Or symbolic. Like a piece of jewelry.
- Be fun.
What do you think?
Also, did I mention that this weekend is Purim?
Purim! I’m going as a pirate. Probably.
And today I will be baking my blog-famous hamentaschen (this post from a year ago might be the funniest thing that I’ve ever written, thanks to Stu, the creep).
You can make them too if you want. Last year a bunch of people did and it was highly entertaining.
Comment zen! And play with me!
You are more than welcome to leave suggestions for costumes for me, and you can also brainstorm ways to bring more costumery into your own life.
Either one works for me. Or something completely different.
What I don’t want:
To be told that this is stupid.
Or that I don’t actually need a costume (um, I know that already) because transformation happens inside of you. Or anything about magic ballet slippers that are actually regular slippers because the oh look the magic is in my heart.
What I would love:
To play with you. To have a drag show. To be as silly or as not silly as this subject demands.
To put on my feather boa and hang out with the commenter mice. And blow extravagant kisses at my Beloved Lurkers.
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I have a couple of different necklaces which are keys, of various levels of decorativeness and/or utter ridiculousness. There’s something totally awesome about putting on a key when you’re girding yourself to do something hard — especially when it’s the Key to Hell (from Sandman), an antique prison key (or so the awesome antique store lady claims, and I choose to believe), or even the key from a tin of corned beef given to me by friends for totally being one of them (who express amusement whenever I prove I still have the thing).
The fun thing about necklaces is you can totally put anything on a ribbon or bit of silk cord and call it a necklace, and people will go along with it.
.-= Amy Crook´s last post … Just What Change Do I Want to See? =-.
S and I always used to fight about cleaning and tidying, especially when people were coming round.
So I found in the dress-up box this pink Old Lady rouche-y net hat, and I think there might have been a skirt or something.
Anyway, I would put it on to clean and then if either of us started getting grumpy, it would remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.
Try and shout at me NOW. Ha!
Maybe I could have a Doing Financial Things costume which could be all glasses and hair-up and efficient in a Why-Miss-Jones kind of way.
That would totally help.
Or at least be a good excuse.
Thanks, Havi.
.-= Andrew Lightheart´s last post … On Being Certain – Robert Burton – Lazy Book Review #2 =-.
This is genius. I was only vaguely aware that I already do this in one small area of my life (my apron is the signal to my brain that it’s time to cook/clean), and I have had these sometimes fleeting thoughts that a set of coveralls *might* possibly make it slightly more likely that I’d go help in the garden (maybe, there’s still all that dirt out there), but the idea that I can use a costume to help me get other things done? Brilliant! Figuring out the right costume for the activity even sounds kind of fun, albeit challenging. Thanks, Havi.
And @Andrew, thank you for that hilarious mental image. A dress-up box! What a great idea! Grown-ups can have those!?
.-= Darcy´s last post … Book: The Freedom Writers Diary =-.
@Darcy, what you said. I do have several of those old hats with the netting etc languishing upstairs in the closet. Tempted to make a dress up box. 😀
I too have the apron. Funnily enough I collected a whole mess of them when Izzy was an infant and all I could do was nurse him and wish that I could make art. We did a lot of yard saleing in those days, and I managed to score a ton of aprons. This obviously was before aprons were cool again. I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to get them for a quarter any more! LOL
I keep searching for the studio costume. Someone I know at the local developmental disability studio wears his beret and cravat when he goes to openings. He is really cool that way. I do have aprons for up there as well, but I need a full body one to protect from flying paint. I do have a lab coat though 😀
And lastly, back in December I bought my Cobra Bubbles drag (“New job. Model citizen.”) Real slacks in an actual petite cut so they *fit* (who knew!? ok part of the reason I kept putting off petite is that my rise is average and so I have to buy a size larger, vanity thy name is me 😉 ). Slacks that “real women” wear to “real jobs”. And two shirts, one an Old Navy turtleneck in deep gray and the other my show/fancy shirt in green and screenprint with fusible rhinestones around the collar. It helped me get out of my frumpy funk that started not long after DH lost his job.
I may have to blog this myself. 😀
PS If you are wearing slacks, stripey socks are great for remembering who you are 🙂
.-= Andi´s last post … When Life Gives You Art =-.
Yes to costumes. I remember when I did theatre, and something just clicked into place once I had the right costume or prop for my character. So powerful.
The piece of clothing that does what you describe for me is my tall boots. They’re knee high boots with a bit of a heel, when I usually wear shlubby flats. Oh yeah, nobody better mess with me, I’m wearing my tall boots.
I have a pair of Shrek ears that are the I’m-in-charge-of-this-project-and-you-will-do-what-I-delegate-to-you hat. They’re ridiculous. And I love them.
In fact, sometimes my wife will say, “are you wearing your ears right now?” when the actual ears are upstairs hanging on the shelf, because the ears are all attitude.
Hmmm, grownup costume. I’m thinking things like a pair of glasses you can look over, or maybe a really really really fabulous and sort-of-expensive fountain pen and a great notebook with good paper.
I’m also a fan of chunky shoes with heels that make a satisfying THUMP when I walk — those always make me feel like a grownup, even if I’m wearing stripey socks inside them.
.-= Julie´s last post … When did you know? =-.
Hmmm…when I was in my twenties I had a “grown-up costume” that I wore anytime I wanted to feel take-on-the-world powerful.
Unstructured, belted-at-the-waist black wool Ferragamo dress; black knee-high boots with killer heels; grey felt fedora; Kelly-green tights. Made me feel positively regal in an Alice-in-Wonderland Red Queen Off-With-Her-Head kind of way. 🙂
.-= Hiro Boga´s last post … You Opened Your Mouth… =-.
Maybe a fabulous pair of crazy underwear and crazy socks – neither of which could be seen. Beause who really feels like an adult if they are wearing a pair of *awesome* underwear with ice cream cones on them, or panda bears, or John Deer machinery?
Or maybe you could take a Sharpie and actually write “Adult” right on the bottoms of them and and then they’d be totally official! You’d only put them on when you had to be an adult (hopefully infrequently!). Like, “Oh, I have to visit the CPA now so I’ll go put on my adult underwear!”
And maybe you could have a specific pair of crazy socks for each person/task. Like your “I’m visiting the CPA” socks or something. . .and they should be extra cool so it’s kind of a reward to get to wear them and you almost look forward to going to CPA just to wear the kick ass socks!
Hiro! That grown-up costume! AMAZING. Just hearing about it gives me an “Off-With-Her-Head” vibe!
I’ll just chime in in agreement with everyone else…costumes! props! the best!
When I started transitioning my entire wardrobe from what I THOUGH I should wear (black pants, black heels, other development professional type of crap) to what I wanted to wear (no pants! no pants! things that make me feel like a high school drama teacher!) my first costume was what my friends affectionately dubbed “the doula dress.” (I think they were confusing midwives and doulas in their stereotype brains, but I loved it because I was also coming to terms with wanting to be a doula right then.) Basically it was a long blue cotton tent dress with white embroidery on the yoke, and I would put it on the minute I got home from work, and also wear it all weekend. It was definitely a boundary marker between – THAT was work, THIS is my real life. I layered it when it was cold, wore it with sandals when it was hot, and felt so sad when it was at the laundry. I don’t really wear my doula dress anymore, but I think I would enjoy coming up with some more costumes and props to mark boundaries in my life!
I so love this idea.
I’ve been working with something similar that I got from friend of mine — name tags.
So, when I’m doing housework I put on my apron that says Domestic Diva. When I’m doing my day-job work (even from home) I wear my real work name tag. When I’m “doing the creative” I wear an around the neck lanyard conference type name tag that actually says on it “Artist ID” which I got from a festival I was working at. It says something to my brain when I can point to my identification. “See? I am so an artist. I have ID. I so want to have a swiping mechanism at the door of my studio so I can buzz myself in with my Artist ID.
Also, I’m finding jewelry helps a lot. It’s like wearing Wonder Woman bracelets. If they can fend off bullets, I bet they can fend off shoes too.
.-= Christina´s last post … I have a blog and I’m not afraid to use it =-.
People wear costumes all the time. In the circles I run in we call that stuff you wear to see the CPA/attorney/etc “office drag”. Other people call it a suit but just because the people you pass on the street don’t realize it’s a costume doesn’t mean it isn’t. They’re just not paying attention.
I also know academics who occasionally wear what they call their “lady lecturer outfit” (I guess if they were American they’d call it a “lady professor outfit”). Some do it every time they teach. Others for occasions on which it is important to meet the expectations of others to limit the explaining and crap you have to deal with.
And back when I was deputy head of social sciences at a big red-brick university, the head had what he called his “million dollar suit” (yes, even though we lived in a country that doesn’t use dollars) for going to visit the Vice-Chancellor or other senior management guys. His explanation? “It’s the suit I wear when I need to go ask for a million dollars.”
All this to say that costumes are a GREAT idea but that they can be completely unnoticed to the people on the street while being completely obvious to you.
.-= JoVE´s last post … Writing a Research Statement Part I =-.
Costumes! Costumes! This comment thread has me in heaven. Amy’s magical keys. Andi and Elizabeth’s perfect slacks and boots. The Artist ID and The Ears! Andrew in his Old Lady hat! Emily in doula dress! *Hiro in queenly fedora-Ferragamo-and-boots!!*
Oh wow.
Havi, how would you feel about a tie? Like a sassy skinny black ska tie. Or perhaps a “hello, *I’m* the one in charge of this business” power tie?
I have just been reminded of a blog (in German) I came across recently, http://www.daskleineblaue.de.
A woman decided to have three exact copies of the same dress tailor-made for her and to wear this dress for a whole year and vary it through tights, scarfs, belts, shirts etc. She is taking a photo every day for her blog and so far she has turned the dress into over a 100 different “costumes”. Like it.
I’d be sorely tempted to put on a mustache.
And this post kind of made me realize that pajamas are a costume when you decide to spend the day in them. Like a signal that today’s a day to just chiilllllll, and for that reason it’s OK to spend the day in them.
Now I just have to figure out how to communicate this to my husband, because not getting dressed is, for him, a symbol of horrible slackitude.
But really, this whole costume thing has me thinkity-thinking…yes. Loving it.
.-= Emily´s last post … Creative Every Day, Part 8 =-.
I use my wool fingerless gloves at work. They help me feel like, “I am doing these tasks but they are not me and they will be over soon.”
But this thread has got me all excited to figure out more ways to use this idea! And everyone’s costumes!!!
Havi, I’m wondering about heels? Shoes or boots with heels? They could be your “don’t mess with me or I’ll stomp on you and by the way, I so rock this grown-up thing” heels.
Wow. I wear the same thing all the time. It’s been bugging me for weeks. It feels so… heavy. Examples:
a) jeans. I hate jeans but I always wear them. Ugh.
b) lack of color. Shades of gray and green and brown. (Shh.. Maybe if I blend in to this tree they won’t be able to hit me with their shoes.)
c) don’t get me started on shoes. Flip-flops & slides only. I’m blister & pain free, but at what price to my confidence?
c) There’s this gray hoodie I’m wearing right now that just begs to be burned.
I could go on for ages. All the work I want to do on my wardrobe at large seems pretty heavy and intimidating! I would definitely do a drag show, but with what clothing?
I’m gonna start by burning that hoodie. It’ll take some of the burden off my shoulders, but so soon after Snowmageddon, I need to replace it. I can’t wear my Alaska jacket in my slightly cool breakfast nook.
I need a light pullover that is long enough in the arms and waist, is soft yet sturdy, and sports some deep, rich colors. Something I can play with.
I will care for you and wash you in cold water only with similar if not exact same colors, but best of all, I will wear you.
Seems like such a small thing, but it’s a start!
.-= Doc´s last post … Little Question, Big Question =-.
This is too much fun.
I can’t actually do the stripey-socks-as-costume thing because that’s all I ever wear anyway so it doesn’t make a mental impression.
But gloves.
And I wear my skull-and-crossbones apron for cooking and cleaning.
@Hiro – that is the BEST. Love it!
@Andrew – ohmygod brilliant. BRILLIANT.
@Christina – artist ID! A tag! Oh boy. Mind is racing.
@Lindsay – oooh yes I am going to write ADULT on everything. With a Sharpie. Because that is such a grown-up thing to do. Seriously, that is the best idea ever — I am giggling happily just thinking about it. Yay. Thank you.
@Amy – keys! KEYS.
@Julie – Shrek ears. I don’t even know what to add to that. It’s perfect. Wow.
You guys are so wonderful.
This is fabulous!
I can picture the hot Hiro in green tigths and black high-heeled boots! Smokin!
Emily R – My husband doesn’t get that pjs are a costume either, but they totally are! A sign to snuggle and relax and NOT work.
My adult custume is a tweed-y gray skirt, black heels (the only pair of heels I own or will ever buy because I’m on a no-heel boycott), white button-down, earrings. But if I REALLY don’t want to be doing the thing, I wear black pants so I can wear crazy crazy knee highs.
Wear your fan socks! Keep Selma in your bag!
.-= Tara´s last post … 7 Reasons You Get a No =-.
I love this. I LOVE THIS. I love this.
When I want to rise above the daily grind, I will wear all of one color (especially all white) and crazy high heels in bright colors.
It’s my float through today costume. Because we all got those days that we want to float through.
Hey Doc- I love your pullover. It sounds perfect. Here’s sending you good pullover thoughts…I hope you find it and it’s a swirling colory warmy love.
.-= Bridget´s last post … Soul Note: Tangerine-Lemon-Pecan Mistake Cake =-.
we all have our costumes for sure.
Tomorrow I’m speaking to a group of managers and young people. I’ll be half way between office-smart and casual. my stripy trousers, black jumper with a bright shirt.. but i’ll wear my big goofy shoes.
when i talk to senior service managers, politicians or people that I need to take me seriously I wear a black suit. It’s armour, it’s a message that I’m serious and experienced. sometimes i really need this because I’m short and I don’t look my age.
My twitter photo has me in a tie which I’m wearing with my black suit. I did it for a day at work and it felt brilliant. I felt powerful and that I was taking the gendered power-dressing models and throwing them out of the window.
@havi, wear an imaginary cape with a silver clasp. It will give you extraordinary power.
.-= Lucy´s last post … Paddington Station =-.
@havi, this is a no-brainer!
Your costume needs to be a Working Girl power suit.
Red, with epic shoulder pads.
Underneath, a garter belt and silky negligee for surprise daytime encounters with your boss’ boyfriend (once he recognizes your remarkably sexy strength of character).
On your feet, white Reebok sneakers, to be exchanged for pumps when you reach the office, and slipped back on at the end of the day for the ferry commute home and some rigorous, Ironic Aerobics.
.-= Laura Belgray´s last post … Just making conversation. =-.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ! Love. Love costumes and all the mental rearranging that goes on when wearing them.
I highly recommend chapeaux. Although I do like the idea of “adult” written in sharpie on things…kinda punk!
I will quote Devo again here…I wear a cowboy hat, it is my business hat!
@ Havi–Maybe you need a magic decoder ring to decode the annoying grown-up way of doing things! It could also be used to activate your magic powers, such as talking to monsters and cracking us all up with your brilliance!
.-= chicsinger simone´s last post … birthday tiaras et al. =-.
oooh. Just got an image of a fab woman wearing a long scarf and flinging it with a masterful flourish around her neck as she marches out the door to slay the grownup dragons! Yay! Go Havi, Go Havi, Go Havi! (and Selma, and Selma!)
.-= chicsinger simone´s last post … birthday tiaras et al. =-.
I’ve been reading “Soon I will be Invincible” by Austin Grossman–very entertaining. It’s fictional autobiography/unauthorized biography/mystery with superheroes and supervillains. Costume and identity come up a fair amount. At one point a character is out and about in a suit and that’s actually his costume instead of the tights & cape.
.-= claire´s last post … Gettin’ My Groove On… (vol. xiv) =-.
Hey there my sweet and wondrously goofy girl,
Costumes… yes! They can help so much in situations like this. And as much as I would LOVE to see you storming the CPA’s office in your pirate rig AND a tiara I can see how that would be counterproductive to your overall aim in creating a Playground.
But I do seem to remember that you have another alter ego that might be just the thing in these challenging circumstances. I’m thinking of your 1940’s WRITER GIRL, with her hair pulled back in a bun, pencil sticking out jauntily and wearing those big horn rimmed glasses. And of course you can go all out with a white blouse ( complete with shoulder pads) and one of those form fitting calf length skirts. So professional…. so demure… so studious and very grown up.
And I’m sure you would be gorgeous!!
As for me… I wear my cowgirl costume pretty much every single day… complete with boots and fancy southwestern jewelry and once in a while… even a hat!!
Love you bunches,
Chris
.-= chris zydel´s last post … Love The Muse You’re With =-.
Oh, this is one of those moments where I think “wait, I’m not entirely crazy or at least not alone if I am because other people do this? Cool!” Most of my closet is costume (variations on the “office drag” theme). And even my real clothes have different purposes. It makes life more fun!
Anyway, the first thing I thought of is a charm bracelet or anklet. When I’m doing something that’s at all hard or unpleasant for any reason, I like to have something on me or around me that gives me ties to things and people I love. On the one hand, motivation (I need to do this so that I can later do these other things or spend time with these people). On the other hand, protection (these activities and relationships are my identity, not this activity or this place– those external things can only do so much, they can’t touch me). Plus, charms. Magic. I could see coming up with an incantation here. It’s not necessarily a costume in itself, but even costumes need accessories…
Happy Thursday!
@Beth – a CHARM bracelet! Of course. Magic. Yay.
@Chris – how could I have forgotten about Writer Girl? Thanks, my love.
@Claire – Soon I will be invincible! I *loved* that book. Read it twice. Yes. Perfect.
@simone *kiss*
@Laura – ohmygod you are so right. Why am I not thinking 80s enough?
@Lucy – imaginary cape imaginary cape imaginary cape!
I am so full of ideas I can’t stand it. Wheeeeeeeeeee!
I have no idea what you where on a daily basis Havi, but I am thinking kimono jacket. What says grown up beauty and power better than a beautiful silk kimino? In my humble opinion, a pirate queen in a kimono would be a force to be reckoned with.
I have been work on finding a good sovereignty bracelet, for when I need a good reminder to assert my power in my life. Still hunting though…
.-= Lauren´s last post … 20 Things in 2009 That Didn’t Suck =-.
@Lauren — Wow! A pirate queen in a silk kimono jacket! I think you’re absolutely right — that would be amazing!
I have an ice-blue velvet, satin-lined cloak that I wear when I’m feeling especially sovereign. 🙂
When I need to be more subtle, I turn to my pendant collection. I carefully choose a pendant to see me through the day, and it feels like a talisman. Today’s selection is a square of dichroic glass, crystal clear, but with a mysterious hint of rainbows shimmering within.
.-= Kathleen Avins´s last post … This probably shouldn’t surprise me… =-.
If I’m halfway in between does that make me a Semi-Commenting Lurker Mouse?
Love costumes!! I say, pirate boots… they’re sorta in this season as a real fashion item and it makes it so much easier to say “ARRRGH!” when wearing. (Which I imagine that you will need to say a lot when meeting with the CPA. At least I would.)
Now it is time to speak of the tie. The tie is the most magical piece of clothing ever devised. Somehow a tie can transform you from complete schlub to captian of industry. Case in point: there are some mornings where for some reason or another I simply cannot bring myself to shave or iron my shirt. On those days the tie is my best friend. I will put on my wrinkled shirt, a dirty pair of jeans, one of my well worn but well-cut jackets and my finest tie. I roll into the office unshaven, hair un-combed, and guaranteed within 5 minutes I will be complimented on my appearance. I will be asked if I have an important meeting. No other accessory or piece of clothing can accomplish this amazing feat. (Granted this only really works well in the extremely casual Pacific Northwest.)
You have the added bonus of being tall and strikingly beautiful, with exceptionally good posture. Not only will wearing a tie make you look and feel like the world is your oyster, you will also look sexy as hell in a cool androgynous kind of way.
A few tips: Your tie should be thin, but not skinny. You don’t want to look like a hipster cliche. It should be woven silk, preferably striped, not printed or cotton or wool or god forbid leather. It can be any colour except red. It should be a proper “7-fold” tie, not lined (ask your tailor or shirtmaker. You have both, right?). You should tie it in a single Windsor knot. The double Windsor is for bankers and mobsters. Tie it a little loose, with your collar unbuttoned. It should end between your belt and bellybuton. Combine with 40’s Writer Girl look mentioned above. Watch the Hudsucker Proxy and learn to mimic Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character’s speech and cadence. You will be unstoppable.
Long time lurker, first time commenter.
I totally have “costumes” for different occasions. When I come into to work in the morning, I change my shoes (we have a very clean lab). Those are my inside the lab shoes (work-brain). Along with those, I have my standard holey work t-shirt and stained jeans (I have a whole bin of clothes that are outside hard work dirty clothes). Boots and tights are reserved for days that I know I’m not “working” (even though I might be at work). Jewelery changes too- I have a pretty charm bracelet that I wear when I’m not up to my elbows in something and a standard band for the rest of those days.
Great post all around (commenter mice included!) :C)
I totally dig this. When I want to get into my “write some scary monster stuff” mood I wear two braceletts that are from the movie Twilight. Makes me all “I can stop cars with my bare hands and glitter in the sun, so neener neener-ish”. Very good for inspiration.
Key chains, bobby-pins, necklaces, belts from Disney, to be in keeping with Cinderalla, from the Jack Sparrow Pirate collection! See here:
http://www.treasurekingdom.com/CTGY/POTC.html
And a lovely scarf, but not just any scarf. A gorgeous, brilliant one, maybe worn for a belt, or for particularly sticky meetings, worn around the throat and tied with a slip knot that you can use to make out-of-line grown-ups walk the plank!
Yes! Much fun!
Haha! This made me laugh!
I totally have my old prom tiara still and I wear it when I clean the house. Because then I’m like the cleaning fairy?
My friend’s also got me a superhero cape for my 19th birthday that I wear when I need to believe that I’ve got superhuman strength. (I have no idea where the *heck* they found a superhero cape, but in came in a superhero kit. For reals.)
And when I feel like I need to impress people, I wear a pair of crazy heels, and give myself really dramatic make up and something super tailored. (Much like Hiro! I *am* in my twenties, so I totally get the concept of a grown up costume.)
…now I’m realizing how much of my life I spend in costume. Interesting….
.-= Sarah Marie Lacy´s last post … The right price =-.
You’ve just reminded me that I should wear my sparkly tiara more often! Perhaps when I’m doing the filing.
.-= Kirsty Hall´s last post … Goodbye Pepper, Hello Colette =-.
Havi,
I’m not sure why this popped into my head, or why I feel compelled to post it, but as I was reading your post, when I got to the end, but before I read the part where you asked for suggestions, I thought “well, if I was going to suggest something it would be an Ankh.”
and then, low and behold, you did ask for suggestions, so I guess now I’m suggesting it…
I’m not sure if this is a symbol that resonates for you, but for me it is very powerful. Ankh literally means Life in ancient egyptian – and to the ancient egyptians words held an almost indescribable amount of magic – if you truley held and used the proper words, they would become reality – that’s it. So the Ankh isn’t just the word for life, but the embodiment of the full power of life. At least for me. YMMV.
Then again, maybe you need a neckless with a little pendant that looks like Selma.
Enjoy your costuming!
Andy
http://binauraljourneys.com
Maybe you need a pirate hat. Or a pirate head scarf.
I pretty much wear the same thing all the time. I am in a serious clothing rut. Maybe I need to dig my way out a bit.
.-= Riin´s last post … New stuff =-.
Secret temporary tattoos?? Either goofy (Hello Kitty biceps) or powerful (swirls and lightning bolts and complicated designs)? (I did this once and ordered pizza later and the pizza delivery man actually did a doubletake upon seeing my left arm and he looked nervous. I laughed for like an hour straight.)
A reverse idea: some kind of beauty product that you never actually use and are maybe even a mini bit disdainful of, but falls into the category of “Doesn’t *everybody* always wear x??” (lipstick, hairspray, nailpolish, etc. For me it’s lipstick, since I always wear lipbalm otherwise.) Something that you think boring adults must always wear. Then: 1) you put it on and you’re now official in the world of the boring grownup. Afterward, 2) you *immediately wash it off*. Muhahahahaha.
Even better, something reversible, like a fabric hairband that goes from boring black to, you know, 1980s neon print. Or a boring bracelet that you wear over top of a pretty bracelet.
Another direction: I have, like, the boring everyday deodorant I wear. On my confident power days (or my need-a-lot-of-extra-cheering-up days), I use a super-fancy expensive deodorant that smells AWESOME (Fresh: lemon sugar) — and because I don’t use it every day, I’m not habituated to that scent. So I smell that all day long, and am reminded that I am infact a powerful being, even my armpits are worthy of only the finest that life has to offer, etc.
Hmm, what else? I have a small container of really subtle, scented, faintly-glittery body powder that I put in my hair if I am feeling the most confident ever. There’s a lot of it left.
Or maybe just a can of Silly String in your bag/purse/backpack? 🙂
Oh yeah costumes!!!
I have been a dancer for over 25 years, then a Dance Teacher and Choreographer and now writer So costumes are a completely required in my line of work.
Anyone will tell you a Costume can make or break a dance, it is one of the most important decisions before the dancers take the stage. Or when you describe a character the reader gets to envision them always adding their own touches.
So I think it is a very grown-up thing to consider all your possibilities before ‘going on stage’.
I agree with many underwear cannot be stressed enough as a powerful tool especially if it has the day of the week on it. Socks are a great tool. But I think you should remember Clark Kent. It seems he always had Superman under the suit. And your inner child playing pirate or fairy princess or even playing grown-up will be under your outfit whatever you decide and will shine through. Hey and maybe take selma along for the ride in your purse, unless you think she might keep interrupting.
Oh yeah and My costume today was Animal Print flannel P.J.s and fuzzy socks. My writing costume : )
Ooh, ooh, ooh!
I just suddenly flashed on the store that has the footwear for your costume.
http://www.fluevog.com/index.html
Read their about page, I think you’ll like it.
Plus a vegan section!
.-= Christina´s last post … I have a blog and I’m not afraid to use it =-.
@Lindsay Grown up panties! I love, I love!
I have a pirate ring all made up, Havi, and I’m in Portland… I posted one of the pictures of it up on flickr if you want to check it out – http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiralshannon/4388423741/
I am all about having jewelry that’s really fun and has multiple meanings or levels – but in a red velvet rope sort of way. Like, the people who notice my jewelry and get the silly or the geeky of it are the sort of people who are most likely to get me, but even the ones who don’t get it still think it’s pretty.
I love costumes, too. That was one of my favorite parts of bellydance – dressing up for classes, for *exercise*, in clothes that were fun and felt pretty? Awesome! And I think I may have mentioned in the last chicken that I just finished my color changing light-up skirt, which is totally part of my music-festival/wild-concert/electronic-art-stuff costume.
.-= Shannon Henry´s last post … Illuminated, Interactive ‘Skirt Full of Stars’ – Part 2 =-.
First thing I thought of was a luscious shawl. You know, something beautiful and over-the-top and soft and just plain comfy. Because, then you could pretend you’re a rich and snoo…I mean, sophisticated woman. With a nice pants suit or, even better, a cute dress, you could take the costume even further. See, you get to make fun of being a grownup, _and_ money. Also, luscious shawls are wonderful for cuddling.
My first two thoughts are:
First of all, a tie. These are business meeting so a blouse or business suit wouldn’t be out of place. If you’d normally wear a suit the tie is serious and very adult. If you’d normally wear a sweater or plain blouse a blouse and tie can be whimsical while adult. Just remember, the tie cannot be stuff.
Second is socks, something whimsical (whimsy is huge for me), light stripity toe socks. You’re in the same town as Sock Dreams and can not only shop there unless you have ginormous feet can actually wear most of their socks (I hate most of them not fitting men at the size 10 range). These guys in black and purple or to add some sexy to it try this puppies (maybe I’ll be brave enough to wear them one day).
That said, for serious, adult business a whimsical tie is your best bet.
.-= Herb´s last post … The Path to Becoming =-.
Ahhh, costumes!
When I first meet my partner-to-be at life-drawing classes he was always commenting on my “costumes”. “They’re not “costumes”, I would insist. “They’re clothes”. But once I refelcted on it, I realized that my dressing was always really about costume. At that particular time I was working as a teacher and really struggling with it. My creative costumes were about showing my students that I was so much more than just my role in the classroom. When I went to life-drawing classes, instead of dressing down because I was worried about charcoal or ink stains, I wore my same work costume to link my two lives as drawer and teacher, so that I could take some of that identity back into my work the next day. I guess my costumes were kind of like a bridge for me at that time.
PS. My vote is for 1940s writer girl (with striking red matte lippy!)
I have a writing ring which I first acquired as my talisman for NaNoWriMo.
It is a big gem-stoney butterfly and flutters beautifully on my finger as I type. I like the weight of it as I tap.
I reminds me of lightness, wonder, beauty, freedom and transformation – all qualities I love to have in my writing process.
But the really fun bit is that when I’m wearing it I kinda automatically imagine the rest of a flamboyant writer costume. Very Barbara Cartland. I can be as audacious and ar-teest as I like and have it all my way because ‘I’m a writer, darling’.
Makes me smile every time.
.-= Rebecca Leigh´s last post … Benefits, reality distortion fields, and talking so your right people can hear you =-.
What a totally awesome idea! I have got to try this.
.-= Angela Rockett´s last post … Birthday Giveaway =-.
Yes! Yes! Costumes are very important. I have a hard time getting dressed some days (coming out of the closet, ha ha) because of an intense desire to achieve the correct integration of How I’m Feeling, What I Want To Project Today, and Which Items Are Most Comfortable. These all change wildly from day to day, but I’ve noticed some patterns. For example, I seem to be most comfortable physically and identity-wise in things that I associate with dancers and yoga people–leggings and jersey knit skirts and lots of light layers–even though I am not officially any sort of dancer or yoga person. This kind of outfit says something to me about flexibility and movement and being in flow.
Other parts of my costumery include scarves of all varieties, stripey socks, and jewelry with personal significance. Color is also a huge part of the “integration” thing I described. It’s a very happy-making thing when just the right colors come together with just the right sorts of clothing for the day. It makes me feel like a whole (and sometimes even holy) person.
.-= Tracy´s last post … On Mark-Making: Post-It Notes from the Universe =-.