{costume} la calavera catrina

your innkeeper transformed into the queen of the underworld this weekend...

i designed my very own version of "la calavera catrina" ("the elegant skull") to wear for halloween and dia de los muertos celebrations...

this character is thought to have originated as mictecacihuatl, ancient aztec goddess of the underworld who watches over the bones of the dead...

my inspiration for this costume started earlier this year at burning man. it began with the stunning skeleton boatman in the stroboscopic zoetrope "charon" and intertwined with neighbors who painted intricate body art daily. i became fascinated with the imagery as well as the artistry...

i am compelled by this character because it is a juxtaposition of the macabre and the beautiful; death is playfully adorned with colorful ornamentation.

it was so much fun to create this costume - dramaturgical research, an inspiration board, an embroidered vintage dress, glittery flowers and feathers, detailed face painting...joy!

have any of you created or worn costumes this year? this theatre girl would love to hear about your fine frippery...

halloween in the eighties

i have been reminiscing today about my early halloween costume choices.

the following were my top four favorites during elementary school...

{tinkerbell}

i remember my mother rubbing cream rouge on my cheeks.

i had to wear a turtleneck under the classic plastic tunic

because it was cold in ohio at the end of october.

{strawberry shortcake}

my best friend went with me as "apricot."

this costume had the annoying mask

with the wonky elastic string.

{fifties girl in a poodle skirt}

my mom made my skirt and it was incredibly cute.

i rocked the saddle shoes.

i would still wear the whole ensemble.

 

{valley girl}

i wore a sleeveless grey flashdance style sweatshirt

that said "totally awesome" on the front.

i bought glittery green hairspray from spencer's at the mall

and made my hair huge.

my bangle bracelets, legwarmers, and jelly shoes

were smokin' hot.

please join me in this little jaunt down memory lane and describe a few of your early costumes...

costume swoon: coraline

last year i dressed up as coraline...

still pondering my costume for this year.

i am a theater girl and super geeky about this kind of thing.

{geeky in a fun excited hyper silly happy way}

are you dressing up for halloween?

if so, i would love to hear about your ensemble...

classic fall fashion: lena hoschek

i have always been completely in love with classic and well-tailored vintage fashion.

one of my favorite experiences as an actress was being custom fitted for a professionally designed and hand-sewn period piece costume. i swoon just thinking about it!

yesterday, danielle thompson of kitschy digitals tweeted about the beautiful fall collection from lena hoschek and i was reminded of this feeling.

thanks to danielle, i'm now totally smitten with these preppy pinup pieces...

costume swoon: grey gardens

i watched hbo's grey gardens last night and was practically fainting over the beautiful costumes...

...while coveting the chapeaux in this flick, i realized why my grandma grace regularly lamented the fact that women no longer wear hats.

costume swoon: sweeney todd

i am a stripe lovin' fool.  last week i watched sweeney todd and was completely enamored with mrs. lovett's stripey ensembles...

...her swimsuit is adorable, and i would love love love to wear that red + white dress!