I love Halloween. I tend to live in other centuries in my head most of the time, but only once a year do I get to model them as a fashion statement. Try wearing a set of panniers on your average Tuesday and people will stare at you like you’re crazy; do it on Halloween and you get to preen and be praised.
I tend to specialize in obscure literary figures/historical characters. In college, I went as the Belle Dame San Merci with lots of fluttering draperies in aqua and green. (Cue a chorus of “La Belle What?”). My first year of grad school, I dug up Regency garb and went as Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey. (Yep, “Catherine who?”). The second year, I had way too much time on my hands (this was just before I started writing Pink I, so I needed some way to procrastinate from studying for my orals) so I sewed myself a pseudo-18th century gown, fashioned a bizarre wire contraption to hold it out along the sides, and went as Evelina from Evelina.
Having grown lazy in my later years (and forgotten how to sew), I’ve found it easier, recently, just to re-wear that same dress and come up with a new character for it each year. No one ever knows who they are anyway, so it’s all okay. This year, my little sister went 18th century with me, so, together, we were the Lennox sisters, daughters of the Duke of Richmond and Lennox. (For those who are curious– or have seen the BBC series “Aristocrats”– I was Caroline and she was Emily. No one wanted to be Sarah.)
What are you wearing for Halloween this year?
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I had my party last night and dressed as 1940’s pin-up girl. But my hair didn’t come out the way I wanted it to :-/ Other than that I think it was pretty cute 
by Ashlee
on October 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
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Last year I went as plain old Jane Austin, this year I went as the Lady of the Lake (complete with plastic Excalibur accesory and very sparkely white dress, samite being a bit hard to come by). No one ever gets it, but I end up in the year book anyway(mind you, that might have more to do with the fact that I am one of the very few girls that wear costumes long enough to cover their rear)
by Katie
on October 31st, 2009 at 6:16 pm
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I love Halloween, but sadly had no time for getting my costume together…though I was going to be Daisy from Spaced…next year I swear!
Though I did have fun finding all the pictures of my old Halloween costumes over the years and posting them on my blog. Best ever was the year my friend and I went as Edie and Patsy from Ab Fab.
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You looked great! Unfortunately, my Halloween in China was wearing black and orange in school on Friday and handing out a massive amount of candy to my students! No interest in the holiday whatsoever except for the candy and Michael Jackson. I was not allowed to dress up either 
by Sonia
on November 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am
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I’m at a conference this weekend, so I couldn’t really dress up. I did consider wearing a short-sleeved striped blouse and a vest and telling myself I was Cameron from House, MD…but it’s Michigan in October. Which led me to reminisce about my childhood Halloweens in Michigan where every costume was covered by a winter coat.
I did see about a dozen Michigan State U. undergrad men dressed in pink leotards and tutus.
by Jessica S.
on November 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
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My work does their employee appreication as close to Halloween that they can and they encourage us all to dress up with the theme. This year was “Fablous Flashback”, sadly, they flashback only encompessed the 1950s-1980s. So I just went with a “Flashdance” outfit (complete with oversized sweatshrit w/the neck cut out, purple leggins and bright blue legwarmers).
I do have an outfit that I made for a project in a high school for a history class. It’s very 1890s, but I have a hard time finding oppurtunites to wear it. No one ever gets it when I do wear it.
by Kristen
on November 1st, 2009 at 10:40 am
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Ahhh you look so cool!
I was Sweeney Todd’s Mrs. Lovett 
It was great fun. Next year a friend and I plan on going as Elizabeth Bennet (me) and Jane Bennet (her). We’re hoping to make our own costumes.
by Cho
on November 1st, 2009 at 12:08 pm
