There comes a time in every young girl’s life when she arrives home after a stressful work week with a costume party to attend in three hours and absolutely no idea what to wear.
The party: Jeniqua’s Farewell (I must stop crying. I must stop crying.)
The theme/costume requirement: “Something you love.”
My wardrobe: Devoid of costumes.
After throwing nearly all my clothes into a pile on the bed, texting my mum, putting on a sequined beret to leprechaun-dance around the kitchen in front of my new housemate, and eating about forty seven hundred spoonfuls of Mighty Maple peanut butter, I had finally created a costume for Something I Love. A multi-layered costume, in fact. One might even say A COSTUME IN TWO ACTS.
My pick for Something I Love: Musicals.
Act One:
Good mornin’! Good mo-oo-ornin’! It’s great to stay up late!
Singing in the Rain.
See also: Gene Kelly.
Costume credits: Tap shoes, mine. Black umbrella: Dad’s. Yellow Raincoat: Purportedly my mother’s, but the collar rather suspiciously has not only my last name written on it but the surname “Rowlinson”. Dear Rowlinson family, I apologise for my mother’s thievery.
But that’s enough about my costume’s first act/layer. The second was for when I got tired of almost poking people’s eyes out on the dancefloor with my umbrella (ella! ella!).
Act Two:
I’m gonna live forever! / Let’s go out tonight!
Fame. (Or Rent. I prefer Rent, but feel the costume was more Fame-like.)
Regardless of the extent to which my costume/s represented my love of musicals, it cannot be denied that the party was rather spectacular. So much dancing! and laughter! and awe at others’ genius costumes!
For example:
Jeniqua’s fruit hat and googly-eye belt shone almost as brightly as M’s shiny robot.
(I must also mention that, one day at work, Jeniqua ran into my office shrieking “Turn around and look outside!” When I turned, I saw M standing on the other side of my window, on the sidewalk, in a completely public area… dressed as Gandalf.)
Yeah, that’s right. Dolly Parton (wearing the highest heels I have ever, ever seen in my life), Che Guevara and a goat.
When I told my brother about a certain aspect of this party, he responded that it sounded like the beginning of a joke: “A musical, Che Guevara, and a goat were smoking a cigar…”
Not that that happened or anything.
The above bird costume might be my favourite thing in the world. Particularly due to the dedication of the man inside; he walked into the party wearing that enormous bird head, started dancing, and as far as I know kept it on the entire night.
For which I am glad. How often to you get to see a bird drinking a bottle of wine?
Note also: pterodactyl.
This was one of the greatest parties I’ve attended. I only wish it hadn’t been a farewell.
Don’t leave me, gorgeous jazzy lady! How will my heart sing at work without you? Who will come into my office asking for chocolate, and act surprised every time I immediately pull something sweet from my desk drawer? Who else will I belt out Grease with at the top of my lungs on the way back from serious business meetings?
I’ll miss you ever, ever, ever, Jeniqua. Come back soon.
Question Time: What costume/s have you been most proud of in your life?
Amazing costume, Hannah! LOL Love the others ones pictured, too.
Now I’m going to have Fame and Umbrella in my head all night!
Thank you, Debi! My costume had nothin’ on the others, but at least I didn’t show up in a snuggie (“I love being warm”
)
I’m hopeless at organising myself into a costume for a fancy dress party. Always leave it until the last minute and always arrive at the party wishing I’d gone to a lot more trouble (especially when seeing what everyone else turned up in!) I love what you managed to find in your wardrobe. Those are two great looks. But as for the al-foil man – I hope he won a prize!
The only prizes this night were undying respect and cackles of laughter
I’m not at all crafty so costume parties make me anxious, but I felt okay about what I ended up with!
hahahaha I couldn’t stop laughing!! I always laugh when I’m at your blog and for me, the best costume was the robot
Aw Beti, thank you!! Your comment has made my night
So many things to say about the fun and the costumes but I just can’t get past the image of the teeny tiny little fairy spoon you must have been using …
It wasn’t that tiny… half the jar disappeared in one night!
That is hilarious. That picture of the guy pouring wine into his enormous bird head cracked me up.
The costume I’m the most proud of is the one I put together for my “trailer park” themed 23rd birthday party. I actually went out and bought a Bedazzler just so I could jam sequins into an acid wash jean jacket that I’d also decorated with a giant American flag done in glitter puffy paint. Worn over a short silver prom dress, it was the trashiest thing I’ve ever worn.
You can see from everyone pointing and laughing in that photo that it cracked us up too
Oh my gosh, that costume sounds incredible. I have no idea what a Bedazzler is, but considering my love of all things sparkly, I can safely bet that I want one.
I flippin love you woman!
I love you like a monkey loves a pig, and more. JENIQUA!!!!!!!
*sob*
How will I ever be able to drink coffee again?
Alice in Wonderland as a wee pup, Pippy Long Stockings a little later… Love the upturned hair, a snow bunny, a house wife, and a pumpkin! That awkward moment just before you enter the party.., worrying that you will be the only dressed up person!
Love your outfits, your soooo cool!
Bahaha, I can’t help feeling that “soooo cool” has an element of sarcasm to it
I want to see you dressed up as Pippi Longstocking! (Singing the song a la Gilmore Girls, of course 
)
I wish my mom and I could have those burst into Pippi-song moments!
On the plus side, we both have mums who comment on our blogs
I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have actually skipped fancy dress parties (although, please note theyu were parties for friends not as close to my heart as Jeniqua is to yours!) because of the challenge of finding a fancy dress costume. I am very impressed with your two-act effort, even if the raincoat had questionable origins
Also, I love Fame but don’t know Rent. Have I been missing something crucial?!?
I may or may have done that too. Costumes are so stressful!!
Oh, you must get some Rent in your life! It has a special place in my heart because I saw it properly on Broadway in New York
Dolly Parton, Che Guevara and a goat!!! I want into this party scene. How wonderful:)
It was a pretty awesomely eclectic group of “people”
That is some damn fine last minute costume work, Hannah! And truly a thing you love. Honestly I’m a little relieved that your costume was not peanut butter-based, which is where I thought this post was going.
My personal costume best was attending a party with Michael dressed as a pair of pirates (complete with chocolate coins tied in string bags to our belts, and wigs)… but not just any pirates. Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley from the Monkey Island computer games. Like your musical outfit, it worked on two levels, and we were thrilled when a fellow ’90s nerd recognised Guybrush.
Bahaha! You know me too well, Cindy. My first thought actually was peanut butter. “Maybe I could make a bra out of empty peanut butter jars, a la Madonna? No, that wouldn’t work. Maybe I could go as chocolate, wearing brown? No, I’ll look like faeces. Think, Hannah, think!”
Your costume PB (hey, personal best and peanut butter have the same acronym! It’s a sign! For what I know not) is incredible. Gotta love the extra element of superknowledge needed
3 things: 1) love your costume, you did well indeed. I remember seeing Rent, I think I was in about year 9. I loved it so much. 2) I so feel for you loosing such a valued, jazzy work friend! She seems indeed very awesome. Hugs. 3) Dolly is scaring me. She’s amazing…but also very scary.
Heidi xo
1) Aw, squish! Thank you love! I saw Rent on Broadway in New York, so it’s very special to me
2) MUST STOP CRYING. 3) Oh my god, you should have seen her grinding on the dance floor. And how seriously she played the banjo for 9-5. Incredible.
oooooooo I LOVE costumes parties!!! I reckon one of my best was a Jem inspired 80s punk goddess for Viper’s 32nd birthday, ah good times
80s is always a good idea for a costume. Heck, that entire decade was pretty much one long costume party!
It was a hand-me-down, a hand-me-down I tell you.
As for costumes, you don’t want to know … or, you do know and you know how weak they are, so it’s best to keep the pretence up that there was a fabulous costume sometime in my past.
You can’t fool me. I know we come from dress-stealing convict stock.
Your costumes certainly are fabulous… in the way you always manage to some linguistic ploy and wriggle out of them
Not only a bird, but an ANGRY BIRD. My Taiwanese kids would love him.
That party looks great, and so is your costume. Few can rock the cut-off top.
I don’t think I’ve ever bared my midriff like this in my life. It was a frightening and strangely liberating experience. Considering wearing that outfit to the office tomorrow…
Haha no I can’t believe that you don’t have a wardrobe full of costumes! I have a few-mainly for Halloween. Everyone at the party looked fabulous and you all look like you’re having so much fun! Party win!
Lorraine, I need your costume skills. You are the grandmaster of themed parties!
Hahaha I love the black bird one!
I’m so lame, I don’t even bother dressing up for costume parties out of laziness and uncreativeness (is that a word?). I think I should start, though…
You should talk to my mum. She always comes up with some sort of wordplay on the theme that enables her to just wear, for example, a singlet top or a piece of paper with something written on it. She’s the master of the brilliant cop-out costume
Two thoughts on reading this post – firstly I thought you might have dressed up as a jar of peanut butter (or smothered yourself with it but that would be tacky). Secondly I thought well I guess the bird man didn’t snog anyone at the party! As for costumes – I think the two that have been most memorable weren’t mine – one was a placenta and one was a roll of sticky tape and bunch of bananas. Party looks like fun – at least Jeniqua got a great send off!
I definitely considered both peanut butter and chocolate, before deciding that the former wasn’t possible and the latter would make me look like poo.
Well, actually, the birdman may well have snogged the pterodactyl…
Oh my gosh, a placenta?! I don’t think I want to know!
Hah – love the drinkin’ dancin’ bird man! Who knew those paper IKEA lamp shades had better uses?
As for you and your yellow raincoat, I initially thought, “Oh she’s going as Ray, a drop of golden sun.”
Is that what the head was?! You’re so clever, Kath
(I’ve never been to IKEA.)
Oooh, I LOVE your guess at my costume! If I’d thought of that too, it could’be been a thrice-layered costume!
Thrice is a better word than three.
OMG! Hilarious costumes. You guys are such a hilarious lot.
Teehee, thank you! We have fun
I’ve been on a massive musical bender lately. Six years separated from theater and I’m finally starting to miss it. I’ve been belting out RENT, Fame, and Aida songs lately, although I’m still sort of sick and can’t hear properly so it’s mostly been an adventure in terrorizing the cat:D
I’ve taken every chance to see RENT that I could over the years, but in 2009 Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal rejoined the national tour, and what an amazing show! To get to see them, both of whom were my idols for so many years, was really amazing.
I got to see Fame in London, so that holds a very special places in my heart too. Plus I was in it once upon a time:)
My favorite costume: Pris from Blade Runner, this outfit without the veil. I did a lot of handstands that day!
OH MY GOSH. I was totally thinking about Aida just yesterday! Except I’ve only ever really known it through a book version I once had
Psychic Cat can’t be terrorised unless you are terrorised. It’s the way the psychic link works. Therefore PC was lovin’ it sick.
Ooooh, awesome costumes! Handstands should be for every day though.
What a fun themed party! I miss theme parties terribly
Host your own?
That looks like a party I’d LOVE to attend!
PS – Grease is pretty much the ONLY musical whose songs I can stand. I apologize in advance for my severe intolerance to music that disagrees with me. (Really, it’s extreme.) But I promise you’ll like mine.
Bahaha! Particularly as your type of music is pretty much the only type of music I never listen to you. I look forward to your attempts to educate me
I’m beyond awestruck at that genius bird costume… but also, for the fact you could write the Dolly Parton line! I also want your tap shoes
I have to admit that when I saw the first picture, I thought you were going to say you went as a jar of Mighty Maple…. which would have been brilliant, if not even more uncomfortable than the bird’s head
Which Dolly Parton line? I’m slightly confused
Teehee, if you come visit I’ll let you borrow the tap shoes… believe you me, I considered peanut butter, but had no idea how to create such a costume!
Sorry, the bit about “Dolly Parton, Che Guevara and a goat…”!
And thank you, I’d love to go to Australia and if I do, I’ll know I’ve got a pair of lovely shoes to borrow
Oh my gosh, I’m a fool! I was looking at the one about the high heels
LOL!!!
Great story, I loved the Doly Parton look alike
Dear Hannah,
That bird costume looks absolutely hilarious!
One proud costume I did was being John Lennon, letting my hair all cover my forehead, round sunnies, drain pipe jeans, peace T-shirt and a ciggy hanging from my mouth and my partner played a hippy Yoko Ono
That costume sounds brilliant! I do love a costume that allows you to get away with singing in public
I had an epic pirate costume one uni Halloween. Also for a super hero party I went as Robin from batman, including wearing a cape and no pants. I was committed, and the second hand shop was well stocked.
I have been cackling for over a minute at the irrefutable awesomeness of a second hand shop that is well stocked in no pants.
But which Batman movie? The one with plastic nipples?
Lul, yeah, that came out wrong. I found some green tights, and cut them off to be tiny tiny shorts, the closest I could get to his green speedo. And then I used the cut off bits as green boots. A yellow tablecloth = cape, red singlet + belt + felt bits = the top part of his outfit. Totally awesome. I think my mum took photos, with a film camera, I’ll have to ask her to scan them.
That sounds incredible. You must send photos.
lol love the costumes! yours are brilliant
and kudos to the Angry Bird guzzling wine!
I can’t believe I didn’t realise it was an Angry Bird. I just thought, what, magpie? Gah!! I so very clearly don’t have an iPhone or iPad or iMind! *sheepish*
DOUBLE MUSICAL COSTUME? Goes without saying that you lady, are my hero.
Laura, I’m not going to lie: it was breaking my heart that you hadn’t commented on this post. YAY YAY YAY now!
(Feminism yay?)
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