NOLA Costume Ideas: From the Swamp - Bayou Babes & Handsome Hillbillies

So I titled the party "Romp in the Swamp" and then sort of abandoned the slimy bayou in favor of NOLA's more urban side, be it the sparkly fun of Mardi Gras or the dark appeal of vampires. Clearly this was unintentional, and to remedy the situation, here are some costume ideas for swamp-romping folk:

Couple's Costume: Shotgun Wedding

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A pregnant bride - whether your bump be real or padding - is easy to put together. Goodwill stores are teeming with wedding dresses right now, but even a white sundress will do - after all, it's sort of a "spur of the moment" event, right? A chunk of tulle makes a cheap and effective veil, a bunch of weeds or dead flowers can be your bouquet, and you can find hillbilly teeth or tooth blacking makeup at most Halloween stores right now. Don't worry about shoes, barefoot works best.

Your groom has several options - he could dress traditionally, and just look terrified all night, preferably with a backwoods father-in-law prodding him on with a shotgun. Or he could also don some hillbilly finery, such as Seal did for he & Heidi's "Trailer Trash" vow renewal:

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He's sporting shorts, a mullet wig, and several mismatched shirts. Also highly appropriate would be the classic overalls, or if you have the "build" for it, how about these fancy pants:

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If you're not into assembling your own outfit, here's the "off the rack" costume version:

- seems to be out of stock/discontinued on a lot of sites, but you might have luck on Ebay or Amazon.

Other backwoods fringe folk:

Apparently there's a TV show called "Swamp People" featuring these guys:

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The overalls seem to be key.

Or how about a gator wrestler:

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You could get one of these pool toys and battle it all evening:

$13.95 at Ebay


Of course, people aren't the only inhabitants of the bayou...

Creatures of the Swamp:


$24.49 on Buy.com

This guy seems to be available at a lot of the larger retailers - Kmart, ToysRUs, etc:


If you're feeling more inspired, here's an incredible step-by-step tutorial on becoming this guy:



find the details here.

Here's a good blog post with links to inspiration & shopping sites with swamp monster pieces.

11 days till Halloween, just 10 until my party - definitely time to get hopping if you're still on the fence about a costume!

PEOPLE's Halloween Inspiration Photos

I somehow ended up browsing People Magazine online this week, and thought I'd cross link to a couple of their fun Halloween photo albums that were pretty fun:

Celebs in their Halloween best

Everyday Joes dressed in their CELEBRITY best

Costume Ideas - using graduation/choir robes

As I mentioned, I've been spending more and more time at the Goodwill lately, scouring for Halloween bargains. Particularly I think this location does a good job of hauling in TONS of costume inspiring pieces:

St. Paul
553 Fairview Ave. N
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 379-5808

(I've called it the "University Avenue store", though its technically set back off the main street and the address is Fairview).

One thing I noticed a ton of on their racks were these:



Robes. Choir robes/graduation robes/clergy robes, they had them in all colors and finishes. And cheap. So I thought I might step away from the NOLA costume ideas, and rack my brain for a few costumes you could create around this easy piece.

1. Graduate

Buy the robe, and take 10 minutes to make up an easy little graduation cap - cover a square piece of cardboard in black (or whatever color robe you decided on) fabric - hot glue works well. Cut a strip just larger than the circumference of your head and secure it in a circle as the cap. Glue on a button & tassel, and you're done.

Jazz it up:
- spell out something obnoxious on your hat (Hi Mom!)
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- classic streaker - there's always one guy who decides to go "au natural" under his robe - create the look with an open robe and nude bodysuit underneath.

- set yourself in a different time period - try some big 80's bangs and a side ponytail, jelly bracelets, acid washed jeans tucked into your neon slouch socks, high top sneakers, and add a "Class of 1985 rules!" sticker across your back

- Pick your clique - accessorize with nerd glasses & buck teeth, goth makeup & baggy pants, drama mask and feather boa, etc.

- Politicize it - strap a crushing load of student debt to your back (maybe just a huge backpack that says "STUDENT LOANS." Maybe with blood for emphasis), a "will work for food" sign on your back and a copy of the want ads with lots of red circles and XXs, wear your robe open with the bare minimum cloths underneath and a "will dance for tuition" sign.

- Go (un)dead - zombie or vampire twists are easy to add to any costume, just pick up the appropriate makeup kit at a Walgreens or Target.


2. God-Fearing Folk



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- start with a black robe and add a white collar (strip of cardboard) to become a Catholic priest, or drape a sash over your shoulders (vestments? something like that?) with religious symbols to be a minister. Carry a bible (or a black dictionary, or heck, put a paper cover on your copy of "New Moon" and write BIBLE across the spine).

- black robe, white dickie or bib (or you could even cut off the top of a white t-shirt to make the collar), and a habit made of a rectangle of black fabric secured to a white bandanna or knit cap makes you a nun. Best if worn with a stern look, and possibly carry a ruler for rapping knuckles.

- choir singer - carry a book of hymns. Spontaneously sing back the last line of what anyone says to you. (Be prepared to be tossed out of your party early.)

- Mary & Joseph - start with a light blue or brown/gold robe, add a few loops of fabric draped across your body or over your arms and tie at the waist with rope or twine. A chunk of fabric, or in a pinch even a pillowcase can make your head scarf. Mary is a good costume for a pregnant mama, or she could gently swaddle the baby Jesus (doll wrapped in a receiving blanket).

Jazz it up - too many options, and too much room for politics and offense to even get me started. Of course there are the classics - pregnant nun, "excited" priest...but you probably don't have to look too far to come up with a million more statements you can make with a few accessories. I'll let you delve into them on your own.


3. Judge

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A black robe easily doubles as a judge's robe (which would look way less stupid than the folks above), and you've always wanted an excuse to carry around and bang a gavel.

Here's a great tutorial on making a barrister's wig out of a Christmas tree skirt, or if you'd rather, create it out of tampons, toilet paper rolls, also here, or most costume shops carry them as well.

Jazz it up:

- protest a particular ruling...though the only ones that I come up with are too offensive to post. Maybe look at some political cartoons for research. Or just add a devil tail peeking out the back, or envelopes of cash bulging out of your robe. Wrap yourself in red electrical tape to protest the inefficiencies of the judicial system.

- Judge Judy - she would require a different wig, but same general idea.


4. Miscellaneous and Whackadoo



Angel - white robe, tinsel halo, and paper wings, just like in your kindergarten Christmas pageant.

The "other" afterlife - It's probably wrong, but I kind of love the idea of a vampire nun or zombie choir singer.

Grandma - let's face it, a choir robe is just a mumu before the loud pattern. Remedy that with some fabric paint or iron on appliques, put your hair in curlers and smear a mud mask over your face.

Greek God/Goddess - if you've ever tried to make a bed sheet toga, you know its harder than it would appear. But if you start with a big flowy garment, its a little easier - get a white gown, lop off one sleeve, and wrap gold braided cord around your midsection to "tailor" it to your body. Add a crown of gold leaves and gladiator sandals.

Harry Potter's school uniform - A black robe can be adorned with minimal trim & a Gryffindor emblem to become a Hogwart's cloak.




Speaking of Wizards, create an old school Merlin - long blue robe, paint or iron on white stars, and use cardboard to create the iconic pointy hat. Long white beards can be purchased at any costume shop, or make one out of fiberfill or cotton balls.

NOLA Costume Ideas: Magical Madames and Mystical Men

You don't have to go supernatural to control the magic of New Orleans, there are plenty of mystical misters & mavens of the more human variety. Consider these costume ideas:

Fortune Tellers:

Whether it's tarot, palmistry, or looking deep into your crystal ball, a fortune teller is an easy costume to put together often from your own closet. But for the sake of ease, let's start with the costume chain stores' "elite" fortune teller ensemble:


$119.99 @ BuyCostumes

Definitely recognizable, and all in one box, but you don't need to shell out nearly that much dough to get a similar look. Find a peasant skirt (also try searching hippie, broomstick, or gypsy skirt), such as this one for just $0.99 on ebay (+4.75 shipping):



Add a poet shirt from an old pirate costume or second hand store (or the 90's, were you the unfortunate dresser I was at the time...), like this one for $19.99 at Factory Card Outlet/Amazon:



Wrap a scarf around your hair and maybe another around your waist, and accessorize with all of your gold jewelry and hoop earrings, maybe some dark and mysterious eye makeup and long lashes. For added impact, carry a crystal ball or tarot deck.

Guys, maybe you want to go a little Johnny Carson/Carnac, for a more humorous version:



Black pants, black turtleneck, and just the over the top hat makes the whole look.

If you're out of time or not feeling crafty, Here's an off-the-rack ready to go costume with a little twist - it even includes the fortune telling BOOTH! Clearly a take on the Zoltar machine in the movie "Big", though it could work equally for a male or female:


$59.99 @ Amazon

VooDoo Priests & Priestesses:

Here's the mass-produced "voodoo man" costume available this year:


(multiple sources, including $59.99 at Kmart) I think it looks pretty good in the photo, but I can't tell if the skeleton top is part of the jacket (in which case it is included) or not (in which case it isn't.) This version DOES come with the hat/mask though, and some I've seen do not, so read the fine print carefully when you order.

I actually have a men's voodoo jacket (shorter like a blazer, printed with skulls) if anyone wants to borrow it this year - let me know. Hubby went a different direction, and his costume is already ordered.

But don't think the dark arts are only for the men, in fact NOLA has a history of very powerful sorceresses , capture their essence with a costume like Tia Dalma from the Pirates of the Caribbean:



This one leans a little more towards the skanky/naked line of costumes that are so popular these days (I blame you, Leg Avenue) but I kind of love the skull print so I'm showing it anyways. And if you have the curves to pull this off, you should totally wear it (I have curves, but not in any of the right places):


$57.99 at Target The dreads are NOT included.

Really the voodoo priestess is a darker version of the fortune teller above, so you could follow the same general idea with a flowy skirt or dress, but choose a blood red, black, or deep purple color. Accessorize with lots of skulls, talismans, voodoo dolls, and potion jars. The Dollar Tree is a great source for cheap plastic bones, skulls, and skeletons you can transform into necklaces, weave into your hair, and probably shove through your nose if you are dedicated enough.

VooDoo Dolls:

This next category isn't exactly human (or alive), but I couldn't help noticing this fun homemade version of a voodoo doll posted on craftster:


(lots more photos and info about making it on the thread)

and I LOVVVVVVVE this darker version of a voodoo doll and priest, as shown in Threads Magazine:



Hope you have your wheels turning - less than a month until you're strolling down Bourbon Street!

NOLA Costume Ideas: Shifters, Weres, and Wolves (True Blood + More)

Vampires and telepaths aren't the only supernatural creatures roaming around the Big Easy, so today let's take a look at some of their furry friends - werewolves, shapeshifters, and other were-animals.

While sources for images are cited, I haven't purchased from nor can I vouch for the validity of any of these sellers, photos are mainly for inspirational purposes.

Werewolf:
Werewolves are arguably as hot as vampires these days, which means that the costume companies are jumping on the trend with some decent looking off-the-rack options - much easier than juggling a bunch of spirit gum and prosthetics:



$34.00 @ Target



$45.45 @ buy.com

You'd still need some makeup skills with this next one I think, but it actually comes with all the pieces shown, including the pants (most the rest do not), and it's not a full mask, so it might be more comfortable/cooler:



$68 @ Summit Fashions

I'm not sure why they are all wearing flannel, but that would be easy enough to change - and a fun way to customize your look. How about a couple costume of a Saint's football player and cheerleader - during the full moon? Or a Mardi Gras reveler, chef, pop singer...the opportunities are endless.

Were Panther:
Crystal Norris of True Blood is one of these:



as are most of her in-bred hillbilly family members in the small town of "Hotshot", outside of Bon Temps. While a sleek and powerful predator seems as far as you could get from a meth-making band of misfits, somehow these are two sides of the same coin - and the panther side seems much more appealing.



Assemble it easily:


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paired with something like:



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Flocked panther mask, under $7, velour jogging suit $35 (used), a tail out of a scrap would be quick and easy to round out the look (you wouldn't even need to sew, consider fusible webbing and just iron it together).

Shape Shifter:

True Blood uses live animals for their weres & shape shifters when in their non-human form, but Halloween leaves a little more room for interpretation. Basically you could create a humanoid version of nearly any animal and I'd consider you right on theme this year. If you'd like to work towards specific characters, how about a Merlotte's black (busboy) shirt, dog collar with a "tommy" nametag, pit bull ears and a little face paint to become Tommy Mickens, Sam Merlotte's younger brother:



All of the party stores have packages of noses, ears, and tails that can transform you into a were cat, mouse, leopard, etc., and most are pretty economical. How about picking up a snout and curly tail to go as Daphne when she appeared to Tara as (BEST QUOTE EVER) the "big @$$ mutha f!@#ing Paul Bunyan Pig!"

NOLA Costume Ideas - WIN True Blood Costumes!

Feelin' lucky, punk?

Then hop over to HBO and register to win "straight from the set" (and mostly bloody) costumes from this past season of True Blood. Sadly, I'm guessing all the ladies in the cast are about the circumference of my leg, so none of it would FIT, but I surely wouldn't pass up Eric's leather jacket :) Contest page here.

NOLA Costume Ideas: More True Blood - Supporting Characters

Alas, with last night's finale, we're going to be sans True Blood again until next summer, boo hoo! I'm not giving up any spoilers, but I do think it's a good time to revisit some Louisiana costume ideas inspired by True Blood - this time, let's look at some of the lesser known characters:

Pam is one of my favorite characters, but I'm not sure she'd be easily recognizable as she doesn't really have an exaggerated look. She's generally well dressed, alternating between smart suits and some campy vamp-wear at the bar, but then there's this gem:

Pam's Disco Night at Fantasia sequin jumpsuit:



My all time favorite True Blood costume, and it was only shown in passing on one episode. I'm guessing you could find a vintage pattern and recreate it if you were truly motivated.

Ginger, however, is the ESSENCE of a caricature (rather than just a character), and should be fairly easy to mock. She's a human waitress at Fangtasia and has been "Glamored" so often she's a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Just please, go easy on the screaming:



The key is the short bleach blond wig. Here's one a little long, but with good feathering. A blond bob wig should work too.



A vacant expression and any assortment of barely-there clothes should round out her look.

Fans of the Sookie Stackhouse NOVELS will definitely recognize "Bubba" - a character not (yet?) appearing in the HBO series, but would DEFINITELY be a perfect costume choice. See, Bubba is really this guy:



Who was turned into a vampire, but "something went wrong" so he's a little screwy too. This would be a super fun and easy costume - Elvis jumpsuit, wig, and fangs.

And finally, using the same basic Merotte's uniform discussed in the Sookie post and a long red wig (like this one with just a little styling) you could embody brassy waitress Arlene Fowler:



I briefly considered going this route as Arlene is pregnant this season (with a serial killer's demon baby) but since there is some ambiguity as to where the storyline is going, I've decided on another direction :)

I can't believe there is little more than a month until Halloween, where is the time going? I finally sat down and started on my invites this weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to keep up the momentum and really rock out all of my dreams and intentions. Between the time crunch, the exhaustion of pregnancy, and budgetary concerns, it should be quite an adventure to see how this all comes together this year!

NOLA Costume Ideas: True Blood's Sookie Stackhouse

True Blood is half the reason I picked theLouisiana theme for this year's party, and there are TONS of fun characters that would be really easy to whip together costumes for, such as the central figure, telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. She's had a few fairly memorable outfits, but in my opinion it's best to go for the easily identifiable costumes and avoid the "who are you?" discussion. Each of these should be pretty recognizable, easy to put together, and on the cheap side as far as costumes go.

Sookie's usual look is her Merlotte's waitress uniform:



This would be pretty easy to make with a white t-shirt, green half apron, and black shorts. Print out and iron on the Merlotte's logo, or if you're feeling less DIY and more Shop-Till-You-Drop, buy the supplies at HBO's online store - t-shirt is $25, apron is $20. Throw your blond hair (or wig) in a ponytail, add a couple vampire bite tattoos for good measure (you know she can't get enough of it). Even if you buy all the pieces, you're only looking at $50 or so, a bargain with today's costume prices.

Really want to be a fairy, but trying to fit into the theme? No worries! Sook's a fairy too, and in her story they wear lots of random floaty fun, anything from tulle to fur, just as long as it's white.



The easiest way to capture Sookie's fairy look would be to buy a floaty white nightgown, some sequin trim, and a glue gun. I'm finding good gown options on Bonanzle or eCrater for under $30. Sequins, rhinestones, appliques, and other trim can be expensive - consider recycling embellishment from other costumes/dresses you no longer wear, or buying a heavily adorned gown at the goodwill just to chop off the trim. You might want to wear a slip under it too depending on how sheer the fabric is, but the trim will also add some structure and coverage.



This could also be done for under $50 without a problem. Fairies in True Blood don't have wings, but we wouldn't fault you if you really wanted to add a pair. I know accessories are hard to resist.

Looking for a little harder edge? How about Sookie's undercover look when she infiltrated the Werewolf bar, Lou Pines:



You can look for leather/pleather pants and a halter at the Goodwill, Ebay, or Hot Topic, or re-purpose more general costumes like catwoman, or a punk rocker. Rub on some fake tattoos, go heavy on the eyeliner, and add a black bobbed wig (you might even angle it up a little more with your own scissors)



This was actually one of my favorite Sookie looks to date, but nothing rivals her travelling dress:



Chic on the Cheap put together a similar look on their blog, and the comments have some additional helpful resources for finding that floral cardigan. It reminds me so much of my grandmother's curtains. If you can recreate this look, make sure you accessorize with single serve liquor bottles - "They're like BOOZE for DOLLS!"

NOLA Costume Ideas: Mardi Gras Ball

I'm a sucker for feathers. And sparkles. And headdresses. And drag queens. So it's no surprise that Mardi Gras Ball costumes keep catching my eye. Is there a better way to celebrate a festival of excess than an over the top ensemble?

The keys to a Mardi Gras Ball costume include:


Excessive Collars - think of these as a backdrop for your face. They're not super comfortable, and you lose some of your peripheral vision (I wouldn't recommend driving with them on - assuming you could even fit into a car) but they definitely make a huge impact, such as this king and queen duo:

source


Elaborate Headpieces - whether you are inspired by Vegas showgirls, Carmen Miranda, or Lady GaGa, a fabulous fascinator or haute hat is a staple of this look. Excellent example:

source - with lots more great costume photos on her blog

SPARKLES! Are there any little things in this world happier than glitter, jewels, and shine? I find it imperative to wear something with sparkle every day, but Halloween/Mardi Gras clearly call for a bit more volume. Crowns, jewelry, scepters or wands, trim and appliques really bring your look to life:

source

Makeup & Masks: Masks are a popular symbol of Mardi Gras as really easy to find at party stores or even customize on your own. There are a million different styles - full, half, Venetian, tie on - and even more looks to choose from. I love how a mask really makes you feel incognito, like you really are trying out an alter ego.

source

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But if you don't like having your face physically covered, you can always use makeup to achieve a similar effect:

source and makeup list

Popular themes seem to involve royalty, the traditional colors of violet, green, and yellow, and often a hint at the risque nature of mardi gras. So whip out your old bridesmaid gowns, a glue gun, and some Xmas garland and go to town. As long as you go overboard, you're doing it right.

These people act like every day is a Mardi Gras Ball:

Lady GaGa
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Dame Edna
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Liberace
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