POP CULTURE COSTUMING

Thank you Halloween. One of the best holidays, as it’s when dressing up and costumes are the norm and celebrated.

harry potter

Jo as Professor Trelawney, Michelle as Professor Umbridge, April as Rowena Ravenclaw, and Tara as Bellatrix Lestrange, in Wellington, NZ – Halloween 2010.

My dressing up as Professor Umbridge was part of a larger friend-group scheme. We decided for 2010 Halloween to all dress up as lesser known Harry Potter characters. Or at least characters where you can’t easily obtain a costume – you have to make it!

Pirates of the CARIBBEAN

Captain Jack Sparrow, 2008

This costume has been built upon and worn in several variations starting with a generic pirate knock-off in 2003, the year the first Pirates of the Caribbean film came out. Then there was the sewing machine frenzy of 2004 (shown below). This included the creation of the coat, spats, and vest. Note that this was before there was a Jack Sparrow costume pattern available.

Later in 2009 I made a billowy-sleeved cotton shirt, which has been used in so many costumes since!

Next was the zenith of this costume in 2008-2009, including a version with the tribal “bug” face paint Jack wears when he is the cannibal’s chief in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The jar of dirt is also referencing this film. The many layers and details of this costume have always been attractive to me. There is a lot of movement and texture throughout the piece.