Halloween Costumes 2011 Options

[Flamekebab]

As per usual I'm attempting something needlessly complex, what are you guys going to be wearing?

Here's a couple of things that pertain to my costume:



Building up to be a costume for this guy:


I'm going to get some more up to date pics of the rocket launcher shortly, first I need socks!

[Sky Light]

I see no other pictures and no other comments.

Well my opinion on this dressing up thing is that I just don't get it.
Time an effort to dress and up most of the time, look silly? Can anyone explain this to me?

[Flamekebab]

Easy. I enjoy making costumes, often more than actually attending the parties.

I'll see if I can get the photos from Mattzm, he's got a group shot featuring Midnight, Glam Smile, Depiff, and me (did I forget anyone?).

As for looking silly, that's no problem whatsoever. Looking silly, to a point, is fun. I do not feel I need to appear serious at all times, I'm confident in who I am and am quite willing to make a prat of myself at times. When lots of people do it together there's a bit of community to it. We're being silly together; it's a bonding experience.

For me, with costumes, there's also an element of competition and challenge; trying to balance cost, time, detail, and so forth. Each year I feel my skills improve.

Here's a couple of photos of the finished Black Box:


I didn't have time to take more photos during construction - it was all go to get it finished along with my jacket, helmet, and so forth. Should there be a video game themed party or similar, I'm ready!
Well, technically I was ready before given my Gordon Freeman costume but this one is better and comfier.

Don't be scared to look silly, it's really not that bad, particularly when everyone else is looking silly too!

[GlamSmile]

I can understand where you are coming from Sky Light. I did dress up for this Hallowean, though I did have my doubts along the way - I nearly didn't do it on the night of the Hallowean Party. I didn't want to look silly. I did dress up in the end, given the amount of effort and thought that went into my costume - I felt I would have wasted all that if I didn't at least get to show it off. It also took some convincing from friends.

With regards to looking silly; it's not that when I see other people in costumes that I think they look silly, but I myself feel silly and rather stupid when wearing a costume. That's why the TF2 Scout Costume appealed to me, as it didn't involve wearing any clothes I wouldn't usually wear (T-Shirt, Shorts, a hat and some Stockings/over the knee socks). Still I felt very self conciouss the entire evening - as if people were watching and scrutinising my every move. It's stupid, I know. There were several people there that evening that were more outrageously costumed than me (Ben was wearing a pot on his head, for example), but I still felt very much put on the spot. It's interesting how a change of clothes can make you feel all self-concious. I guess in the end, I decided to dress up this year, because all my friends were going as TF2 Characters so I didn't want to feel left out - it's funny, looking back at this, that I thought I'd be left out if I'd show up in "normal" clothes instead of dressing up. The group element helped me feel more comfortable while wearing a costume - I wasn't alone out there looking stupid.

Even though the actual dressing up/ wearing costume bit isn't to the best of my liking, I had a blast making all the props and thinking about how to make the costume come together - I went as far as drawing a concept art for it a couple of months in advance - not that I put in that much planning, but I enjoyed designing and drawing it, thinking about how to make the props, without spending huge sums of money. I guess it's the same feeling Ben talks about, he enjoys the making of the costumes - I enjoy this element much more than the actual wearing of it.

So will I ever dress up again? I don't know. I guess a silly headdress or some face paint will be part of the years to come - it's so difficult to escape all the costuming craze, especially when you are in Britain. I also guess the occasional costume will also be worn, but always something that makes me appear not to much out of the ordinary - my problem dosen't lie in exposing myself and wearing different things from what other people wear (I'm already not following every fashion trend there is and have my own (rather conservative) style), but it's something to do with the fact of dressing up. Don't get me wrong here, I don't mind and in some way even enjoy dressing up when it comes to acting. I have nothing against dressing up for a theatrical production, it's just that I don't like it that much to dress up for Hallowean.

@Flamekebab: You forgot the lone Ranger, Paddy.

I also happen to have one of the group pictures from Mattzm from the night. Enjoy!

 Hallowean_2011.jpg ( 817.74K ) Number of downloads: 6

[Sky Light]

Wow, that's a lot of words to read this late at night, hehe.

I do understand what you are both saying. I guess because I am not creative, I am unable to enjoy any making of costumes.
But I am glad that you both like making them so much.

[Sky Light]

Wow, that's a lot of words to read this late at night, hehe.
I do understand what you are both saying. I guess because I am not creative, I am unable to enjoy any making of costumes.
But I am glad that you both like making them so much.

So its not so much as the dressing up but those your dressing up with and what is being worn.
But when you dress up for theatre you are dressing up to be a different character. Whereas for Halloween you are still being yourself, slightly.
For me, I class all types of costumes, even those similar to what I wear, as dressing up. I struggle with my own image, so putting on a costume is out of question for me.
Mind you, when I was younger I used to dress up as a witch. But I can't recall if that was my own choice.