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Anatomy of a not good costume
Nov. 3rd, 2006 12:22 pmSomething I forgot to write about, regarding last week's Halloween party.
Note to all people involved in handing out prizes for costumes: a man in a dress is not original and probably does not deserve first prize.
If the dress itself is impressive in some way, great. If it's meant to be a character and is either well-made and accurate, or a clever parody and is recognizable, wonderful. If the costume itself is so-so but at least has accessories and the guy is clearly making an effort to be in character (whatever that may entail), fine. But if the "costume" is a cheap white halter dress with mismatched pillows stuffed in the chest, white socks and running shoes, horribly smeared make-up and the guy's own ratty hair (or the World's Worst Wig, I couldn't tell), and the guy is at the stage of plastered where acting like an idiot in public is the most fun EVAR, you have absolutely no business awarding him first place. If he'd at least been wearing heels, you would have had a leg to stand on, but "Marilyn Monroe" wasn't even trying.
To clarify, I'm in no way bitter that the costumes I made weren't acknowledged -- I just wanted to wear a pretty dress, and I did, and I'm happy. I am, however, miffed on behalf of the third-place winners, a couple who dressed as pieces of nigiri-zushi (ebi and tako, in case anyone is curious). Not only were their costumes well done, they were funny and original: at a party of over 300 people, theirs were the only costumes that stood out as something completely different and not a variation on a theme I'd seen before. Come on, have you ever seen anyone dressed as sushi? I hadn't, but I've seen many, many guys throw a dress on and call themselves costumed.
ETA: For other like-minded people, i.e. those who like to make fun of and get disgusted by crappy costumes, someone's already done it for you!
Geez, I'm probably coming across as kind of bitter, eh? :D
Note to all people involved in handing out prizes for costumes: a man in a dress is not original and probably does not deserve first prize.
If the dress itself is impressive in some way, great. If it's meant to be a character and is either well-made and accurate, or a clever parody and is recognizable, wonderful. If the costume itself is so-so but at least has accessories and the guy is clearly making an effort to be in character (whatever that may entail), fine. But if the "costume" is a cheap white halter dress with mismatched pillows stuffed in the chest, white socks and running shoes, horribly smeared make-up and the guy's own ratty hair (or the World's Worst Wig, I couldn't tell), and the guy is at the stage of plastered where acting like an idiot in public is the most fun EVAR, you have absolutely no business awarding him first place. If he'd at least been wearing heels, you would have had a leg to stand on, but "Marilyn Monroe" wasn't even trying.
To clarify, I'm in no way bitter that the costumes I made weren't acknowledged -- I just wanted to wear a pretty dress, and I did, and I'm happy. I am, however, miffed on behalf of the third-place winners, a couple who dressed as pieces of nigiri-zushi (ebi and tako, in case anyone is curious). Not only were their costumes well done, they were funny and original: at a party of over 300 people, theirs were the only costumes that stood out as something completely different and not a variation on a theme I'd seen before. Come on, have you ever seen anyone dressed as sushi? I hadn't, but I've seen many, many guys throw a dress on and call themselves costumed.
ETA: For other like-minded people, i.e. those who like to make fun of and get disgusted by crappy costumes, someone's already done it for you!
Geez, I'm probably coming across as kind of bitter, eh? :D
