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costumes halloween secondhand show and tell

Show & Tell

Here in New Orleans we experienced two days of nasty weather as remnants of a tropical storm passed through town. I met someone for coffee at the Rue de la Course on Friday and since it was pouring after we met I ducked into Funky Monkey to try to wait it out.

I discovered this gem on the sale rack marked down to a measly $5.00. My iced cappuccino and banana were almost as much as the dress I bought that day.

I present to you Morticia Adams, if she were on the t.v. show Dallas that is. If you don’t know what Dallas is then shame on you.

Check out those massive shoulder pads! The dress is a little too big for me but at that price I really couldn’t pass it up. This will be perfect for Halloween, since I actually need multiple costumes to get me through the last week of spook season.

So now that I have two costumes* almost all ready to go y’all need to get jumpin’ and catch up! Halloween will be here before y’all know it.

Do you have a fantastic item that needs to be shown off? E-mail me at nolagurl@gmail.com and I’ll feature it here.

*I own way more costumes than just two. I think the last wig count was over 12.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style
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costumes eco friendly halloween show and tell

Halloween

Now that I’ve fully recovered from Halloween festivities I can show y’all our costumes. We were Mayan king and queen, inspired by these images I found with a little Googling.
The first picture was the most prominent inspiration in terms of color and style. I put many hours into hand sewing these and was really pleased with the way they turned out. The best part is 80% of the costumes are recycled materials.


His: The leopard print on his outfit was a women’s furry jacket. I lopped off the sleeves and turned them into boot covers and the centerpiece of his skirt/loincloth. The leggings underneath are women’s plus sized lounge pants that I took in so they were fitted. The shirt is an American Apparel nude tank top. I added leopard print patches on the back and red tail feathers, which you can’t see here. The chest piece is a women’s extra small beaded tank top. I hand sewed colorful wooden beads and then made pieces of leaf shaped fabric I found at the thrift store. His armbands are from a women’s leopard print sweater that I lopped off and the blue fringe is actually place mats.

Top of a wicker laundry basket that I made into a shield.

Mine: The skirt is a leopard print pillowcase with blue leggings underneath that I already owned. The skirt has a lot going on. All of the gold sequins was a Banana Republic shrug (trust me it was hideous) that I used for the trim of the skirt and the main front fringe. I also used the same blue placemats for pieces of this. The back (not pictured) also had black feathers on the bum. The top was purchased as is and I didn’t have to do much to it. I added the black feathers to each shoulder, took in the sides and added green fringe to the back. The shoes are old flip flops decorated with green fabric and I took the gold sleeves from the shrug and made foot covers with them.

All clothing items are from Pelican thrift store and Buffalo Exchange. Wigs and eye makeup are from Fifi Mahony’s, eyelashes from Buffalo Exchange and all other makeup from Uptown Costume & Dancewear.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style
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costumes halloween

Get the party started early

Last night I went to an Alice in Wonderland themed event and dressing the part was required, at least in my mind. My outfit was a bit impromptu but I did the best I could with what I already owned. A corset and ruffly shorts are a quick, easy costume. The rest is details. Now I’m off to finish my Halloween costume and have coffee with a friend later. I can’t wait to have these costumes finished!


Accessories detailing

Yellow and teal ruffle shorts: New York Couture
Green brocade corset: VersAtelier Corsets
Patent leather booties: Antonio Melani
Incognito wig in baby blonde: Fifi Mahony’s

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style
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costumes halloween

Sneak Peek

So as some of my friends know I typically try to make my costumes. I’d never be caught dead in a bagged costume. While wearing something unique is rewarding it is also a lot of work, especially when there are multiple dress up days at work.

Saturday was wig day so I wore this blonde bob. I decided to go all out and wear this costumey get up. I wear all of these pieces separately but never dress this matchy matchy IRL.
Headscarf: vintage, Leopard print cardi: H&M, Dress: Ben Sherman purchased at Ah-ha, Pink tights: Buffalo Exchange, black wedge shoes: Camper brand via Ebay
I’ve been crazy busy with work and getting our costumes ready. We are going as a Mayan king and queen. Wigs were purchased, thrift stores visited, and makeup acquired. Now I just need to make some last minute alterations and additions. For now here is a sneak peek

That’s all y’all get. 🙂

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style
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costumes halloween mardi gras

Costume Season

My year revolves around two holidays- Halloween and Mardi Gras. Any reason to don a costume in NOLA is a good one as evidenced by the myriad of events we have such as the red dress run, running of the bulls, Krewe of Cork, and the list goes on. Sadly during my 3.5 year stint in Arizona I was left out of the Mardi Gras loop but I still made my mark for Halloween. Prior to Katrina I had only missed one Mardi Gras. That said a New Orleanian will always do it right, no matter where y’at.
I present to y’all the costumes that I have photographically documented.
My first Halloween away from home was October 2005. I had previously worn this Mardi Gras of 2004 if I remember correctly. This was a quasi goth southern belle.
Wig: Buffalo Exchange Blouse: Urban Outfitters Gloves: remnants from high school prom
Corset: custom made Skirt: Bloomin’Deals vintage dress that I chopped the top off
Thomas, my husband,  as a rhinestone cowboy. Note the red glitter belt and silver spray painted shoes and hat. I should note that he actually has a really short haircut. In every picture he is wearing a wig.
Shirt, belt, and pants: Buffalo Exchange
Picture020.jpg picture by nolagurl
Admittedly this wasn’t for Halloween or Mardi Gras. When I lived in Arizona we had a hair metal dress up day at work. It was always my personal challenge to usurp everyone else.
Picture009.jpg picture by nolagurl
This is part of a his & her matching square dancing ensemble. The tights came w/ strawberry bows which I lopped off and made into barrettes.
Dress & matching apron, striped tights: Buffalo Exchange Wig: Easley’s
A saloon girl costume that I’ve worn many times. I purchased the dress at a Las Vegas thrift store and added gold trim to the bodice. I also pinned up the skirt so a petticoat would stick out the bottom.
Mardi Gras ’05
I was a dark fairy or something like that. I hand beaded an inexpensive corset and made the skirt out of a vintage evening gown. Thomas wore a Legolas costume.
Wig: Fifi Mahony’s
banana.jpg picture by nolagurl

envie.jpg picture by nolagurl


And we come to the grand daddy of Mardi Gras 2009. All I can say is that our first Mardi Gras back home was nothing short of magical. I actually bought the dress, which included the cape and gloves, in Arizona! The hat and wig were purchased here in New Orleans. The dress was waaaay too long and I didn’t have time to hem it. To compensate I made a “hoop skirt” out of a garter belt, fun noodle pool toy, rope and duct tape. We must have had our picture taken a 100 times that day. I even had one woman get mad at me because she thought that I was a part of the Rex parade and I failed to throw her anything!

My wig: Fifi Mahony’s Entire costume: Buffalo Exchange 
His costume: Funky Monkey





So, what are you going to be for Halloween?


Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style