As a costumer I must admit I do enjoy the odd fancy dress party and Halloween costume parties. Creating a look I do not normally wear is exciting and a great creative outlet for me. Yet, sometimes I have no time (like this year) because I'm in the middle of tech weeks, rehearsals, builds, etc. Being able to pull together something from the closet is the next best thing. Here are a few costumes y'all can pull together from your closet and maybe a quick trip to the craft store or convenience store as well. 

1. Rosie the Riveter
What you'll need:

• chambray shirt
  
• jeans
  
• belt
  
• red bandana

I also created a "We Can Do It" pin to wear out of yellow sheet foam.

3. Audrey Hepburn/Breakfast at Tiffany's 

• black dress
• black heels
• sunglasses
• tiara

You will want to put your hair in a high bun. Long gloves also add to the costume. 

4. Clark Kent (For my gent friends)

• Superman T
• white button up
• suit (jacket and slacks)
• tie
• hipster glasses

Slick over your hair and leave the tie untied with the button up unbuttoned. 

Hopefully these give you a few ideas early enough to get your costumes together for your parties and candy gathering. 

Happy Halloween! 

This past week I was lucky enough to see Outside Mullingar at George Street Playhouse. Two of my professors were designers on the show. Being one of their students and learning from them is amazing, but being able to see their work in person was a treat. 

The show itself was beautiful and if you are in the New Brunswick area I highly suggest seeing it. The acting is lovely but the set and costumes where what I was paying the most attention to (since they were the work of my professors). What is helpful and lovely about being their student is, I am able to speak with them about their design process and how they went about creating elements of their designs. That is something most theatre goers end up paying big bucks for during a patron party. 

Did I mention I also got to see the show for free? Yes, the other perk of being a graduate student or student in general is free or reduced ticket prices. Because my professors were designers on the show, they were able to schedule tickets to previews for their students. Other times, some/most theatres offer student pricing which is my new favorite thing. 

This coming Friday I will be attending another play at McCarter Theatre, The Understudy. Another of my professors works there and she was very thoughtful and booked tickets for our class to see the show. I am so lucky to have such amazing and active professors. They make sure good theatre is accessible to us. It's beyond words. 

Two of the many perks I have found being a graduate student at Rutgers. There are many many more. 

This is exactly what it sounds like, one of my papers from my costume history class has made it to my blog. I am doing this not only because I have had very little time to devote to different content this week, but also because the designer of The King's Speech, Jenny Beavan is great! I love her work and would love to one day meet her. Hopefully if I do get the chance I will have thought up some good questions to ask her that will not waste her time. 

If you are so inclined go ahead and read my 1,176 word paper (I got rather wrapped up in the topic) about the costumes of one of my favorite films. If not, I won't feel bad, but check out Jenny Beavan's work. This woman's CV reads like a beautiful dream. Sense and Sensibility(1995), Jane Eyre (1996), Gosford Park (2001), Amazing Grace (2006), Sherlock Holmes (2009), etc. These are all great films! 

I hope you enjoy the article and re watch The King's Speech to see the costumes.  (If you haven't seen it yet, get on that too. You have no excuses it's on Netflix.)