MAD AS A HATTER

Halloween is a fun time of year. The opportunity to play dress-up as an adult and it actually be celebrated is a rare treat.

This year, I rocked the Mad Hatter. As a girl, it has to be a combined effort in showing my femininity while staying true to the character I plan to embody. And while many choose an alter ego for a costume, I'm neither much Mad or a Hatter. I don't really even drink tea.

I was most inspired by Johnny Depp's version in Alice and Wonderland. His costume, makeup and mannerisms provide a wealth of idea.

Here's what I came up with!

First things first and the true costume piece de la resistance: the HAT

Using a cereal box an a tutorial from online, I modified this hat into a larger version (vs. the mini top hats that seem to be the rage). Using some discount fabric ($1.50/yd) and some tulle and a feather pick I had laying around, I came up with this! I sewed on a plastic headband to keep it securely on top of my head.


Next up, the clothes. Hatter was a bit mismatched, but colorful! A quick search on eBay allowed me cool finds for cheap. The trick here is shopping early! Key costume pieces will go quickly and when you consider them needing to be shipped to you, its best to have them en route by Oct 1.

My velvet GAP blazer was $15, skirt was $4. (Both items include the shipping.) And the blazer is so great and actually fits so well, I'll be wearing it all winter. Score.

Shoes are my own. My neck piece was a piece of discount fabric (also $1.50/yd) that I quickly sewed into a long tubular scarf.

Make-up was the trickiest part as I didn't want a full-on theater production, but I also wanted something more than my normal look. I used the white clown makeup on my eye-zone and blended well. Cream Tarte blush and a little bronzer. Then, using Revlon's cream shadows in shocking green and blue and some magenta powder shadow, I created a semi-Mad look.

For a few added touches, I used a scrap of hat fabric and tied on my wrist. My other wrist has 2 separate watches. Carry around a tea cup and you're set!

And that's Little Sis who fell down the rabbit hole with me. She's White Rabbit - duh. Her costume was also homemade by yours truly...though she did paper mache the ears.

My look won me the "Best Costume" award at this year's house party! Go me!