Halloween on a Saturday night. Could there be a more ideal time for a costume party?
Some of my co-workers are attending parties tonight and have been discussing their costumes for weeks.
It's water cooler talk like this that divides the world in two. There are those who think costumes are fun and those who'd rather have elective surgery than wear one.
"The trouble is," said Valentino Bags a mom of three, "you can't find an adult costume that isn't sexy unless it's a clown outfit. If I wear the countess of Dracula outfit with the plunging neckline, fishnet stockings and the thigh high slit in the skirt, my kids will go into shock. But on the other hand, who wants to wear an orange wig, a red nose and oversized shoes all night?"
One person suggested she could make her own costume.
After the laughter died down, we all admitted that sewing Halloween costumes is a lost art. Most of us lack the time, the ability or both to whip up a scary creation on our own.
"I made my daughter's Tinkerbell costume," said a colleague named Pam, "even the wings."
We were awed into silence. New admiration for Pam swept over us.
The non-costumers of the discussion group shuffled their feet and said, "Costumes are so uncomfortable. You get hot after awhile."
"Yeah, there's nothing worse than a sweaty Zombie mask."
At our house, the 14-year-old and her chums decided this Halloween they want to dress as Disney princesses. Our girl excitedly declared she wants to be Belle from "Beauty and the Beast."
Naturally supportive, I got into the spirit of things and said, "I thought this was the year you were too old for trick or treating? Wasn't last year the end of it?"
Anyone familiar with Belle knows she wears a yellow, fluffy ball gown. Back in September, the teenage princess wanna-bes were at the mall (surprise) and came across a yellow prom dress on the sale rack at Bergner's. They snatched it from the rack and came running to me, with gown unfurling behind them like a royal banner.
"Please, Mrs. Hazlett!" they cried. "This will be the perfect Belle costume!"
It wasn't a ball gown, big and poofy like what Belle and Scarlett O"Hara wear, it was a slinky, sexy yellow prom dress with spaghetti straps. I instantly disliked it.
The four girls looked at me, mouths parted and eyes wide. "Please!"
I looked at the price tag. $78. Forget it.
"But it's on sale!" they protested and pointed to the yellow dot.
Louis Vuitton Watch ReplicaAn amused nearby clerk offered to scan the price tag. You're not helping, I thought.
"Well, this is marked down quite a bit," he said. "It's $6."
$78 to $6? I'll take it.
The girls cheered and carefully carried the dress from the store as if it were the U.S. flag on display at
embroidered patches the Smithsonian.
At home, the 14-year-old modeled the dress and beamed with the thrill of wearing a grown-up gown. Then my husband walked in.
"Are those your new pajamas?" he asked her.
"No! This
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