In the Home Stretch!

I'm nearly finished with my costume, readers.  Getting the beaded gimp onto the harem pants was not as easy as it looks -- or does it look easy at all?  There are so many layers to deal with: gathered chiffon, power net, gold mesh, embroidered trim -- and of course you have to keep all those beads out of the way.

Back in the Saddle with Gene Tierney

Readers, I sewed today -- not much, but I sewed.  I have decided that I must finish my harem costume by Tuesday.  I don't know when it will be worn or where, but it must be completed and soon.

Boys Dressing as Girls for Halloween or "Toddler Drag: Cause for Alarm?"

The other day, MPB reader Karen emailed me a personal story she thought I might share here, even suggesting the title, "A Boy's First Skirt."

Awesome Halloween Sew-Alongers, Vol. 4 - Jessie & Amy!

Happy Halloween, readers!

As I announced late yesterday, my Halloween Costume Ball has been rescheduled for this coming Saturday, November 3rd.  Therefore I've decided to extend our Halloween Sew-Along.  This means three extra days of Halloween costume-making fun: beads, chiffon, and glitter eye shadow -- and that's just the dogs!

When Bad Hurricanes Happen to Good Halloweens

Friends, bad weather is on the way and I'm not sure what to expect.

Michael and I were out walking the dogs earlier today and most stores and restaurants were closed with their windows taped over.  Right now (approximately 1:30 pm), the winds are getting gusty and it's raining.  I think the worst is scheduled for tonight.

Awesome Halloween Sew-Alongers, Vol. 3: The Gumball Dress!

Readers, today I want to introduce you to MPB Halloween Sew-Alonger, Christina J. (pictured above in an early fitting).

Much like me, Christina doesn't see Halloween as a reason to sacrifice glamour; no throw-a-sheet-over-your-head-and-call-yourself-a-ghost for this talented sewer.  Christina's costume is even boned and I'm pretty sure she'll be wearing shoes on the big night.

Peter's Makeup Tips or "I Enjoy Being a (Harem) Girl"

Friends, if there is one thing I am not it is a makeup expert.

I subscribe to two basic tenets, which I'll present as acronyms:  ALT: A Light Touch, and LIMIT - Less Is More (I Think).  Can you sense a theme here?  Makeup is not going to make you look younger, but it will enhance what you have.  It can transform, sure, if you want to make yourself into Frankenstein's monster (or a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race) but for most of us, a little goes a long way.

Awesome Halloween Sew-Alongers, Vol. 2: The Lollipop Guild!

Readers, today I'm delighted to introduce you to another MPB Halloween Sew-Alonger, Derek G.  I could tell you all about his project, but I thought I'd let Derek describe it in his own words:

Q: Derek, how did you decide on your costume idea?  What inspired you?

Go Vest, Young Man

With Michael's Aladdin pants and shirt finished, it was time to make the vest.

As little as I like poet's shirts, I like vests even less.  Not traditional suit vests, mind you, but those fancy vests some men wear instead of a jacket, which always bring to mind Paula Poundstone.  That said, the vest that's part of Simplicity 4788, shown above, is pretty inoffensive, and pulls together the rest of the outfit.

The Poet's Shirt or "Name That Tune-ic!"

I guess I was in denial.

Deep down I had a very good idea that Michael's Aladdin shirt was nothing more than a version of the infamous poet's shirt -- otherwise known as the pirate shirt, the Renaissance tunic, or -- as immortalized on TV's Seinfeld -- the puffy shirt.  Also the caftan top.  Granted, mine lacks ruffles, but the basics are the same: the oversized cut, the puffy sleeves, the bland beige color. 

Harem Pants-a-palooza!

Does Aladdin wear pearls?  I forget.

I don't know about your Sunday, readers, but my mine was all about harem pants -- or sarouel pants, Hammer pants, drop-crotch pants, or whatever you choose to call them.

Getting started on Michael's costume

This is NOT Michael's Halloween costume!

Taking a break from poly chiffon and power net, it's time to address Michael's Halloween costume, which I envision as a cross between Jon Hall in Arabian Nights, Cornel Wilde in A Thousand and One Nights (but with more beads), and Alberto Sordi in Fellini's hilarious The White Sheik.

Long Day's Journey Into Harem Pants

A long day, readers.

With the Scheherazade midriff top pretty much done -- I added beaded gimp trim along the bottom and a snap at the back neck (which may be replaced by a frog) --  I had to figure out what I wanted the rest of the outfit to look like.

Nudity vs. Simulated Nudity

Friends, be honest: other than baby-making (or its gay twin) with a committed, consenting, adult partner, is there any other time you really want to see someone naked?  And even then.

The Awesome Creativity of MPB Halloween Sew-Alongers, Vol. 1

 

I have some incredibly creative readers, and a handful of them are sewing along with me this Halloween.  Today, I'm delighted to introduce Allison!

New Halloween Fabrics!

Friends, I really shouldn't be left home alone with beads, chiffon, and an auto-timer.

Things I Don't Get, Vol. 7: Veils

The veil.  I mean, what's up with that?

Here in the West, veils are often associated with the "exotic" East: harem girls and Persian princesses -- images often filtered through Hollywood movies like "Arabian Nights" or TV sitcoms like "I Dream of Jeannie."  I don't think it's passing judgment to say that veiled women -- even Western brides -- are symbols of women-as-property, even if we no longer make this association. 

Over-the-topness, Halloween Sew-Along Day 1 + POLL!

Cher.  Dame Edna.  Divine.  Lady Gaga.

Some celebrities are famous for being outrageous.  They may be shy in their private lives, but when they're out and about and strutting their stuff, they're totally over-the-top.  And we love them for it.

Memories of Halloween Costumes Past

Real quick: the MPB Halloween Sew-Along starts this coming Wednesday!

If you'd like to join our Flickr group, shoot me an email (peterlappinnyc at gmail dot com) and I'll send you an invite (you can do this directly through Flickr if you already have an account there).   Photos can be viewed by anyone, but only members can post or leave comments/questions.  Of course we'll all be sewing different costumes most likely, but we'll be sewing them together -- or virtually together.  Anyway, it will be fun.  I'll have more info in the coming days.

Meanwhile, friends, is it me, or has Halloween become a very different holiday than when I was a kid?  Or back even further...

It's time to play...NAME THAT PATTERN!

Readers, I am SO excited!

Once again, it's time to play the sewing blogosphere's favorite game -- Name That Pattern!