We grill some grown-ups who like to play dress-up
By Matt Crossman
Photograph by Sarah Carmody
Think it looks like Halloween came a little early this year? It’s just because Costume-Con 25—the annual national convention for that very distinct subset of the public that likes to wear homemade costumes portraying everything from science-fiction characters to woodland creatures—is coming to St. Louis.
“It’s an opportunity to wear your creations in an environment where people will appreciate them,” says Costume-Con founder and Beallsville, Pa., native Karen Dick, when pressed for details. (This begs the question: In what environment wouldn’t someone appreciate a 6-foot anthropomorphic otter?)
Once Dick’s husband, Ricky, shot down our idea to crash the convention (March 30–April 2 at the Holiday Inn on Watson) dressed as Paris Hilton (“I would dress as Britney instead—you wouldn’t have to bother creating underwear”), we decided to stay home and just ask a veteran costuming couple, University City residents Bruce and Nora Mai, for the scoop on the masquerade of make-believe.
Give me some costuming do’s and don’ts.
Bruce: If you’re going to re-create a well-recognized character from a movie, do it first or do it best, with lots of detail. I also have this advice for young males: Learn to sew. Female costumers dig the rare guys who can sew their own costumes. What is it about costuming that keeps you coming back?
Nora: We consider it an art form with elements of performance and research woven in. It’s a very tactile art form, which satisfies my need to create and build. Plus there’s always something new to learn.
What’s the most time you’ve ever spent making a costume?
Bruce: Somewhere between a year and a half and two years, on and off. What’s the best costume you’ve ever seen?
Nora: I have to pick just one? I lean toward the historical pieces—the workmanship and research involved are daunting. One lady we know traveled to Scandinavia to research and re-create a folk costume. She even used period construction techniques. And it was perfect.
What’s the funniest costuming story you have?
Bruce: At Costume-Con 11, an acquaintance of ours was dressed as a depiction of an ancient Minoan goddess who was essentially topless and holding her forearms in an upright position with a rubber snake wrapped around each one. She was wandering around backstage waiting for the photographer, looking for her husband, saying, “Pookie? Pookie? I need you to adjust my snakes, Pookie.” You people seem a little nutty.
Nora: Well, yeah—but we’re also smart, creative and a lot of fun.
