# Literary Costumes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270 "2006-10-04T16:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/21 "2006-10-06T04:22:33Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] One year we went to a party as Gaiman’s Endless. Whoever played Dream really sucked at it–he put on white face paint (he’s very darkskinned), and wore black, and that was it. My long red hair meant I was a shoo-in for Destruction, so I wore flannel and hiking boots and made up a painter’s palette, and had lots of folks ask me if I was Bob Ross :smack: . [/QUOTE] If I get the chance to, I’m fishing out some black hair dye and getting an eyeliner pencil to do the eye-of-Horus tattoo for Death, for this Hallowe’en. 🙂 I’d love to do Mina from _League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/22 "2006-10-06T16:02:14Z")
I don’t know how literary it is, but last night I had what I (at first) thought was the perfect costume idea for my kids: Audrey and Audrey II, from Little Shop of Horrors. The kids (14 year old girl and 10 year old boy) were delighted, but then I lay awake all last night trying to figure out how the heck to create a recognizable carnivorous plant from outer space. I was finally forced to admit that I’m no Jim Henson. Also, on second thought, having my daughter dress as a sadist’s girlfriend really _isn’t_ all that cool. Darn. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/23 "2006-10-06T17:51:05Z")
I have a friend named Sam who got a T-shirt with the cover of _Green Eggs and Ham_ on it… and just came as “Sam I am.” ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/24 "2006-10-06T19:27:30Z")
I’ve been toying with the idea of constructing a costume for an officer in the Grayson Space Navy, from the Honor Harrington books. As far as I can tell, aside from some specific patches, it’s basically a USAF uniform with the addition of cuff braids and shoulderboards. (If anyone knows of a uniform that combines the USAF color scheme with cuff braids and shoulderboards, feel free to let me know) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/25 "2006-10-06T19:46:01Z")
> [@](#): > > but then I lay awake all last night trying to figure out how the heck to create a recognizable carnivorous plant from outer space. Green clothes, green paint, and lots of big sheets of cardstock. First, dress the kid in all green. That’s easy. Then, cut elongated circles from two of your sheets of cardstock. Cut a slit in the back of each, and roll them into shallow bowlish cones. Cut a hole in one of the bowl-shapes, near the back, big enough to fit under the kid’s armpits. Tape them together in the back, and put a hand-strap on the inside of each, so he can open and close the jaws. Maybe make a couple of big leaves, to be attached at waist level. Paint the jaws and leaves green. And coach the kid on saying “Feeeed me!” (he probably already has this part down pretty well). If you really want to go all-out, make a big cylinder out of more cardstock, hang it around his waist, and paint it flowerpot red. But the jaws, leaves, and catchphrase should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/26 "2006-10-06T19:50:51Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] Green clothes, green paint, and lots of big sheets of cardstock. First, dress the kid in all green. That’s easy. Then, cut elongated circles from two of your sheets of cardstock. Cut a slit in the back of each, and roll them into shallow bowlish cones. Cut a hole in one of the bowl-shapes, near the back, big enough to fit under the kid’s armpits. Tape them together in the back, and put a hand-strap on the inside of each, so he can open and close the jaws. Maybe make a couple of big leaves, to be attached at waist level. Paint the jaws and leaves green. And coach the kid on saying “Feeeed me!” (he probably already has this part down pretty well). If you really want to go all-out, make a big cylinder out of more cardstock, hang it around his waist, and paint it flowerpot red. But the jaws, leaves, and catchphrase should be enough. [/QUOTE] Fun to think about, isn’t it? 🙂 I appreciate the effort, but I really think I’m going to have to shelve the idea…if for no other reason than that I don’t have enough time to do it up properly. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/27 "2006-10-06T21:09:36Z")
I’m dressing up as Clark Kent this year. Does that count as a literary costume? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/28 "2006-10-06T22:49:42Z")
My older daughter is wearing blue striped pajamas and a Mickey Mouse hat to be Columbia. But that’s not very literary… ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270/29 "2006-10-07T12:14:08Z")
Get a yellow hat and a monkey… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/literary-costumes/375270.md?page=1)