Our group’s theme for the Halloween costume contest at work was magical creatures, so there was at least some expectation that we would all arrive as something enchanted.
I didn’t want to spend money on a costume, and my first thought was to go as a woodland fairy or nymph. I’ve dressed as one before and thought I could pull something together from what I already owned. But somewhere in the multiple moves since then, my fairy things seem to have disappeared. Whether I misplaced them or decided to get rid of them, I couldn’t tell you.
So I worked with what I could find.
A black cotton dress became the starting point, along with tights and a bodysuit I bought on Halloween clearance at Walmart two years ago and hadn’t had the chance to wear yet.
From there, I kept adding things.
Heeled boots. Two belts, a ribbon, and two chains worn as additional belts. Three miniature Dollar Tree cauldrons attached to one of the chains. A tiara purchased for a costume four or five years ago. A cream crocheted vest that brought a little softness and an earthy feel to all the black.
And, conveniently, a wand I received on my first day of work.
The woodland fairy had become something a little witchier.
One of the cauldrons went missing somewhere between my car and my office, so I arrived with two. Apparently, keeping track of my magical accessories is an ongoing problem.
I liked how it came together. The different textures and layers gave the outfit a character of its own, even if I didn’t have an exact name for whatever magical being I’d become. Somewhere between the tiara, crochet, and remaining cauldrons, I’d found the earthy, witchy feeling I wanted.
There’s a familiar kind of pleasure in making something this way. I do it with my photographs, too: gather objects, try them together, and see what begins to take shape. I might start with an idea, but what I have available often has a say in where it goes.
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, and I like having an excuse to pull these things out and play. Old costume pieces, everyday clothes, and a clearance purchase that had been waiting two years for an outing all found their way into the same outfit.
When I got back to my car later, I found the third cauldron sitting on the pavement beside it. I took a photograph, of course.
The fairy things remain unaccounted for, but at least all three cauldrons made it home.
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