Anyone who knows me knows I love a good dress-up. I enjoy the creativity it asks of you, different in ways from how I normally channel mine, but also, I just plain like leaving reality for a minute. And that's precisely what we did, for my cousin's birthday party last night, which she and my aunt decided should have a medieval theme. It was quite last-minute, with only three-four days to prepare, but isn't it often the case these are the outfits that turn out best. For sure, some of my favorite Halloween outfits were done on the spot or near enough. Left with too much time to think things through, we tend to muck it up.
It started out innocent enough...
Since the party was going to be held underground in November, I figured a thick underlayer was appropriate. Besides, it was the case for this outfit that the more I added to it, the better it looked. The sweater underneath, I think, looked right for what I was going for.
Next came the 'proper' clothes. I thought of this blouse right away when I heard the party theme. Sometimes it pays not to throw things out, especially as we agreed to try and fashion the outfits from what we had around the house. My cool-weather poncho came in extra handy to fashion a long demure skirt - something I don't exactly excel at, outside of dress-up parties.
But it still wasn't enough.
Luckily, I had this corset lying around from a previous Halloween. I also tied a plain white shirt around my waist for extra housewifeishness. The satchel (a simple black sock gone to live its best life in the big city) was 
Now for the make-up...
Wait! Apparently, for lower-class people from that time... there was no make-up?!
Well, I was certainly saddened by that, though I did have a blast digging into this video.
I love me a good historically-accurate fashion thingy.
I did add a dash of barely-noticeable lipstick, but figured I better respect the customs. Wouldn't want to be burned in the public square. I did add a nifty head-cover to show I am a proper, church-going peasant. And then one more...
Overall, I was quite pleased with how the outfit turned out, and I definitely looked the part in candid shots like this...
I also fit in well with the decorum..
This is what happens when a family of zany, creative types get their hands on and old wine cellar, and I couldn't be happier. It was a night of mirth and merriment, of dancing and of course, feasting. It was a celebration of life. As should be.
This year brought so much unpleasantness with it. But at the end of the day, what else can you do, but live on and pet a fucking cat?
I think back on this time last year, things seemed much, much darker than they do now. Of course, that's partly because a lot of darkness has already come and gone, but then hasn't that always been the case with life? It certainly was for these guys...
Yet they managed to smile and feast, well, not for very long, admittedly. I'd probably be long dead, but still, fun times. I even managed, through mucking around online a bit, to get my proper oil painting...
Not bad, huh?
I'm honestly thinking of making this part of my everyday look. At the very least a banner of some kind. Until then,
