Walking dictionary: My Halloween dress

I am a walking dictionary. Or at least that’s what I was for Halloween this year. Because I love Halloween and words, and you’re never too old to play dress-up!

This costume is long overdue, and I’ve been planning it for a few years. I don’t recall what my initial inspiration for this costume was, but since the first spark, I’ve found numerous ideas for refining it through online research, chats with others, sketches on scratch paper, and trial and error.

Several things slowed down the creation of the dress. At first, I was slowed by planning and thinking about planning. I played around with sketches and simple paper-folding exercises to determine a feasible approach to the costume. As the plan started coming together, I realised that I needed a dress form to make the process easier. (Something I have wanted for a long time.) So, I used this project as my excuse to finally buy one.

Then, once I had a vision, I delayed a little more because I didn’t have the space in my rented accommodation. But the idea stayed with me, and I continued to refine plans. And then, I bought Castle Ryan and determined that it was time to take my idea from planning to implementation.

After I decided “now is the time”, it took a while to find the dictionaries to use for the dress. I found the first dictionary at the Oxfam Bookshop in Morningside. I asked (cheekily) if they had any that were on the scrap heap, as I didn’t want to tear up a usable book if I didn’t have to. Luckily, they had one, for which I made a £5 donation. I found a couple more dictionaries by asking on my local Facebook group. Someone who manages a Little Free Library had some old, tattered ones to donate to my silly cause.

Suddenly, I had the space and supplies needed for my dictionary dress. But I found myself short on one vital requirement: Time! This was partly because I decided to go to Washington, DC, the week before Halloween: priorities, and all that.

But whilst I ran out of time for last year, I didn’t want to miss out on the idea for a second year. Especially given Halloween was a Saturday! So, to motivate me to finish the task, I decided to host a little drop-in Halloween party: Cocktails, candy, and costumes at the castle!

By then, I ran out of excuses and delay tactics, and I had guests coming over, so I had to crack on with making my dress for the party.

Of course, the moment I started working on the dress was the moment my plans and designs went out the window. But then, that’s generally how projects go in my world. Thankfully, a lifetime of experience with projects going awry (or at least encountering minor hiccups) and a problem-solving approach to life meant I could work with what I had on hand to adapt as needed.

In the end, I created a dress that required a base layer (black leotard) and that I needed to tie myself into. The construction was “temporary”, especially the skirt, so it will find its way to the recycle bin after I reclaim the ribbons and string for future projects.

I don’t know that I will make another “walking dictionary” costume (been there, done that), but I am sure these lessons and the ideas sparked by this process will lead to another paper-based costume or accessory. You never know! After all, between interrobangs, masks, and shoes, paper seems to be a common “thread” in my wardrobe. So, stick around to see what other bits of paper I reimagine into clothing.