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Nicole Simeone
Help Me McCalls, You’re My Only Hope!
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When all you want is to dress up as a character in Star Wars but don't want to suck it in.
September is a bit early to be talking about costumes seeing as it’s still summer. But if the Halloween candy and decorations, and pumpkin beer have all hit the shelves, I might as well join in the fray.
I volunteer at a local library’s Comic-Con every year. At the event, Adam and I dress up to host the Star Wars table. This year, I wasn’t feeling my Han Solo/Princess Leia mashup costume. The shirt is fitted, and the vest is heavy. It gets hot in the library with so many people inside. Ok, while those things are true, that’s not why.
I felt fat and didn’t want to wear Spanx and suck it in for hours. So what’s a girl to do?
In theory, going to a store would be a reasonable answer to that question, but two things prevent that from being the end of this. The first is that the Comic-Con is put on in July. Spirit Halloween hadn’t even started hanging coming soon signs. The second being is the over-sexualization of female costumes.
A guy can walk into a costume store with the intent to get a stormtrooper costume and get the exact getup he’s looking for. A girl walks into the same store wanting to show up to the party as Princess Leia, she’s has a decision to make. How much skin do you want to show off? On the wall, for the example of Leia, there will be the slave costume and the white robe she wears at the beginning of A New Hope.
For everyone who’s seen A New Hope, you’re thinking, “Well if you want to be covered up, pick that one. It was neck to toe coverage. Perfect for a family event at a library.”
In the movie, yes, what the actress wore was. As a costume, it lost some fabric in the translation into mass-produced wearables. The readily available version has a slit running up the skirt so you can show some leg. And by some, I mean all of it.
I’m not trying to be prudish here. If you want to flaunt it, go for it. I mean, maybe not in the situation we’re talking about. Otherwise, more power to you.
I don’t understand why alteration is necessary. Leia was sexy without the slit in her costume. Her call to Obi-Wan Kenobi inspired the whole adventure into being because a moisture farm boy was so enamored with a recording of her. Awkward to say in hindsight but it’s none the less true.
It’s not just Leia costumes getting this treatment, it’s every costume. Someone even released a sexy Handmaid’s Tale costume. To that designer, I say, read the damn book. Those red robes are all about sex. Adding a slit to it doesn’t make the meaning glamorous and desirable. You missed the mark. That costume is legit horror and should be treated as such.
For those of us who want to find other ways to feel sexy, enjoy not being exposed to the end of October weather and/or just plain old feel fat, we are at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to purchasing a costume ready to be worn.
Enter McCall’s 6209.
This isn’t going to be the only time I bring this pattern up but, for now, let me draw your attention to design E.
Hello, Endor Leia.
In my excitement of being able to ditch the form-fitting costume, I didn’t put as much attention into the material as I should have. I went with Joann Fabric’s Keepsake calico green tonal vine. First, the fabric wasn’t as wide as the ideal fabrics for the patter usually are, so that required a bit of math to make sure I had enough for all of the pieces. Second, I didn’t bother to look at the wrong side of the fabric.
Honestly, if I had thought about this in the store, I am not sure I would have changed my selection in fabric. Nor would I have doubled up on the yardage. It’s a costume, after all. Not a huge deal. Nothing a set of snaps didn’t fix.
The pattern says one hour project. And it probably would have been if I wasn’t at the helm of this ship. There was a moment where I thought I was done just as the pattern envelope promised. But, of course, I had to look at a picture of Carrie Fischer from Return of the Jedi.
She had a belt on.
This is where that extra time considering fabrics would have been key. I know, two paragraphs ago, it was no big deal, but even if it wasn’t a big deal, I did want to minimize the wrong side showing. A belt threw a wrench into that plan. I put down the sewing for a while to stew and call myself names. Let’s not dwell on that. The solution: two vertical slits made at just lower than an empire waist.
My closet provided the unseen tank top, the belt, and boots. I went to Amazon for a pair of gray leggings and a braided headband. Et voila. No Spanx.
I went the long way ’round on this one. I probably could have done more digging for a pre-made costume. I could have saved some time that way, although not that much since I would have had to spend an inordinate amount of time with the sizing chart, a tape measure and every review written about the costume to figure out what size would fit me. And I’d probably have ended up in Spanx. Most importantly, my money would be supporting the companies pushing out these costumes.
Sure, thirty bucks is probably a drop in the bucket to them, and my protest won’t be noticed. But, I think I’d rather put that thirty bucks toward improving my sewing skills. Not to mention, I need to work on my project planning skills while I’m at it. Just buying the least revealing or clingy costume out of the selection we’re provided isn’t going to do that.
Again, if those costumes tickle your fancy, go forth and be sexy. If I had the confidence, maybe I would join you. But I enjoy being covered up and warm so… perhaps not. But I think you get what I mean. All I am saying is that it would be neat to have the option to buy a costume. Not the sexy version. Just the character.