Illustrations by Denise Erickson Halloween is the one time your friends won't accuse you of acting
like someone else. On one fine evening, or for the entire weekend,
you can be an evil glam witch or a glacier-cool snow bunny, and
not only is it sanctioned, it's encouraged. Let those suppressed
moods become full-fleshed personalities. Personally, I've always
wanted to be the kind of queen that makes heads turn and makes
heads roll - extremely beautiful and extremely merciless. I'm
wicked with a scepter. Queen of the Hop For those nights when I feel pretty, oh so pretty, nothing beats
a prom dress. Not only am I as pretty as think I am, but the entire
school (i.e. the world) thinks so, too. And they are all my friends,
because a prom queen is not just the prettiest, but the sweetest
and most popular girl in school. Long white opera gloves, a '50s
canary yellow prom dress ($55) and the requisite tiara, sash and
bouquet is the easy part of the costume. The only thing harder
than finding a tiara worthy of a queen is thinking virginal thoughts.
But then again, it's prom night. Queen of the Forest Suppose I may want to rule not over a dinky school but over an
entire land of ephemeral, mischievous beings. Titania of A Midsummer's Night Dream is famed for her regal haughtiness, and that unfortunate affair
with Bottom. A cast-off wedding gown or bridesmaid dress ($10)
can be decorated with Christmas wreath decorations, silk flowers
and beads (from $1 to $6 per decoration). Hair should be twisted
into braids and pinned with plastic berries, real flowers and
gilt or real twigs. The scepter need only be a bouquet of long
golden twigs and real flowers. Queen of the Universe The Cosmic Girl is a Molotov cocktail of Bond Girl, Judy Jetson,
Princess Leia and more comic book vixens than possible to name.
Sexiness covers her like mist but she's armed with an ice-blue
ray gun, so only her commanding officers get in close. Silver
lamé bell-bottoms ($35) are half the uniform; the other half is
a mesh or nylon long sleeve shirt or body stocking (easily found
at any lingerie store). The shirt is then covered with different
styles of glitter (from fine powder to chunky sparkles) and costume
jewels. Exposed skin is covered in silver and blue makeup, down
to the silver eyelashes ($8). Global sunglasses ($28), sky blue
spike choker ($19) and glitter purse ($55) add the extra touch
of intergalactic warrior chic. Shopping List: Prom dress and silver bells available at Dial "V" for Vintage,
615 S. Sixth St. (downstairs at the South Street Antique Market),
592-0256. Bridesmaid dress found at Thrift for Aids, 629 South
St., 592-9014. Craft flowers, beads and clothing decoration (along
with extremely helpful service) available at Pearl, 417 South
St., 238-1900. Silver bag, sunglasses, necklace, and assorted
glitter cosmetics available at Echo, 322 South St., 625-2855.
- Elva Ramirez
Queen for a Day
