Tuesday, November 3, 2009

All Hallows Eve

The scent of deepest autumn was undeniable this weekend. The bouquets of flowers at James Durr are quickly giving way to tangles of leafy boughs, and I couldn't resist picking up a lush bunch of eucalyptus for my front room. With my nose involuntarily buried in the fragrant leaves the whole way home (crowded subway cars rarely provide such lovely aromatherapy experiences) I couldn't help but relish the change in weather, in scents and in routine that the progression of the seasons induces.

So perhaps fittingly, Paul and I chose this weekend to break our strict "no fun on Halloween" tradition. There was a party that promised to be great fun to attend, so Paul dragged out an outfit he had bought in Dubai recently and I got to work cobbling together a costume using a gold lame leotard leftover from a costume party in graduate school and a pair of track pants as a base.

I figured my best bet was one of those interpretive costumes...the kind where you just wear something odd and let others determine who it is you have dressed up as (the consensus from absolute strangers seemed to be Lady Gaga...sure, might as well). Coming up with my own idea was much too stressful on such short notice! So I swung by the makeup mecca that is MAC to pick up some oversized false eyelashes (and immediately vowed to come back in short order for more browsing and playtime...it is a truly inspiring store) and then braved the Ricky's madhouse in search of a wig.

Presently, it was time to go. Paul looked very imposing in his caftan and head scarf (although he was a tad apprehensive about going out in the get-up for fear of offending someone) and I looked shiny.

Just outside of the party we looked across the way and noticed a man standing in the street wearing Paul's exact same outfit. Paul was a bit miffed..."Is he wearing it better than I am?" he wondered. I looked closer...he was an older man with those 1970s big square glasses with thin wire rims..."Babes I think he's an actual Arab." "Really? Are you sure?". And then he got into a Bentley and drove away. "Yes, I'm sure."

We enjoyed an evening full of sword eaters and fire jugglers and women on stilts with friends and a couple of bottles of champagne. The festivities eventually wound down and we made our way home very slowly on the subway, as cabs were simply a lost cause.

Paul removed his kaftan shortly after we arrived home, but I have to say I was really feeling my wig and eyelashes and couldn't stand to toss them aside quite so soon. I spent a good while taking photos of myself to delay the inevitable return to normalcy.



Perhaps I could entertain a second career as a drag queen?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't be shy - my next door neighbour has that exact same colour hair. I'm hopelessly short-sighted but she's one person I can always recognise without my contacts ... you can see her coming a mile off!!

Mise said...

Perfect for drawing attention to your model-style cheekbones!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

Looks like you guys had a fun night. I love Halloween so much but took a different route this year...way different.

I was pretending I was in Big Sur. Put on my George Winston "Autumn" c.d. got the candles glowing, poured some delicious wine, built a small fire in the woodstove and listened for the whistle of the evening train....

Laura said...

Anonymous - Brilliant!

Mise - You are way too generous with the compliments!

My Farmhouse Kitchen - Oh a Big Sur Halloween sounds absolutely divine...candles and wine and a fire are always a good thing.

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

Very charming post, Laura. I love the look. We were just remembering the Halloween parties we used to throw, 75 or so people spilling out of our small apartment. For years, people would be remembered by their costumes: "Oh, you remember--she was Mr. Peanut." This year, Marion was out of town and I just went to a dive bar to hear a decent band. And the place was divey enough that few costumes ventured in.

Laura said...

Terry - A dive bar sounds like the perfect setting for Halloween! Wish I had been around for those parties...

Angie Muresan said...

You have gorgeous cheekbones, Laura.

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