Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

An unknown 80s couple, unaware they would one day inspire a Halloween costume.

It's the time of year when I typically prepare a Halloween costume, and this year is no exception as The Gryphon and I prepare for a party at the home of The Martial Artist and The Book Lover.

The Gryphon and I brainstormed ideas on the long drive back last time we visited my family. Now, The Gryphon isn't as into Halloween as I am, but he's always willing to go along with ideas. I thought it would be fun to do something together.

After we hashed it out a bit, we finally came up with something: 1980s prom dates. This would require, of course, suitable clothing, which I figured we could find at second hand stores or vintage clothing shops.

I thought my task would be more difficult, but I found my dress almost immediately. Just a couple checks of the local consignment store, and I found the perfect dress. It's a godawful shiny, pink princess dress. Fitted top, pouffy skirt and a bolero jacket with pouffy sleeves. Funny thing is, it actually works on me. To be honest, it doesn't look too different from my actual prom dress!

I never thought it would be so much harder to find a costume for The Gryphon. After all, we just needed 1980s formal attire. What's so hard about that? I did some online searching and found a number of vintage clothing shops, all within a few blocks of each other in the South Street area of Philly, so on Sunday, that's what we did.

The first store we stopped at was called Retrospect, at 534 South Street. I'd been to that store before with a friend from out of town, and we'd had fun going through the clothes and making fun of them. I knew they had good prices and a huge selection, so I was optimistic.

Even though they had several jackets that looked formal enough to pass for a 1980s tuxedo jacket, none were the right size.

Next, we tried a store across the street whose name I forget. They had a much smaller selection, but they did have a number of vintage tuxedos. The closest one in size had a jacket that was a little loose but pants that were huge on him. Even though it came with a red cummerbund, we decided to find something that was a closer match. After all, they wanted $55 for it and he could have only worn the jacket.

Next was Decades, which is on the 600 block of Bainbridge, just a couple blocks away. The first thing you noticed when you walked in the store was a particularly catlike scent. I thought we were walking into some grandmother's attic. But soon the source of the scent became clear, as two friendly store cats greeted us.

The men's rack wasn't that big, and there was only a small selection of vintage formal attire, nothing of which worked.

Our last ditch effort was a store called Hope on 7th Street, at 700 Bainbridge. They're primarily a second hand clothing store, but they have some vintage stuff, too. Unfortunately, none of it worked.

Then we changed our plan. Instead of looking for a tuxedo jacket, he could wear an old black dress jacket he already had and his existing black dress pants. We would focus on just finding him a tuxedo shirt and the other accessories.

We went back through the stores, with a new focus. Unfortunately, we had no better luck. He did find a tuxedo shirt in Decades that fit him, but it was yellowed at the collar, would require studs and cuff links (which The Gryphon does not have) and also cost $38, which was more than he'd intended to spend. Of course, the store owner stood over our shoulder while we were trying to talk about it, offering to throw in another shirt for free, but we declined. He also tried a ruffled shirt from the window, but it was also too small.

Wherever we went it was the same story: the shirts were either too big or too small. In one store which we found as we were heading back to the store, they sold vintage clothing at really high prices. He found a brown ruffled shirt that fit him, but it would have cost $30 and it was the wrong color, besides.

So I got The Gryphon's measurements and went out Monday to check the Salvation Army and the consignment store. I had no luck. While I found some tuxedo shirts, they were the wrong size. That's when I began my search on eBay.

I found a number of possibilities and shared the links with The Gryphon over IM so we could discuss what to bid on. The first thing I did was buy a pink cummerbund and bow tie set, which was a purchase, not an auction. Should be on its way to be now.

Then, I looked for a shirt in his size. I found a white ruffled shirt that looked like it would be close. Of course, later when he came home and I measured his chest, I discovered it would be big on him. I asked if I should bid on it anyway, and he said yes.

I had also found a web site where people were just selling vintage shirts. There was a vintage '80s tuxedo shirt that was exactly his size. But he wanted to try for the ruffled shirt. Unfortunately, we've been outbid twice so I think I'm just going to order the '80s tuxedo shirt, which after all, is more accurate anyway.

It's kind of funny how this worked out, because it was almost the opposite back in the day. It was always easier for the guys to rent their tuxedos than it was for the girls to find themselves dresses that both fit them, flattered them and was in their price range. I suppose that's why it's more difficult now: most men don't buy their own formal attire, so there's less of it floating around in used clothing stores.

Now I've got other details to consider, such as hair and makeup. I never did big hair, even in the '80s but I might be willing to give it a shot. I might even make myself a wrist corsage with some silk flowers.

I forgot to mention the inspiration for this costume. It's sort of sappy, so brace yourself. I had a blind date for my senior prom, and if I'd known Mike I would have much rather had him for my prom date. The Gryphon agreed. And so we'll that prom date after all, just a decade and a half late.

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

Musings Index

What do you think? Share your thoughts
at Alyce's message board (left button):