We may be approaching Thanksgiving now, but as I haven’t yet written on this topic, allow me to rewind us back to October. I sewed up a little Halloween costume for myself… a first for me! I knew I wanted to dress as a sailor, so thought I would maybe retroactively watch Anything Goes, or The Last Detail, something to tie it in to the newsletter. However, in all my scary movie watching, I never got around to it, and instead I got curious about why I wanted to be a sailor in the first place!
It’s interesting how the visual markers of a sailor make their way into the popular imagination. Sort of like ballerinas or cowboys, they are a favorite touch stone of the fashion industry, and every decade delivers a new riff on the classics of their image. I think I was so drawn to sailors (or their image) in particular for a few key reasons:
Sailors dance! I remarked to my husband after donning the costume for the first time that I felt more like a tap dancer than a sailor, but then realized how often sailors are used in movies, musicals and more, and how often they dance. My favorite example of this is the Jerome Robbin’s first ballet Fancy Free, in which three off-duty sailors compete for the attention of two gals. It’s fun and theatrical in a way that Robbins does so well (he choreographed many musicals, including West Side Story). I love this clip with Baryshnikov, it isn’t over the top and he somehow makes his portion of a dance-off seem nonchalant—
Sailing ensembles are a long time staple of children’s clothes, which are common reference point for me. I was recently given an antique child’s sailor dress that originated around 1900, sewn by an ancestor. It’s so precious, and if it were my size, I’d definitely wear it ;)
3. There’s a lot of flair to play with and still get the inspiration across— flared pants, all-white ensembles, bib collars, neck scarves, hats, stripes, stars! Lots of room to play…
I think I normally end up scrounging around for a costume I can eek together with what I have because of an aversion to spending much (money or time) on something for a single night… but actually how fun it was too make something— I’M CHANGED. I think I could have gone even a little more costume-y, maybe next year’s will be more “out-there”, if I’m not a sailor again! I used a navy sheet that I bought at the thrift store for $6, and the piping was bias tape that I didn’t have any use for, and likely wouldn’t use on a more practical garment because it is a cheaper polyester material that’s not my first choice. So it wasn’t a money suck, put an undesirable material in my stash to good use, and only took half a day to construct. Why is this a first!? Also a great excuse to wear a funkier hat I had, which kinda has a cutesy sailor cap thing going on. It was one of those estate sale finds, that you can’t set down, it didn’t make sense but I was very drawn to it, and it finally got it’s night on the town!
Shane was a sailor too, just by wearing a white tee and pants, and popping on a collar and straw beret I had. So who was the more effective sailor? Made from scratch or thrown together? I did more dancing, so I think I sold the look ;) but really it is such an easy costume with so many ways to get the point across, would recommend.
Halloween feels so long ago now, that writing this is getting me excited for next year. Thanks for letting me drag us back in time, and thank you as always for reading E-Pastiche!
I think I was your inspiration when I wore a cute little sailor maternity dress when I was pregnant with you. ❤️