My Costume for Life
Has anyone ever seen the A&E program, Hoarders? You know, that show that documents the lives of people struggling with the severe inability to throw out or give away anything that they own, effectively reducing their homes to veritable museums of otherwise useless items?
I’ve always felt that a show like that should exist for collectors of movie memorabilia.
Let me explain.
One of my best friends is an avid fan(atic) of The Wizard of Oz– you know, the classic 1939 Judy Garland film? Yet, while most of us have confined this particular movie to the recesses of our childhood memories (occasionally resurrected by the off-chance late-night viewing) my good buddy has progressed way beyond the ritualistic morning-drive rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and filled his quite large basement with a veritable shrine to all things Oz: posters, statues, figurines, display cases, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…
Unbeknownst to me, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the film, and in eager anticipation for this Halloween, my friend has decided he wants to dress up as the Scarecrow for my annual Halloween bash.
A quick glance at eBay or visit to the local Party Expert a few days before Halloween should yield a decent costume for an (arguably) decent price. Simple, right?
Wrong. My friend wants a replica, which aside from purchasing Ray Bolger’s actual outfit at a Hollywood auction, would entail a painstaking recreation of the iconic costume, right down to the straw sticking out of the Scarecrow’s sleeves.
Thankfully, my seamstress aunt was up to the challenge.
A lengthy stop at C&M Textiles for a few yards of Vista /BF – Blue (for the top), Wilde 01 – Espresso (the pants), Duque-DQ01 (hat) and assorted fabrics for the patches, and my friend’s eagerly awaiting his trot down the Yellow Brick Road this October 31st.
Let me tell you, the fact that this man, a stickler for detail in his own right who also happens to own a Wizard of Oz bedspread, was actually ecstatic with the fabrics chosen for his dream costume, should earn C&M Textiles an Academy Award for costuming.
And me for patience.