Ms. P&C as HarlequinThis year for Halloween I decided to be a Harlequin. Not just any Harlequin, but one from the Commedia del'arte era - 18th century. Of course, Harlequin is actually a boy and Columbine is the girl, but over time the two have morphed into one thing here and there. I decided to go with the more modern black & white style, inspired by a little of this and a little of that.

To begin, I saw Picasso's 1905 painting "At the Lapin Agile" this month when I visited the Met in New York. I've always loved this painting, and if Thomas Crowne were to ask me which painting I should have him steal, that would be the one. It's moody, dark, but the shock of pattern on the absinthe-laden Harlequin is just amazing. It's also an early Picasso, before everything got disjointed and cubist, which I prefer.

Then, I was reminded of Truman Capote's famous Black & White ball from 1966, as well as the fantastic black & white Art Student's Ball from An American in Paris. Both are glamorous, fun, and full of graphic surprises. There was a great vintage pic from Dennison's Bogie Book from the 1920s which had a Harlequin, but in black and orange for Halloween; I also saw this fantastic book of vintage costumes which also had some fun ideas. Finally, a photograph of the Split Enz, rounds it all together.

Inspirations aside, making the outfit was another task entirely! I used the pattern I'd used a few years ago to create my Marie Antoinette costume, and recycled the fabulous white wig. But this time, I created a shorter skirt and overskirt that was full and bouncy. I also couldn't find any fabric with the diamonds on it, so I made it myself...by hand, cutting and pasting and then appliquéing them to the white satin. Yes, it took hours. To save some time, I graded the diamonds so that they were smaller on the bodice and then got progressively larger toward the hem. Even still, I went to bed the past few nights cutting and sewing diamonds in my mind's eye.

I made the mask from a basic domino, adding feathers, a few sparkly buttons, some hat netting, and finishing it with a cover of black satin. Underneath I wore black tights and some super-high black patent oxfords from Steven.

Out to some parties I went with my friend Lee, who claims to have never dressed up for Halloween before. She took to it like a duck to water though, dressing as Andy Warhol's superstar: Edie Sedgwick. In fact, I got into the cab and got a little freaked out by the resemblance.

At one party we met up with a mime, who looked really good with my costume. Then, we met up with another Edie Sedgwick before finally meeting a horrifying Un-Dead Bartender.

I'll be back again next year with something fun & homemade too! Not sure what yet, but I have a few ideas already brewing. One thing I can say for certain: it will not involve hundreds of black satin diamonds!

Images from Met Museum, Vogue - January 1967, VintageHalloweenIdeas.com, Amazon.com, Stuff.co.nz, and Obit.com.