Halloween 2008: Year of the Black Cat

My First Halloween

This photo is from my first Halloween. October 2008. Yes, given I was 23 years old, and it may sound semi-pathetic, but I'd never felt so liberated in all my life. I made my outfit and have to say that for a first attempt, I did a damn good job. 

I know what you're thinking. Why the hell was your first Halloween at 23? 

I never celebrated Halloween as a child. Since I grew up in a Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)  this was not an acceptable day for my family and we went to church like every other Pentecostal Christian. I was basically brainwashed into thinking that this holiday was not about the glorious mounds of candy that everyone smuggled to school with on November 1st, nor being able to dress as whatever you wished your occupation would become- but a celebration of the Day of the Devil. Having said that, while everyone was outgrowing dressing up, I was just discovering that I would not burn in Hell for donning an outfit and going out to see the rest of the outfits that everyone conjured up.

Building the Outfit

The ears & tail I purchased at a role play shop, because really, they have the best costumes there. I was dead broke and wasn't going to blow 75$ on a sexy nurse outfit, so I figured I may as well look for something that I could put together myself. I came up with the idea of being a black cat when I saw the ears & tail.

I wore a vest & a pair of black shorts that I already had. (Vest from Forever XXI, shorts from Charlotte Russe)

I made the collar from a velvet ribbon, jingle bells, and Velcro strips. (purchased from JoAnn Fabrics) I sewed & secured the bells onto the ribbon and placed them an inch apart on the ribbon. I then sewed on the Velcro strips so that I could get the collar on & off without chocking or messing up my hair. The result ended up quite nicely.

Shoes were a gamble between a pair of Rampage ruffled slingbacks & a pair of simple Traffic flats I already owned. I ended up wearing the flats because cobblestones & heels definitely don't mix and I spent my first Halloween walking around the grove with my boyfriend. 

I'll edit this & photog all the articles of clothing used and see if I can dig up a photo of me from head to toe :)