One for all and all for one!

Oh the joy of scheduled posts! I've had a stonking headache for about 3 days so it's a relief to feel marginally clear of it!  As you may or may not know, it was World Book Day on Thursday and thanks to my advance pressuring of the Headteacher and Literacy Coordinator, we dressed up again for it. The premise was that the children should dress up as a favourite or well-known book character.  I'd had the idea for my costume two years ago whilst watching Dogtanian dvds with CBC and decided I wanted to be a musketeer.  Aramis actually, but for the sake of people knowing, I said I was D'Artagnan,  I do like costumes which are combinations of items you have already or something you've made that isn't just a one-hit wonder.

And now you know why I always smile in photos- otherwise I definitely have bitchy resting face. Admittedly, I was trying to look like I was fighting a duel as this was taken. 

Thus, only two new items were acquired or made for this costume. The others were in my own wardrobe or CBC's.  So, how to recreate my D'Artagnan/Aramis costume:

•  1969 navy floppy hat: My Mum bought this in Piccadilly from a really nice hat shop. I acquired it some years ago.
• White plumed ostrich feather: I bought this in Hobbycraft last week for £2.20. Add it to the hat.
• Steal your husband's white reproduction regency shirt he bought from the Vintage shirt Co some five years ago. Yes, ladies, my husband is willing to be Mr Darcy for costume parties!
• Add a white crocheted collar you bought from the Asos sale about 5 years ago.
• Put on the blue cape your husband bought you and undo the side buttons.
• Belt it with your Mum's vintage leather belt.
• Don brown leggings under the long regency shirt. (Just realised I could totally dress as Wendy or Michael from Peter Pan with this next time)
• Add long knee high boots. Brown in this case.
• Finally, despair at midnight the night before, that you have no sword. Find large cardboard box and google musketeer sword pictures.  Draw something similar onto cardboard box. Cut out with craft knife and scissors. Cover in kitchen foil and PVA.  Wonder why it is so floppy. Wish you had reinforced it.

I chickened out of drawing on an eyeliner moustache onto my upper lip- I have a mild-phobia of drawing on skin. Thanks to Picmonkey for the addition,

I dressed like this and walked the mile to the station. I nonchalantly waited with commuters who stared at me wondering what on earth I was wearing. I got on the train and changed trains and didn't bat an eyelid and finally walked the half mile to school.  Apparently, the husband of someone spotted me walking down the road. Mwa ha, love freaking out commuters!

There was a good effort made by most of the staff.  One of my colleagues borrowed my 1970's does Regency dress and a bonnet and did Elizabeth Bennett and very pretty she looked too!  There was Carrie from Carrie's War(Nina Bawden), the Park keeper, Mr Bump (my colleague adopted my idea!), Robin Hoods, Mary Poppins', Demon Headmaster and more.  The kids made a great effort, one of the kids told me she was using my idea and dressing up as Matilda and another did the Ancient Greek goddess. There were several Elsas (Miss there's a Frozen book) and a few tenuous ones but otherwise it was great fun!!!

Linking to Creative Mondays with Claire Justine. And Hat Attack with StyleCrone

xxx