Despite the fact that as an adult I’ve never much liked wearing costumes, “playing dressup” was a favourite source of amusement, providing hours and hours of fun and stimulating my fertile imagination, when I was a child.
My earliest dressup memory involves a white princess gown included as part of the stash of costumes in my kindergarten class. The girls all loved that dress, and would always squabble over who got to wear it at playtime each day!
I remember my absolute thrill when I was chosen to play the princess – which, of course, meant wearing The Dress – for the Christmas production our class presented to our parents… and that the boy selected to play the prince was someone my heart felt was pretty sweet was just the icing on the cake.
It’s interesting to look back on something from your childhood and remember it as being so much bigger and better and frillier and fancier than it actually was. Seeing that dress now, it’s really nothing special – but the power of our little imaginations and uncritical eyes turned it into something wondrous, a gown fit for a princess.
We could gain something valuable, I think, by learning to look at life with more of that childlike wonder.
I hunted high and low for a photo of me dressed up for Halloween, but was only able to find one picture. (I’m sure my parents have others somewhere in their stash – I seem to remember one of me costumed as a garage mechanic!) While my sister is clearly a nurse in this photo, I’m really not sure WHAT I was supposed to be!
I had found this old dress in the clothing swap at our university housing complex laundry room, and wore that thing all the time. I’m not sure what the attachment might have been, but for whatever reason I loved wearing that dress. I think I would have worn it to school if I’d been allowed! And somewhere along the line I had discovered that you could give yourself long hair (something I’d always wanted) by taking a pair of pantyhose, cutting each leg in three, and braiding them.
Creative crafting, 1970s style!
Looking back at these photos makes me smile at the memories, but also makes me rather wistful – because somewhere along the way I lost a little bit of my imagination and playfulness to self-consciousness and fear… I traded some of that wonder and delight for perfectionism and judgment… I shut off the easy ability to pretend and trained myself instead to focus on the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
I know it’s never too late. Listening to my instincts and buying a pink feather boa was a good start. And you know what? I even managed to wear it a couple of times! I’ll be back into the whole costume thing in no time, I’m sure.
Do you like dressing up in costumes?
Please share!
Twitter: nabanita21
March 13, 2015
Wow..such pretty nostalgic pics..I used to love dressing up…Now the fascination has dwindled a bit 🙂
nabanita recently posted… What If I Lose My Memory?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
I suppose it inevitably does as we get older. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
Twitter: shyvish
March 13, 2015
Oh gosh! You look adorable! I am with you though. Don’t dress up these days 🙂
Shailaja recently posted… Wasted Words #poem
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
Thank you! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
Twitter: mumbaionahigh
March 13, 2015
Well, I think somewhere down the line we become conscious of how we look (thin, fat, wrinkled?) so we give imagination short shrift and stay with the tried and tested look instead……
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
I think you’re right about that!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
Twitter: geetaavij
March 13, 2015
It’s always a pleasure going down memory lane especially hunting out old photographs and showing them to your children and grandchildren. Loved the picture of the princess in white.
geeta nair recently posted… Book Review : The Secrets of the Dark
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
It really is a lot of fun. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
What fun memories – you’re right through the years we end up a little more jaded and cautious. My next milestone birthday, I’m going to throw caution to the wind – sort of a “When I’m An Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple” attitude not only in clothing but in my daily interactions with others as I’ve always been a little shy.
Cyndi recently posted… Friday Focus- Artist Studio
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
I love that idea – I might take it up myself for my next milestone, which is coming up rather quickly!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
Twitter: ellytreehugger
March 14, 2015
I was thinking Red Riding Hood but you would need a basket! I love the creativity in having long hair by using nylons as I never heard of that before! 😉 I SO LOVE dressing up in costumes: always have, always will most likely! I’ve had some really interesting ones over the years…they included ‘Mary had a little lamb’ (as I was carrying a lamb stuffed animal, believe it or not), gypsy (two different outfits), a “SmokeBuster” (as opposed to a “Ghostbuster”), a gothic punkster (my term as I think it was a combo and I was not recognizable even to myself!), a ‘drunken bum’ (with apparently real-looking stubble!), a “woman of the night” wearing 4″ inch heels, a half-girl, half-woman inspired by The Vagina Monologues in which I had a minor role on stage, a witch (with a toothless gap), and more! (Some photos: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/11/post-halloween-photos.html and also here: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2011/10/safe-and-happy-halloween.html) 😉 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted… Wordy Wednesday 4: Shadows of Silence
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 16, 2015
Sounds like you’re well versed in the costume end of things!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 29 – If we met for coffee
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