Wearing Costumes – Not only for Halloween

“Clothes make a statement.  Costumes tell a story.” 

 Any elementary school teacher can attest to the truth of this aphorism written by Mason Cooley, an American professor of French, speech and world literature during the second half of the 20th century. As a substitute teacher for over twenty years, I well remember listening to students excitedly tell the story of “what I’m going to be for Halloween” including all the reasons they chose their costumes. While listening to each student’s costume plans ate into the designated curriculum, I always felt it worthwhile to allow students this opportunity to give an impromptu speech (certainly of educational value) and to talk about their Halloween plans.

 Listening to my students not only showed interest in them (and who among us doesn’t like that), it also allowed opportunity to learn about my students through a back door route. “A mask tells us more than a face,” explains Oscar Wilde, Irish poet and playwright (1854-1900). Responding to charges of being “two-faced,” Abraham Lincoln replied, “If I had two faces, would I be wearing this one?” The point being that in wearing any mask, we carefully and intentionally select this temporary identity. No doubt, selecting this identity to try on says something about us.   

 Think about the wild and raucous event known as Mardi Gras, which begins January 6 and continues for three months through Fat Tuesday. Parades, music, art and elaborately costumed revelers – you can find it all, often lewd and certainly bawdy! As a friend of mine from seminary days, who had attended Mardi Gras many times, told me, “If you can imagine it, Bryan, you will find it at Mardi Gras!”

 No doubt, costuming at Mardi Gras is done at an off the scale level, a degree to which most of us likely never participate. At least, I haven’t. My costuming efforts have been far more modest. As an adult, I dressed up as a lion tamer by wearing a white shirt, black trousers and (judiciously, I hope) cracking a hand-made whip at other party attendees. No doubt, I would have been terrified to ever get close enough to any lion to have any hope of taming the beast, but I did like the idea of being the focus of all eyes in the circus arena. Suppose this explains, in part, why I have always been comfortable with speaking in public.

 In seventh grade - inspired by Woodsey the Owl, the iconic symbol of the National Forest Services campaign launched in 1971 to encourage children to develop a healthy relationship with nature - I created a one-of-a-kind costume constructed from a rusted-out trash can, worn out bicycle inner tube, rope and some on-hand paint. To convey the need to protect our air, using a sharp scissor I cut the inner tube in ways to create both a mask and an oxygen hose attached to the nose part of the mask. To convey the importance of keeping our world free of trash, I cut out the bottom of the trash can, attached ropes to the handles which I adjusted to hang on my shoulders at just the right height, and wore this as the main part of my costume. To add the finishing touch, I painted the words of Woodsey the Owl, “Give a hoot, don’t pollute” on the trash can. Creating this costume made an important impact on my budding environmental sensibilities.  

 Think about all the rituals of our lives. In each situation, the way we dress is basically a costume. Consider graduation gowns and the bride’s dress at weddings, the uniforms of police officers, fire fighters, team sports, political affiliation, the robes of clergy and judges and the coveralls of farmers. Most obviously, costume designers create wardrobes for the actors and actresses of theatrical productions. As New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham once claimed, these costumes provide “the armor we need to survive everyday life” and (I add) help us transition into our new roles and responsibilities. 

 The clothing we decide to wear can also form the foundation for the philosophy of our lives. As one example, world famous actress, Audrey Hepburn, believed that “Life is a party, dress like it!” Whether or not life is a party, either way, perhaps Shakespeare was right, “All the world’s a stage, and all the (men, women, and children) merely players.” Based on Shakespear’s assessment that life is a theatrical production, it certainly seems that the costumes we wear play an important role in the types of players we become. 

 Without doubt, wearing costumes is not only for Halloween.

Having lived in Jefferson since only December 2021, Bryan knows he will always be a newcomer in town. Though this may surprise his readers, he wants everyone to know that he truly delights in this role!