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elionwyrSo I've been happily reading through The Bloggess' blog of bloggy goodness lately, and came across a post she wrote about owning and wearing a red dress Just Because.
I heartily endorse this type of action.
Two years ago, I bought a Supergirl costume on Halloween clearance for no damned good reason other than that it was there, it fit, and it was, what, $5. And then I chose to wear it to Philcon.
Well..maybe I've had better ideas..
So I ventured out with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
patriciawake and hughcasey (neither of which were dressed as superheroes, and even though this was my introduction to patriciawake, she was very gracious and continues to talk to me, much to my surprise), and we went out in search of coffee.
Superheroes bank at PNC, thankyouVERYmuch.
hughcasey took photos because he was very amused that no one - NO ONE - really wanted to interact with the crazy woman dressed like Supergirl. I was oblivious - no big surprise there - but it was especially evident at what had been a very busy Starbuck's counter..until I showed up.
Notice that every person in this photo is doing a very good job of not seeing me.
I finally noticed what was going on when the person who had been bothering every customer about their coffee choice and had something like a 5 minute list of things to ask each person reluctantly came over to me.
"What did you buy today?"
"Pumpkin spice latte!"
"Oh."
..And he walked away.
Although no one at the con was dressed as a superhero, either, I don't know that I was asked, "So why are you dressed that way?" (One person apparently saw me, said, "I didn't even know I HAD that kink!" and quickly walked away. So, see? I was providing free therapy!)
At some point during the day, we ended up in a diner. A waitress finally asked me why I was dressed this way. I believe she was the only stranger to have actively engaged the insane costumed crusader directly.
I'd been wearing the costume for, what, eight hours.
This alone tells me that yes, you should wear a red dress, or a Supergirl costume, or whatever the hell you want to wear out in public. It's absolutely fine.
The best reaction was from a woman who looked to be in her 50's, who - as we were leaving - yelled at me, "HEY! Come over here!"
'Oh crap, NOW I'm in trouble.' "Yes?"
"Come over here, please - I just had to have my friend see your outfit."
"Um..ok."
"So do you always dress like this?"
"Yup."
"Why?"
"Just in case."
"Oh. Well, I think you look really hot."
(..I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.)
Back at the con, another friend told me he had a present for me. A car jack. Which I did actually need, but - not surprising - I didn't have a superpocket big enough to hold the jack, so I ended up carring it around with me. Which FINALLY led to many questions. But only about the jack.
We ended up at dinner. (Jack wasn't invited. He cried all night.)
All of these people are awesome. Just sayin'.
And this was still ok.
What was NOT ok?
After a few hours of wearing something ridiculous, you forget you're wearing it. And so I didn't think anything of going into the hotel bar withysobelle to get a drink.
But, um, there was a bachelor party in there, too.
AWKWARD!
So my day ended with me yeeping and almost literally hiding behindysobelle. Because, um, that's what superheroes do.
(This also means my intro tokylecassidy - whom I rather admire - also happened while I was dressed as Supergirl. Why the hell does anyone ever talk to me more than once?)
But! My point is this. Yes, you should wear things that bring you joy (and that won't get you arrested). Generally speaking, for me, this means dressing like a pirate every damn chance I get. For you, it might mean a fancy red dress. Or a yeti costume. And you should totally do it. (Or if you want to borrow my Supergirl costume? It's yours for the asking.)
I heartily endorse this type of action.
Two years ago, I bought a Supergirl costume on Halloween clearance for no damned good reason other than that it was there, it fit, and it was, what, $5. And then I chose to wear it to Philcon.
Well..maybe I've had better ideas..
So I ventured out with
patriciawake and hughcasey (neither of which were dressed as superheroes, and even though this was my introduction to patriciawake, she was very gracious and continues to talk to me, much to my surprise), and we went out in search of coffee.Superheroes bank at PNC, thankyouVERYmuch.
hughcasey took photos because he was very amused that no one - NO ONE - really wanted to interact with the crazy woman dressed like Supergirl. I was oblivious - no big surprise there - but it was especially evident at what had been a very busy Starbuck's counter..until I showed up.Notice that every person in this photo is doing a very good job of not seeing me.
I finally noticed what was going on when the person who had been bothering every customer about their coffee choice and had something like a 5 minute list of things to ask each person reluctantly came over to me.
"What did you buy today?"
"Pumpkin spice latte!"
"Oh."
..And he walked away.
Although no one at the con was dressed as a superhero, either, I don't know that I was asked, "So why are you dressed that way?" (One person apparently saw me, said, "I didn't even know I HAD that kink!" and quickly walked away. So, see? I was providing free therapy!)
At some point during the day, we ended up in a diner. A waitress finally asked me why I was dressed this way. I believe she was the only stranger to have actively engaged the insane costumed crusader directly.
I'd been wearing the costume for, what, eight hours.
This alone tells me that yes, you should wear a red dress, or a Supergirl costume, or whatever the hell you want to wear out in public. It's absolutely fine.
The best reaction was from a woman who looked to be in her 50's, who - as we were leaving - yelled at me, "HEY! Come over here!"
'Oh crap, NOW I'm in trouble.' "Yes?"
"Come over here, please - I just had to have my friend see your outfit."
"Um..ok."
"So do you always dress like this?"
"Yup."
"Why?"
"Just in case."
"Oh. Well, I think you look really hot."
(..I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.)
Back at the con, another friend told me he had a present for me. A car jack. Which I did actually need, but - not surprising - I didn't have a superpocket big enough to hold the jack, so I ended up carring it around with me. Which FINALLY led to many questions. But only about the jack.
We ended up at dinner. (Jack wasn't invited. He cried all night.)
All of these people are awesome. Just sayin'.
And this was still ok.
What was NOT ok?
After a few hours of wearing something ridiculous, you forget you're wearing it. And so I didn't think anything of going into the hotel bar with
ysobelle to get a drink.But, um, there was a bachelor party in there, too.
AWKWARD!
So my day ended with me yeeping and almost literally hiding behind
ysobelle. Because, um, that's what superheroes do.(This also means my intro to
kylecassidy - whom I rather admire - also happened while I was dressed as Supergirl. Why the hell does anyone ever talk to me more than once?)But! My point is this. Yes, you should wear things that bring you joy (and that won't get you arrested). Generally speaking, for me, this means dressing like a pirate every damn chance I get. For you, it might mean a fancy red dress. Or a yeti costume. And you should totally do it. (Or if you want to borrow my Supergirl costume? It's yours for the asking.)
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no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 02:59 pm (UTC)And I always feel like I don't actually know anyone at any given con. There's always that panic of 'oh why am I here I don't see a single familiar face AUGH I'm going back to my room until the next panel I wish to attend is starting.'
(Sorry for getting the history wrong!)
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:42 pm (UTC)I just wish I had been. I may never forgive myself for taking so many years to find the courage to actually GO to cons instead of just talking about it. I missed YEARS of knowing wonderful people.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:45 pm (UTC)Or I'm just old. :)
I'm glad you did make it out. **bearhug**
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:22 pm (UTC)(Not saying that's a bad thing.)
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:26 pm (UTC)Because we LOVE you!
You really could have cropped me out of the last picture...gods I look (and am) fat.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 12:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-13 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 12:53 am (UTC)(Thank you again for digging up these pics for me!)
I remeber you tweeting about the Supergirl outfit last year.
Date: 2011-09-14 01:08 am (UTC)Are you going to Philcon this year? I'll be there the first time on the Saturday I hope I can catch up with you.
Re: I remeber you tweeting about the Supergirl outfit last year.
Date: 2011-09-14 01:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-14 03:57 am (UTC)I'll try to read the article about the red dress tomorrow; need more sleep!
no subject
Date: 2011-09-15 03:14 am (UTC)