Paying for a Purim costume

[lethargic_man]

Two years ago I dressed up for Purim for the first time since I was little. The outfit cost me nothing, given that I was planning to dye my hair anyway. This year, though, I can't pull off that trick again. There is, however, a Purim costumes shop in Hendon; costumes are available for as little as £12, which is rather less than fancy dress I've seen on sale online. However, I don't feel comfortable about splashing out money, particular as I'm unlikely to want to wear the outfit again on subsequent years, and would therefore end up forking out money each year for something I'd only get a single day's use out of. This feels wrong, somehow, and not in keeping with the spirit of Purim.

Thoughts, anyone?

Comments

[pseudomonas.livejournal.com]

Could you just go in blue paint instead?

[liv]

I agree, it would probably be better to spend the money on tzedakah than an expensive costume you're only going to use once. But then I've basically never spent money on fancy dress; sometimes I give myself a budget of £2.50 to get accessories from charity shops (costume jewellery, a really loud ridiculous t-shirt or similar can make a big difference to an outfit). With a bit of imagination it's usually possible to make some kind of costume out of stuff you already own, plus a couple of accessories. For example, one year I was a pirate, which meant one leg of my (ordinary) trousers rolled up, an eye-patch I made myself out of paper, scribbled on with black marker, a stripy top I happened to own, and a scarf tied round my head as a bandana / kerchief. Then I bought some giant gold hoop earrings (clip-on) from a charity shop for 50p.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

It might trigger an episode of woad rage...

mattanot aniyyim

[mike-koplow.livejournal.com]

Like you said, and like livredor said. The money would be better spent on the poor. Many years ago, I got a one-piece Groucho ensemble (glasses, eyebrows, nose, and mustache) that I wore for Purim for a few years. When I lost it, I didn't bother replacing it.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I feel the same that improvised or home-made outfits are more interesting (whether a bought outfit is of high quality or not). However, if you can buy something you like for £10-£20 it seems perfectly reasonable to spend that much for one evening's entertainment (and if it's cheaper, it's probably more unique too, though I don't know). I recognise that my standard of "what's a reasonable amount to spend for an evening without really worrying about it" slowly rises over time: once, even £5 would not be automatic; some people would unthinkingly spend £X00.

I agree it's probably more in spirit not to automatically purchase a costume, but I'd say go and look and see if there's anything you like, and if so try it and see how you feel. You can always keep it in case you wear it some other occasion, or you think it would suit friend and give it to them. You could always donate to charity as well.

Sorry, that doesn't seem very helpful, but it seemed sensible.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Oh, also, although I'd like to improve costumes, I always suck at it, so I never really do, and am impressed by people who make something that seems good. But that doesn't really affect the issue either way :)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Good points, only that I don't really have the time to try and put something together myself this year: I'm off to the parentheses' for the weekend, then Auld Reekie on Monday for the Gogol Bordello concert, and pretty much all the remaining time is going to go into preparing for the meal I'm going to host for my birthday.

I might settle for getting a hat or something... but I do have one other plan in action: After being unable to shave for almost three weeks (http://lethargic-man.livejournal.com/332163.html) whilst my shaver was in my bag in the Lost Property office of Schönefeld airport (http://lethargic-man.livejournal.com/331981.html) in Berlin, I was going to shave off my nascent beard last weekend, but then decided that to keep it for another two weeks so I could shave it into a silly shape (http://lethargic-man.livejournal.com/321031.html) on Purim.

[snjstar.livejournal.com]

Good idea with the shaving.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I am curious how you look with a proper beard if this is what you plan. I am likely to see you at the Purim Party.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

That's not what I plan. I have a proper beard now (albeit a very short, still partly see-through one); I'll not have that any longer by half an hour into Purim.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

What about getting facepaint and making something for your head out of cardboard as I usually do for Purim. Better then just looking like yourself if you insist on shaving off your beard.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I didn't say I was going to shave it off completely. Why do you think I didn't shave it off when I got my shaver back?

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I did not know you have it back now. Last time I was at yours you used all sorts of subsitutes because the things you normally use were in your suitcase. I expected that you know who will bring it to you when she comes for your birthday and the weekend of Purim.