COSTUMES!!!

emotion_sickness · Post by **emotion_sickness** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:40 pm

So I was just wondering what people are going to do for their costumes...this'll be my first year comin down there and i was wondering what to do...i was thinking like a wandering samurai or something along those lines but then i had a second thought that it might not be as absurd or colorful as seems to be the trend...maybe a bit to much like a halloween costume instead of a burning man costume? anyway what are your thoughts on costumes and what are you wearing, if anything?

Post by **Eric** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:09 pm

There are no hard & fast rules. I would only suggest wearing something that:

(1) You are comfortable wearing

(2) Isn't going to kill you in the desert heat

Other than that, go as wild or as calm as you want. I know people who only wear khaki's and t-shirts, I know people who wear nothing, I know people who change into ever more elaborate outfits during the week (sometimes during the same day). I wear what I feel like at the moment and I think that's what you find most people doing.

Remember- the daytime is very hot, the night can get just as cold. Be ready for anything (within reason)

Hope this helps.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:11 pm

On the other hand, it's not a costume. Come as you _are_, be who you are.

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:41 pm

What you wear can be a costume, or it can be you. Many people like me just show their different personalities at different times. I think of what I wear as "outfits"....Everything from nude to 501s and wifebeater, skirt to biker leathers, mad max, etc... Many people express themselves totally different at BM than they would at home...

I probably wouldn't wear a skirt and bikini top at work, but BM is totally different........

Just look on BM website, flikr.com, tribe, ........there are lots of ideas out there.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:41 pm

EspressoDude wrote:I probably wouldn't wear a skirt and bikini top at work, but BM is totally different........

Heheh agreed here too!
I like to think not of 'costumes' but of the 'playa wardrobe'; bonus snaps for creativity and visual flair. If you're wearing something different than default world standard attire guranteed someone (maybe MANY someones) will come up and gush about how fabulous/outrageous/crazy/etc. you are. If you're making a statement, be prepared with some witty banter to trade to defend it!

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:47 pm

I didn't have much time to get ready, so I brought mostly my standard stuff. (Unfortunately, some of my normal outfits make me look like an undercover cop..., but I like to think of that as a pretty unusual "costume"!

)

B.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 11:18 pm

Furry vest, beard and wingtips?
And a wrist radio?

Those guys are always wired.
Just scan for transmitters and you could pick them out.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:56 am

Integrating practical elements into playawear can be a satisfyiing challenge- ANY hat can potentially offer shade, for example, no matter how ridiculous it is. If you can create a mask that functions as a dust filter and/or eyeshades, then you can be more stylin' AND comfortable in a dustup. Bedouin wear head-to-toe desert garb that actually acts to protect against sun and wind exposure.
Don't be afraid to bring ANYTHING, especially "square wear". I'm bringing a space suit with heavy head-and-shoulder unit, integrated backpack and clunky boots and gloves all on top of a coverall...It might just prove unwearable in the heat of the day, but will work fine for sundowning. At least once during the week I throw on my 'squares and go survey the deep-playa artworks... It's a treat to run into someone in an elaborate costume out in the deeps, since it's such a wonderful backdrop for a Pretty Peacock Person, but you can cover a lot more ground in sensible hot/dry gear and there's LOTS to see. I remember once being saddened that I couldn't crawl into an inviting installation because of the elaborate green metal headgear I happened to be wearing.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:42 am

My advice is if you're not going to wear pants, don't wear a shirt. Those guys look ridiculous.
http://www.pissclear.org/PDFArchives/Pi ... t_2006.pdf

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:56 am

gyre wrote:Furry vest, beard and wingtips?
And a wrist radio?

Those guys are always wired.
Just scan for transmitters and you could pick them out.

No, apparently I looked the way people expected them to look! (I don't know how to explain it, since I didn't think I looked liked an undercover cop. Then again, while in Madison, WI, my brother and I twice had people try to buy drugs from us, and we didn't think we looked like drug dealers, either!

)

B.

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:21 am

I'm in a snarky mood, so there.
This thread has been done, and done, and done.
My advice to anyone just coming onto the board is to read thru past messages, find a pertinent existing thead, and use it.

To answer the question, I wear light cotton long pants, a t-shirt, hiking boots, cotton socks, a prairie bonnet, and 2.5 yards of unbleached muslin. I'm in the sun all day, so I have to be comfortable and able to work in any forseeable condition.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:45 am

The only things that are frowned upon are clothes with corporate logos, and there aren't a lot of people wearing jeans. Otherwise, wear whatever the hell you want. You don't have to wear costumes if you don't want to. Contrary to what the BM image gallery would have you believe, most people you see aren't wearing anything too outrageous.

If you want to look like a samurai, look like a samurai. Even better if you move like a samurai. Just don't start cutting parts off of people. Colorful is good, especially at night, so if you come across something that catches your eye go for it.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:29 am

> The only things that are frowned upon are clothes with corporate logos

Which means, let's all wear corporate logos!

Who is BMOrg to tell me what I _can't_ wear.

:->

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:55 am

We will have 'No Commerce Zone' t-shirts for sale before burning man.
Remember, you can't oppose commerce on the playa without a 'No Commerce Zone' shirt!
Why not wear one of those?

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:02 pm

> We will have 'No Commerce Zone' t-shirts for sale before burning man.

Nah. Sell'em _at_ Burning Man. Tell the cops it's an ironic art statement when they come to throw you out.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:04 pm

gyre wrote:We will have 'No Commerce Zone' t-shirts for sale before burning man.
Remember, you can't oppose commerce on the playa without a 'No Commerce Zone' shirt!
Why not wear one of those?

Are those the ones printed black on black?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:16 pm

AntiM wrote:
gyre wrote:We will have 'No Commerce Zone' t-shirts for sale before burning man.
Remember, you can't oppose commerce on the playa without a 'No Commerce Zone' shirt!
Why not wear one of those?
Are those the ones printed black on black?

Open to suggestions on color now.
I have to raise funds for the Souvenir Shop theme camp some way.

It is the one item I can promise will never be given away.
It just doesn't seem appropriate to gift those.
If I'm going to have those plastic Larry Harveys in time I have to get the order in.

________________________________________

Making Fun of All Things Burning Man

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:28 pm

phil wrote:> The only things that are frowned upon are clothes with corporate logos

Which means, let's all wear corporate logos!

Who is BMOrg to tell me what I _can't_ wear.

:->

I never said anything about BMORG or about things being outlawed. It's more of a peer pressure thing. Wear cutoff jeans, a Nike t-shirt and a raiders hat and you risk being labeled a Yahoo.

If you enjoy being judged negatively by what you wear, go for it. Cover yourself in logos and call it performance art.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:33 pm

Try running around in a trucker's ballcap, Florida "Gators shirt and tighty whities, tevas with white socks, and see what type of reception you get.

buwahaha ...

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:44 pm

robbidobbs wrote:I'm in a snarky mood, so there.
This thread has been done, and done, and done.
My advice to anyone just coming onto the board is to read thru past messages, find a pertinent existing thead, and use it.

To answer the question, I wear light cotton long pants, a t-shirt, hiking boots, cotton socks, a prairie bonnet, and 2.5 yards of unbleached muslin. I'm in the sun all day, so I have to be comfortable and able to work in any forseeable condition.

And she looks so sexy in it..... Mmmmm~~

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:44 pm

I have a khaki Trailmobile cap and a nice Square D.
Seems like I have a Freightliner somewhere.
I was thinking khaki pants and a fraternity shirt.
Anybody have a spare frat shirt?
Sorority logo would do too, I suppose.
Someone suggested one of those tacky polyester vests in red too.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:49 pm

> Anybody have a spare frat shirt?
Now that's a thought. Louise has an embroidery machine. Any preferences?

PurpleKoosh · Post by **PurpleKoosh** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:01 pm

phil wrote:> Anybody have a spare frat shirt?
Now that's a thought. Louise has an embroidery machine. Any preferences?

Eta Beta Pi.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:32 pm

Phil,
That's very generous.
Choices....
Let me think about it.
I like Miss Koosh's idea though.
People do seem unfriendly to Kappa Kappa Kappa members, so that's out.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:36 pm

In past years I have assembled four sets of outfits:
A "straight" desert day outfit. You never know when the Desert is going to claim your ride, and it wouldn't do to walk back to Fernley in a penguin outfit.
A "straight" desert night outfit. The sun does go down, and it does get cold.
A "wacky" desert day outfit. The details are between me and my imagination.
A "wacky" desert night outfit, because many of the cool events are at night after the heat has left the playa.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:07 pm

> Let me think about it.

Okay. Let me have a size, too.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:39 pm

You could always just go without clothes. Some cat actually went to BM with NOTHING and made out fine. Not a stitch on the boy.. fucking amazing.

Whatever you do.. if you bring clothes try to get BIG hats for lotsa shade and nice loose stuff thats not too heavy for the daytime. Be ready for cold nights and BE YOU! If you're a yahoo.. fuck it.. dress the part. You could always claim you're doing a performance art piece.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:12 pm

A new girl rang the bell at the gate, then took her clothes off, looked around a moment, then ran into the city.
Had a guy drive in naked.
Still made him ring the bell.

Is that cool or what?
And these were new folks!
They'll be back.
I can't wait to see what they do next year!

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 9:23 pm

Almost exactly what I did the first year....Pulled up the the greeters/bell.

"Is it Ok to get naked now?"
"Yeah you could have done that back at the ticket gate."

So I stripped in the vehicle. Ran out nude, rang the bell, got eyeballed by some greeters and propositioned. Also invited to the nude bicycle ride.

Then drove on in nekkid.