The foundation of the costume is a plain black leotard and opaque black tights. The shiny skirt is made of--yes, really--folded and crumpled aluminum foil, crushed into shape to stay around the waist. The sheer black skirt is a triangle of cheap polyester organza, decorated with "medallions" of silver glitter (circles of craft glue with glitter sprinkled on) and tassels of silver Christmas-tree icicles sewn along the edges. The sleeve panels are the same as the skirt, but rectangular; they are pinned to the sleeves with safety pins hidden on the inside of the sleeves (I couldn't sew them as the leotard needed to be re-used). The boots are the ubiquitous '80s "Peter Pan" boots--pointy, cuffed ankle boots in black suede.

The body paint is a theatrical brand (I've forgotten the name) made of tiny metal particles in a mineral-oil base--I couldn't touch anything without rubbing silver grease on it, hence the bizarre way I'm holding my hands. (I had to use fine-grade steel wool to get it all off.) Eyes are done with black liquid eyeliner and black powder eyeshadow (I believe Revlon) applied with a wet brush. Lips are done with cheap black cream costume lipstick, and the nails are good old Wet 'n' Wild black polish.