Pale Priestess, Version 1


Pale Priestess 1 image For Halloween 1987, I went for a "lighter" mystical feel (as opposed the previous year's "spooky" look). I was heavily into New Age arcana and color theory at the time, and the choice of white and silver was meant to reflect purity, moonlight, nature, and feminine strength.

The gown is two yards of super-cheap white satin with a hole cut in it to go over my head (an early take on my Easy Medieval Gown pattern), worn over white sweater and leggings and belted (you'll recognize the belt from the previous year's costume). The decorations around the neckline are the symbols of the zodiac, done in craft glue and silver glitter (and that's the eternity symbol below the point of the neckline). Along the "sleeves" are the astrological symbols for the planets.

The pendant is the same as the previous year; the earrings are assorted bits of crystal. The bag on the belt contains runes. The shoes are simple silver sandals, bought from the Newport News catalog.

Makeup is just Revlon silver eyeshadow in varying combinations, and silver nailpolish. The hair is french-braided down the sides and then into a single braid in the back, with assorted leaves stuck into it. On the forehead, in silver, is painted a crescent moon, a la the priestesses in Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.


Pale Priestess, Version 2


In 1989, I was in Hawaii on vacation at Halloween; my mother wanted me to be the one to hand out the candy, and the only costume I had handy was the old priestess one.

This time, it's a little more complex; silver ribbon has been sewn around the raw edges at the neck and sleeves (and yes, it really needed to be ironed), and a white turtleneck has replaced the sweater. Same pendant, again. The front locks of hair have been plaited with the same ribbon that's on the robe, and pins of a crescent moon and a fairy have been pinned to them.

Makeup is the same old stuff, though I think I did manage to find some actual silver lipstick this time.


Copyright © 1997-2001 Elisabeth Van Every, except where noted. All rights reserved.


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