Jacqui Worden and Bita Nouriani were among the shoppers at the costume shop sale.
Need a helmet to be a Roman centurion this Halloween? Maybe a robe to dress as Sir Thomas Aquinas? How about a World War II military jacket and hat to go as Gen. George Patton?
If so, the place for you is the costume sale at the Stanford Theater and Performance Studies Costume Shop. We’re talking a massive array of unusual, reasonably priced costumes, sure to ignite the imagination of even the most puzzled of prospective Halloween celebrants.
The sale is a popular event that is held as often as inventory allows, generally every year or two. Items are all expertly created by costume makers for Stanford performances and range from boas to knickers to top hats to shoes. Proceeds fund training for costume shop employees, according to Costume Shop Supervisor CAROLYN VEGA, who wore bunny ears for the occasion.
Among the shoppers was TOM FREELAND, a lecturer at the Center for Teaching and Learning, who was helping a faculty member dress for an upcoming lecture on the Black Death. A floppy grey top hat will help the faculty member play the part of a physician from the Middle Ages.
Benjamin Bullock found the perfect Dickens-era ensemble.
JACQUI WORDEN and BITA NOURIANI stopped by from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences after seeing the event listed in the Stanford Report.
With twin 3-year-old granddaughters, Worden says she “likes messing around and dressing up for them.” A lovely pair of white elbow-length gloves attracted her attention as appropriate for a future tea party. Nouriani found fabric that will be used during play times for her daughter.
BENJAMIN BULLOCK, an administrative assistant at the Cancer Center, was looking for an ensemble for the next Dickens celebration. He found a green costume perfect for the time period.
Sophomore JAMES SPICER, a member of the Stanford Band, was trying on a brown wig and grey leather coat with fur collar trim with future performances in mind.
“People who come to this sale typically don’t know what they want to be,” says Vega. “But the prices are so good that they tend to figure it out on the fly.”
Vega says the sale will continue through today behind Memorial Auditorium. Bring cash. No credit cards are accepted.
— By Kate Chesley
