Play dress-up!

Who do you want to be this New Year’s Eve? Four partygoers share pull-it-from-your-closet costume ideas to ace 2021’s last bash

The countdown is on—we are officially less than 10 days away from 2022. If a costume party is on the agenda for New Year’s Eve, and you’re drawing a blank, help is at hand. We got four masters of disguise to share their ensemble ideas, easy to throw together, and guaranteed to make you stand out in the crowd.

Become: Daayan from Aahat
Demonstrated By: Aatisha Gupta, structural engineer

Santa Cruz resident Aatisha Gupta’s avatar tips a hat to the classic chudails of Bollywood. “There’s something so simple, yet spooky about them. My look is inspired by the daayan from Aahat, the iconic horror television show from the late 1990s. I believe it’s one of the easiest looks to pull off, especially if you have curly, messy hair like mine.” If you don’t, rent a wig. Admittedly bad at make-up, Gupta thinks there’s not much you need to do with your face because most of it is covered with your tresses. “To look frightening, create dark circles around your eyes by smudging your kajal. I also opted for a concealer that was a shade lighter than my skintone to make my face look pale.” Don’t try to be symmetrical while smudging either your lipstick or kajal. Messy is good. Ditch jewellery for this one, and look for a candle you can carry in your hand or long fake nails you can glue on.

Become: Hugh Hefner, late Playboy founder
Demonstrated By: Abhay Gupta, Math teacher

If you want a look that’s a sure-shot winner at a party, become Hugh Hefner for a night, suggests Abhay Gupta, a teacher from Mumbai. The Playboy founder who passed away in 2017,  caused a sexual revolution starting with the first centre-fold featuring Marilyn Monroe, in December of 1953. Gupta says this one is easy to do since it only takes a few items to create. “It’s a look I donned at my father’s 60th birthday party recently. Anyone can create this costume, with or without a bunny, no matter what your budget.” You’re going to need a shiny silk shirt. I wore one that I had bought 20 years ago. At the time, I thought it was really cool, but it wasn’t. But on this occasion, it was right.” You’ll also need silky pyjamas and fluffy slippers to go. Gupta slipped on a robe that belonged to his grandfather. Since silk PJs are expensive, explore a costume rental shop where you will get a pair for less than R1,000. “The idea is to have fun—a mantra that Hefner lived by.”

Become : Catwoman
Demonstrated By: Saumya Swamy, MBPsS

Saumya Swamy with her two-year-old cat, Mishka, at her Kandivli home; The whiskers can be recreated with an eyeliner; Cat ear accessories are available on ecommerce sites like Amazon and Ubuy India. Pics/Sameer Markande

When it comes to comic fashion, Catwoman has been a perennial inspiration for cosplayers. But her appeal goes beyond style. “I have three cats, and the feisty feline look felt like the right fit for me,” says Saumya Swamy, a Kandivli resident. “You need a classic LBD, or a black bodycon since the character wears a hot, figure-hugging outfit.” Because she didn’t have thigh-high boots, Swamy opted for knee-length black socks with peep toes. “The cat-ears I have were flicked from a theme party,” she laughs. The whiskers can be recreated with an eyeliner. “When it comes to hair, you can do it up in a slick, tight ponytail, or a rent a black bob wig.” If you want to go the whole hog, try coloured lenses and fox eye make-up, emphasising the inner corners with eyeliner and eyeshadow, creating a sleek and straight  wing on the end and blurring it all to remove any harsh lines.

Become: Monjulika from Bhool Bhulaiyaa
Demonstrated By: Isha Choure, PR professional

The point behind showcasing the Indian bhootni is to pay tribute to an enduringly fascinating figure in pop culture, says Isha Choure, a Mumbai-based public relations professional. “While researching ghosts [in pop culture] for a costume party, we realised there was very little material on male ghosts. Female ghosts, on the other hand, have been ‘immortalised’ by movies, books, and beyond.” Her Monjulika look is inspired by actor Vidya Balan’s avatar in the 2007 film Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a remake of the 1993 Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu. It’s the kind of costume that’s easy to execute on short notice. “All you have to do is put on a saree. Go for a Banarasi if you have one. Put on some chunky Indian jewellery, ghungroos, bindi and smear your forehead with sindoor.” Choure says, ensure that the maang-tikka is all over the place without it falling off your forehead. “The trick is to do everything you can to  ensure you don’t look made up,” she laughs. To appear dishevelled, Choure did not wash her hair for three days. She sprinkled some talcum powder on her scalp and tousled the  hair to make it look unkempt and voluminous. “I tied it in a messy ponytail and pulled out hair strands from the side and front.” While Choure opted for a regular green saree and tucked the pallu in to mimic the character of a classical Indian dancer, she says any saree will work as the success of this costume hinges on the make-up. “You may not have the exact same outfit, but you can recreate it by using the right make-up. A friend, in fact, concocted ‘fake blood’ at home using kitchen ingredients such as beet juice. I smeared a drop or two near my neck and wiped the lipstick across my mouth after I had lined my lips.” For bindis, she suggests using the bold, statement ones. “I have a weird habit of collecting random things. The only time I end up using them is at costume parties. So I suggest, you rummage through your own quirk box and find accessories that you think can work well. It’s about being imaginative.”

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