“I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little dog, too!”

Maybe the Wicked Witch of the West (W.W.W.) woke up grumpy because she read that Rachel Zoe (stylist to the stars) says that the color black “…doesn’t photograph well”. I mean, everything in the W.W.W.’s closet is black. What is a girl to do? The Ruby Slippers would have provided some excitement to her wardrobe (and additional magic powers) but Dorothy got there, first!
So, back to black! I decided to try to make this Wicked Witch’s costume as interesting as I could by incorporating lots of texture in the clothing pieces I used.
First, check out this amazing blouse! I’ve had it in my stash for years. I just love all the rich, Victorian details, from its high neck, to the lavish lace, to the garnish of sequins and dangling “jet” beads.
The skirt I wore is, fittingly, a “broomstick” style. It is made of light, rayon fabric with pretty, lace gores inserted between the panels for extra “swirl”. The crinkle effect is achieved by washing the skirt and then twisting it into a coil and rubber banding it in place while it is hung up to air dry. (This process is usually detailed in the care directions on the garment tag.) I love the surface interest that this technique produces!
As usual, my mother-in-law came to my rescue with accessories. She provided the witch hat, the broomstick, and the luxurious velvet cape.
I wore additional black layers under my costume for extra warmth. Basic, black, Mary Jane shoes completed my outfit.

I applied some of this green face makeup at the last possible minute to my face and added some streaks to the backs of my hands. It stayed pretty well, despite my hasty application. It mainly wore off around my neck, where the high collar of my blouse rubbed against my skin. I was very relieved to discover that the makeup washed off quite easily at the end of the night!
I found this amazing, beaded belt for $2.99 at the Salvation Army thrift store, last month. If only I’d had it in time for Halloween! It would have made an awesome addition to my witch costume. Oh well! There’s always next time. My kids are always assigning me the evil witch role in whatever story we’re recreating, so I’m sure I’ll have another opportunity…