Being a girl is expensive: getting ready for the Hugos.: seanan

Being a girl is expensive: getting ready for the Hugos.

It's Hugo-prep time over here in Casa de Seanan, which means lots of flailing and frantic attempts to herd cats into something resembling order. And is always the case when I have to prep for a major event where appearance matters, I am reminded that it is expensive being a girl, especially being a plus-sized girl who actually wants to look, you know, nice.

To start with, you need a dress. Not just any dress: a dress which is appropriate and flattering and doesn't make you look like a manatee. I wound up going with a really lovely black and red ballgown from Sydney's Closet, a vendor that specializes in plus-size formal wear. I hugely recommend them, they're wonderful to work with. The dress fit almost perfectly, and Meg is doing some minor alterations. I should get it back tonight, just in time for...

Shoes and lingerie! I need shoes. I may also need a new strapless bra, since we can't tell exactly where the neckline will fall until Meg has everything stitched into position. Either way, I'm going to be tromping around the mall for a few hours. Nothing says "it's time for Worldcon" like a trip to the mall in a ballgown. Seriously. Nothing.

I have an appointment at my sister's school for Saturday morning, to have my hair done, and an appointment at Benefit Cosmetics for Saturday afternoon, to have my tan done. (Yes, I know, spray-tanning is horrible and will kill me and boo. But my tan lines are severe enough that I'm essentially calico right now, and that won't look good with my dress. As long as I'm not orange, I'm good. And really, this is me: if I were orange, I'd probably be pretty blissful about it.) My sister will also be doing my nails, before I fly to Chicago, and helping me set up my makeup bag. I don't know yet whether my foundation needs replacement. I guess we'll find out!

Jewelry, I have earrings already, and a few necklace prospects, although I may wind up buying something at the con from Spring.

So yeah. Being a girl? Is expensive as shit, and I am hugely envious of anyone who can just rent a tuxedo and be done. But I am going to look lovely, and get my picture taken with all my favorite people. I didn't go to my high school prom.

This will do.

klwilliams

August 16 2012, 20:32:34 UTC 4 years ago

New comment

Nordstrom's, though pricy, is a great place for lingerie. They will fit you properly.

seanan_mcguire

August 20 2012, 15:37:05 UTC 4 years ago

I have a corset!

johno

August 16 2012, 20:52:56 UTC 4 years ago

You will look fabulous and Richard & I will be there to document that fact.

August 20 2012, 15:37:16 UTC 4 years ago

I will be thrilled to see you!

princesselwen

August 16 2012, 21:14:30 UTC 4 years ago

I'm sure your dress is gorgeous!
I actually kind of like getting dressed up. Fortunately, the one time I've needed a formal dress, I found one at Goodwill for five bucks. I had to alter it a bit, but it was really pretty, long and black with silver straps and silver sparkles (except the sparkles tended to fall off.) Getting together all the other pieces of the outfit didn't take as long, as they were all stuff I already had. And it was one of the few times that I actually wore makeup.
Its really fun to get all dressed up every once in a while. I hope you have a great time!

August 20 2012, 15:37:56 UTC 4 years ago

It's totally fun, once in a while; it's just stressful this time.

I'm sure your dress was gorgeous!

methylviolet10b

August 16 2012, 21:21:00 UTC 4 years ago

Best of luck at the Hugos! I'm sure you'll look fabulous. :-)

(And yeah, formal occasion + girl = OMGBILLS! Doubly so if you have a body type that isn't suited to off-the-rack-and-fits-perfectly, which is 90% of the population.)

August 20 2012, 15:38:07 UTC 4 years ago

(For serious.)

joeyeah_right

August 16 2012, 22:12:45 UTC 4 years ago

Have fun at the Hugo Awards Seanan! I'm sure you will look amazing!
I look forward to seeing photos of you in the dress holding at least one award! :-)

August 20 2012, 15:38:28 UTC 4 years ago

Oh, I hope so...

yellowblackhaze

August 16 2012, 22:21:54 UTC 4 years ago

I can't make it this year, but I hope that you and everyone else who is there have a wonderful time and that you get to show off your dress while accepting an award.

August 20 2012, 15:38:38 UTC 4 years ago

We'll miss you!

vincentursus

August 16 2012, 23:24:55 UTC 4 years ago

But I am going to look lovely, and get my picture taken with all my favorite people.

I think that's worth the expense.

August 20 2012, 15:38:47 UTC 4 years ago

I do, too.

asphaltangel

August 17 2012, 00:45:15 UTC 4 years ago

Military ball at West Point: the only time I got to put less effort into getting ready than my date did. I thought it was awesome.

August 20 2012, 15:38:56 UTC 4 years ago

AWESOME.

arkvalentine

August 17 2012, 00:45:59 UTC 4 years ago

I saw a picture of you recently in a beautiful orange formal, and you looked great. I bet the red and black will be a hit as well.

August 20 2012, 15:39:06 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you. <3

thedragonweaver

August 17 2012, 03:17:20 UTC 4 years ago

I have recently been directed to a couple of online custom clothes sites, one of which does dresses. They're not full formal, but they may have styles you like regardless and custom to your measurements can be the same price as off-the rack (though if that changes, it sounds as though you have someone on hand who can do the work for you.) It's called eShakti, which makes me think it's out of India.

August 20 2012, 15:39:26 UTC 4 years ago

Oh, that's neat. Thanks for the tip.

crewgrrl

August 17 2012, 04:50:54 UTC 4 years ago Edited: August 17 2012, 04:54:55 UTC

I was lucky when it came to my dress (I'm handing out statuettes). I braved the horror of Bloomingdales to see how I would fit into a dress by designer X (this designer regularly puts sleeves on dresses, a trait I highly admire). I happened to grab a dress by designer Y off the clearance rack on the off chance that it might fit. It did, and $80 later, I was out of there.

August 20 2012, 15:39:38 UTC 4 years ago

Oh, very cool!

paksenarrion2

August 17 2012, 06:02:18 UTC 4 years ago

I'm sure you will look lovely. I look forward to the pics of you holding your statuettes.

Have oodles of fun and good luck.

Also-kitten heels are a good choice, Your feet won't be killing you the next day.

August 20 2012, 15:39:54 UTC 4 years ago

I can't really do anything higher, with my ankle still recovering from the sprain.

dragonsally

August 17 2012, 09:27:56 UTC 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure you will look gorgeous, and what better reason to shop til you drop than Worldcon?

August 20 2012, 15:40:07 UTC 4 years ago

True!

fezabel

August 17 2012, 12:58:26 UTC 4 years ago

I love that you have a makeup & formal dressing team for the Hugos! How cool is that?!?

And I went to the Sydney's Closet website. I love all the dresses! I wish I had a reason to buy one & an occasion to wear it to.

August 20 2012, 15:40:23 UTC 4 years ago

If I didn't, I'd show up naked.

4 years ago

ironed_orchid

August 17 2012, 15:04:46 UTC 4 years ago

I'm sure you'll look amazing.

August 20 2012, 15:40:56 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks, sweetie.

biteybatgirl

August 18 2012, 03:57:24 UTC 4 years ago

I went to a wedding a few months ago with the bf. It was first formal date and all that. Spent a small fortune and a portion of my sanity getting pretty. Yes, being a girl is expensive. Being a girl also sucks. He came home with dry-cleaning, got dressed, and was ready to go. Bad words were used on my part.

Seanan- I'm sure you look beautiful. Best of luck at the Hugos!

August 20 2012, 15:41:09 UTC 4 years ago

The bad words were justified.

erinwrites

August 19 2012, 01:19:56 UTC 4 years ago

I will be wishing I was there and looking forward to photos (and happy news, of course!!). xo

August 20 2012, 15:41:21 UTC 4 years ago

I wish you were coming, too.

dave_gallaher

August 19 2012, 07:04:10 UTC 4 years ago

Hi Seanan,

Spring will not have a table at Chicon; too closets the start of school and also being a nominee herself. If you have something in mind, let us know and we'll be sure to bring it.

Dave