I'm convinced that people of all ages love everything make believe. We are fascinated with what we are not and with what we could be. We love to be swept away into stories other than our own. We go to movies, see live plays, and read novels to keep us dreaming. Costumes are one of the key elements that escort us into make believe no matter how young or old we are.
Think about it, from the time we were little we celebrated a holiday called Halloween by shopping for or having our mothers make us the perfect costumes. Having the right costumes was the biggest deal. We got to wear them to school and show off to our teachers and friends and we got to parade around our neighborhoods and display our costumes proudly to everyone we saw. We loved to dress up as princesses, ghosts, or our favorite characters from cartoons. Putting on our prized costumes meant much more than putting on an outfit. With our costumes we put on an entirely different identity so that we didn't just dress up as a princess but we really became one. We actually became our favorite cartoon characters and our favorite good and bad guys.
The older children get, the less interested they are in celebrating Halloween with great costumes, but they love make believe just as much. Teens and adults get our fill of make believe through television, movies, plays and even books. Costumes are an important part of each of these avenues of imagination.
When reading a novel we picture the costumes and clothing that each character wears. We begin to identify certain characters by the costumes we clothe them in. We go to a film or a play and are fascinated with the costumes that allow each actor or actress to become the character they are playing. Great costumes and great acting allow us to forget that the eighty year old grandma we're watching is actually are favorite thirty-five year old actor with a weird dress and a whole lot of makeup.
If you have ever seen a live play then you know the vital role that costumes play in making any production what it is. Can you imagine seeing the Lion King on Broadway without any costumes? Of course not! How would you know what actors are supposed to be which animal or how would you tell the difference between the young and old lions? It is the use of amazing, detailed, colorful costumes that allow live shows to transport us into other worlds.
Costumes of all kinds are magical. Whether we are three or eighty three, we love dressing up and watching others dress up. We love seeing our worlds expanded into new worlds filled with the make believe or magical worlds.
Related Articles
Costume Contacts - Make Your Eyes a Real WOW
By: Tanya Turner | 13/09/2005 | Art and Entertainment
Will make everybody's head turn.
What costume contact lenses are on offer?
There are two brands of theatrical contact lenses that offer you
the best looking, high.
Dressing Up
By: Niles | 06/11/2007 | Holidays
Costumes play an important part of special events, holidays, and entertainment as they let the wearer and the viewer to have a much better experience of the given situation. Such as the clown suit the clown wore who made you a balloon animal during your birthday or the cowboy who was riding the stallion down the street while you were watching a parade from the sidewalk.
Unique Halloween Costumes
By: Synapse India | 13/03/2008 | Holidays
Halloween is the festival of sheer pleasure and flashing colorful & unique costumes to add fun and excitement into our day-to-day lives in order to make it really special and unusual. Dressing up differently is the greatest thing you can do to get into the shoes of great Halloween spirit.
Kid Costumes: a Real Fun
By: Synapse India | 17/05/2008 | Holidays
When it comes to choosing the best Halloween costumes for kids, parents can find a huge collection in the market. There are many online costume stores that have everything to please the kid’s needs and requirements.
How Do Pirates Dress for Halloween (and What Do They Do?)
By: Edward Chupack | 17/07/2008 | Fiction
How do pirates dress for Halloween? They can't strap on a peg leg, prop a plastic parrot on their shoulders, apply an eye patch and wrap a red bandana around their scurvy heads. That's no fun at all -- not for a pirate on Halloween. That would be like we landlubbers wearing a suit to a Halloween bash -- the same suit and "business casual" clothing that we wear to work each day.
Role Play With Costumes
By: James Newton | 08/10/2005 | Sexuality
Imagine if you will, coming home after work to find your lover in a cop costume, you are under arrest, and the hand cuffs go click. Of course you will need to beg for your release. The officer may be kind, may not. But y...
Santa Claus 101: the Ultimate Guide to Playing Santa at Christmas
By: C A Mc Craw | 09/11/2007 | Home and Family
Thinking of dressing up and playing Santa this year? Get the Basics to being the Best Santa ever this Christmas Season!
Halloween Costumes for Girls
By: Synapse India | 10/04/2008 | Clothing
Are you a proud parent of a little girl? Is she loves dressing up in a glittering dress with lots of frills in a pink color? Generally, young girls love to dress in beautiful costumes that can make them more beautiful and just lovely
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Mother's Day Gift
By: Maggie | 06-05-2008
For all the mothers out there, what was the best Mother's Day gift you ever got?For all the kids, what was the best gift you ever gave?
Kids fight
By: Victorj | 18-04-2008
Kids aren't getting along pretty good. How do you get them to stop fighting all the time?
Where Can I find the NMAC # ?
By: faonesti | 03-04-2008
Where Can I find the NMAC # ? I got 2 bills and i never found a 17 digits #. Thanks
Right Age for First Credit Card
By: DonnaRo | 03-04-2008
What is the earliest age you would recommend your kid to have a credit card? Would you stipulate that she has a steady job or a steady source of income (other than her parent, that is) first?
Political Party change
By: tlspur95 | 30-03-2008
I want to change my political party affiliation in Rowan County, NC. How do I go about doing that?
Please give stacy closure
By: voterperson | 30-03-2008
test2
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Art and Entertainment Articles
Reality TV Judges
By: Libbles | 25/07/2008
The surge of reality tv shows has brought about a new species - the reality tv judge. Reality judges can vary from the very nice and helpful to the brutally harsh and cutting. No show highlights the range of reality judges' personalities any better than "American Idol." Some may even...
Decoding Online Poker Bonuses
By: Imteaz Ahmed | 24/07/2008
Online Poker bonuses are the major attraction of virtually all online poker rooms in the web today. However, even though online poker bonus could be an advantageous offer to players, when coupled with certain conditions, as in the case with some online poker rooms.
How to Produce Films on a Shoe String Budget
By: Daniel Millions | 24/07/2008
Making a low-budget film nowadays is a lot easier to do then it was just a few decades ago. There is a plethora of tools and resources out there to assist today's movie maker with whatever they need to get done. Amateur filmmakers can turn to books to increase their...
Shutter Speed and Movement: Getting Creative With Photography
By: Andrew Goodall | 24/07/2008
Movement effects are a great way to improve the impact of your photography. You may think it is just a simple matter of playing with shutter speed, but there is a little more to it than that.
Casino Roulette Rules and Basics - Tips For Roulette
By: Evan Kingsley | 24/07/2008
Roulette is one of the most popular gambling games in history. It originated in 18th-century France and has been popular ever since. It spread through Europe and America. It's a very easy and thrilling game which makes it a favorite among gamblers, whether it's a real casino or online. There...
Digital Cameras - How They Work
By: Ted Burns | 24/07/2008
Digital cameras come in various sizes, shapes, and specifications and offer a variety of impressive features.
Digital cameras are quickly gaining popularity around the globe. Many people already own one and routinely use it for their own pictures. Their use have become part of the culture among many communities and industries.
Digital...
Craft Booth: Giving Your Customers Starbucks Like Rewards
By: Shawn Vincent | 24/07/2008
The other day I indulged myself in a Starbucks sandwich. They have one called the Italian Grinder and it's to die for. Full of meats, cheese and all kinds of peppers. Just what the doctor ordered!
As usual they swiped my card and asked me if I'd like my sandwich heated,...
The History and Evolution of Bingo
By: Paul Edison | 23/07/2008
Bingo is a highly popular game all around the world. It's gone from a church basement game to an online phenomenon where players can win cash prizes for free plays.
More from Kirstine Pallette
Take Care With Skin Care
By: Kirstine Pallette | 01/05/2006 | Careers
Our skin is one of the parts of our bodies that we should have the most concern for. It is one of the things that is exposed not only to the people around us, but also to all of the harmful things found in our environment.
Healthy Eating For Life
By: Kirstine Pallette | 23/04/2006 | Advice
We have all heard and read probably a thousand times about the importance of healthy eating. We have been encouraged time and time again to trade fast food meals for meals full of fruits and vegetables.
Become A Flight Attendant
By: Kirstine Pallette | 23/04/2006 | Careers
Are you looking for a career that is consistent and yet offers flexibility? Perhaps you want to work full-time but also have this itch to see the world? If you can answer yes to these questions, perhaps it is time for you to consider becoming a flight att
Try Educational Games
By: Kirstine Pallette | 23/04/2006 | Advertising
All parents want their children to grow up having lots of fun. Parents provide opportunities for their kids to participtate in sports and clubs of all kinds.
The Perfect Dress Pattern
By: Kirstine Pallette | 16/04/2006 | Women's Issues
Most girls and women love to wear dresses. Wearing a dress makes a woman feel feminine in a way that she cannot feel wearing any other item of clothing. Women search for the right dress to wear to every party and event of their lives.
The Importance Of Celebration
By: Kirstine Pallette | 16/04/2006 | Self Help
There are many important things in life. Learning, growing, loving, and exploring are all things that each person should take time for. Celebration is another thing that everyone should take time for.
Use A Catalog Today
By: Kirstine Pallette | 16/04/2006 | Women's Issues
Most people that I know love to shop for new things. There is something great about getting something new to wear or to use in your home or office.
Go For Bottled Water
By: Kirstine Pallette | 16/04/2006 | Health
We all know by now the importance of drinking a lot of water everyday. We know the many ways that drinking water benefits our bodies and helps to keep us healthy and strong. However, many people struggle to actually drink enough water each day.
Art and Entertainment 
