‘Here Kitty, Kitty’

Now I wasn’t going to blog about this as some things should just be kept private but so many of you asked for photos of me in fancy dress that I feel compelled to share my Zoo Animal moment.

As I mentioned last week, the Costume Department has been coming under strain, not only because of the needs of the off-spring but because friends invite us to their parties and sadly, they’re not normal parties, they’re fancy dress parties.

I’m just not a keen fancy dress kind of a person and with a Costume Department that has nothing much in it except a nurse’s cape, an Elvis suit and a Water Police uniform (that we have to keep secret because it’s illegal for anyone not in the police force to have a police force uniform so if you asked me how it came to be in my possession I’d have to say, ‘I can’t remember’).  And that’s it.  That’s all that’s in the Department.  So when we’re invited to a fancy dress party, if we can’t be a nurse, an Elvis impersonator or a Police Officer we’re in strife.  So usually when we go to a fancy dress party, I’m that lame person in the corner who’s dressed in normal clothes except for a silly pair of glasses or a brighter than normal lipstick with a look that screams no effort made.


And my friend Jen knows I’m that lame but she insists on inviting me to her parties and all her parties are themed.  I thought this time around I should put in some effort.  I just didn’t want to be that person who’s the big disappointment in the room.  So on Friday I drove all the way to the fancy dress hire shop, walked in and asked the young man behind the counter if he had anything specifically zoo animal.

He looked me up and down and said, ‘Just a minute’, and off he went and he returned moments later with a wire coat hanger with a plastic bag dangling from it and said, ‘Try this on’.  So I took the bag and went into the change room and pulled out of the bag a figure-hugging leopard-print costume that reminded me of Michelle Pfeiffer’s cat woman costume except with spots.  I tried it on and discovered it was also backless so I poked my head out from behind the curtain of the change cubicle and said, ‘Uhm, excuse me, do you have anything with a back on it?’

‘No, I’ve given you the one that’s the most covered.’

‘Well I’m just thinking I’m going to be cold in this’.

‘We don’t really have anything else’.

I took the costume home and decided Carl would be a Zoo Keeper as in Leopard Keeper as in my keeper so we were a good theme and I knew my friend Jen would be pleased with our efforts.

Archie drove us to the party because he had been asked to be barman for the night.  I wondered how many other cat women-type creatures there would be at the party and what sort of costumes everyone else would be wearing.  We walked in to the party of around 150 people and I had one of those moments, one of those moments like Bridget Jones when she walks into the tarts and vicars party dressed as what her mother describes as  ‘a common prostitute’ only to find it’s not actually fancy dress.

Jen’s party was fancy dress it’s just for some unknown reason, many of the guests had chosen to dress conservatively as in like the way I normally do where they were wearing normal clothes with just an animal print scarf tied in their hair.  I was definitely, definitely the only cat woman type creature in the room.  I did manage to get a few looks and stares but at least I had my Keeper to watch my back and a good relationship with the barman so he could pour me another drink.

The zoo animal is ready to party

A woman in faux fur, a pink flamingo and a Cheshire cat

I think the barman’s poured this leopard one too many drinks

We had a great time and I did find a few animals to hang out with but no kindred spirits.

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Comments

  1. This is a riot! I love it and that costume looks brilliant on you. You look very happy and that’s the best bit and I know everyone who saw you was jealous. I am. 🙂

  2. Norma Chang says:

    Your look sooooo cool!!!!! That costume was made for you, a perfect fit.
    Norma Chang, http://gardentowok.com/

  3. Joanne (eats well with others) says:

    Aww you make for an adorable leopard!! I don’t do costume parties unless it’s Halloween…and even then, it’s debatable.

  4. At least a couple of people seemed to be in costume. And I will say you make a great leopard.

  5. How absolutely fun!! Love that it surrounded a theme of “animals” Great party and you looked fabulous!!

  6. Kudos for your courage and ability to pull that costume off. 🙂

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  7. Phwoar!! You could take down Halle Berry’s Catwoman any day!!

  8. Eva Taylor says:

    Holy hot Mumma! You look great Charlie, no wonder the guy at the shop looked you up and down. Sounds like a fun party.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

  9. Purely.. Kay says:

    HOT MOMMA WORKING IT!! You look great Charlie! You guys definitely looked like you were out all night enjoying yourselves.

  10. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    Well, if I had a purrfect figure like yours, I would probably walk around in that costume every day! Glad you had a fab evening.
    🙂 Mandy

  11. Jennifer Cullen says:

    Meow!! You sure pulled that off quite nicely. I would need a pre-party drink just to make my entrance in that.

  12. You are so cute!!!! What a fun party idea, and creative for sure:-) Take care, Hugs, Terra

  13. You look fabulous. I am with you on silly themed parties and also have one friend who insists on giving them. I usually find an excuse not to go but the last time it was themed goth so I put on my black gear and did some freaky makeup and went. I must admit it was fun and everyone had made an effort so there’s was lots to talk about. But I would prefer to put the effort into cooking something for the party than into a costume.

  14. InTolerant Chef says:

    So cute! If you were the only one wearing such a cool costume the only way out its to flaunt it and make them all jealous!
    I have a friend who its obsessed with pajama parties, whatever time of day. She also themes them, like princess in pajamas etc. Totally bizarre, and most of us hate it, especially the past about hoping not to break down on the highway dressed in green stripped flannies with pink poodles splashed on them and wearing a sparkling Tiara at the same time 🙂

  15. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    Hats off to you, Charlie. You look great!

  16. Claire @ Claire K Creations says:

    Haha oh Charlie you know what my grandma says ‘it’s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.’ That goes for dress up parties too.

    You looked fantastic!

  17. I am so not a costume type, Charlie. Fear of starring in tHat scene from Bridget Jones’s Diary should be given an actual medical name. I am definitely affected with it and I’m sure I’m not alone. I do give you credit for not only attending but doing so in such grand fashion.

  18. You look amazing in that outfit Charlie 🙂 what a great idea hehe i remember i had a ‘princess’ theme for my 21st but i was like the ONLY one who dressed up geez 😛

  19. SarahKate (Mi Casa-Su Casa) says:

    You look great! I actually LOVE costume parties. My husband and I were invited to a costume party recently and the theme was “G.” We had to dress as anything that started with the letter G. So, I ripped up old sweatshirts, glued huge plastic roses on to mine and huge plastic guns onto the hubby’s. We wore lots of eyeliner and 80’s rock wigs and went as Guns n Roses. We won for most creative!

  20. Haha, love the costume! It fit you perfectly 😉 So great that you dressed up!!

  21. mjskit @ mjskitchen.com says:

    Definitely a hotly spiced mama!!! Having fun are we? 🙂

  22. You are so much fun! And an introvert, aren’t you? Ha! I love the photos, and I love your self-confidence! You look fantastic, and I’m sure Carl was busy keeping an eye on you! 🙂 I l always laugh and cry with the movie Bridget Jones’ Diary, and that scene is just the best!

  23. You look amazing Charlie – you may have been the only cat woman but you are certainly an impressive one! I am normally terrible with fancy dress too so I’m very impressed with your efforts 🙂

  24. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    That’s brilliant Charlie! Not everyone can pull off a leopard print Catwoman outfit and you did and then some! Now I wonder, are you ever tempted to wear it again?

  25. You look fabulous – Well done!

  26. MIIIIAAAAOOOWWWWWW!! If you’ve got it, flaunt it in animal print, I says!

  27. great costume! you look absolutely gorgeous! if I was you I wouldn’t take that costume off you look fierce!

  28. One word: Fierce!

  29. You look awesome Charlie! I think you chose well 🙂

  30. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    Wow, you look great! Go you!

  31. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    Hey, someone needs to be the life of the party…

  32. yummychunklet says:

    I like your costume looked great!

  33. Nic@diningwithastud says:

    Oh my god you look amazing 😀

  34. You are a classic and boy do you rock that suit you vixen you! Glad you had a great time and you looked hawt! x

  35. You are lovely… 🙂

  36. I just love that scene in Bridget Jones’ Diary. You look Ab Fab, Charlie!

  37. Karen (Back Road Journal) says:

    Once everyone saw you, I’m sure they were very envious…you looked terrific.

  38. Oh I had to read this one hahaha, I just love the last picture! My god Charlie you are so thin, how the heck are you doing that????!!!!! you look amazing!

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