The Purim costume industry is the biggest Jewish holiday-related industry in Israel.
By SHIRA KAPLANPurim celebrations in Jerusalem(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
The Purim costume industry is the biggest Jewish holiday-related industry in Israel.Children and adults love dressing up, and will often meticulously plan their costumes months in advance. Many of the costumes on sale are imported from China and while affordable, are usually made of lower- quality material and only last one wear.An off-the-rack costume also lacks authenticity and creativity. Instead of buying at the local grocery store, thrift and vintage stores are an untapped resource for affordable, unique and creative costume ideas.In secondhand stores you can find the most unusual and eccentric clothing pieces made of real fabrics and embellishments; you may even find authentic traditional and ethnic garb.When beginning your costume shopping it is best to enter secondhand stores with an open mind, without a specific costume in mind. Look around and be inspired by the various colors, fabrics and sparkles. Dressing up in the classics such as a cowboy, princess or pirate is easy, and improvising with secondhand and vintage clothing is a sure way to give a supposedly overdone costume an individualistic flare. Google and YouTube tutorials are magical at showing you how to create the finishing touches with hair, makeup and homemade accessories.If you do have something specific in mind, be prepared to venture into a handful of shops; sometimes it’s hit or miss in finding what you want.When creating a period piece, it is helpful to do some research into the classic looks and silhouettes of each decade. Antique clothing is difficult and costly to come by, but fashion does indeed repeat itself. The high-necked, long-sleeved and frilled shirts of the ’70s were inspired by Victorian fashion, and vintage stores abound with fashion items from the era. Remove the shoulder pads from a typical drop-waist ’80s dress, add long beads and feathered accessories and you have a convincing flapper outfit.Elaborate ’80s and ’90s women’s velvet blazers are also great for creating a Renaissance-era look. Add a ruffled white ’70s shirt and loose knee-length pants tucked into white socks. A black hat, usually worn by the ultra-Orthodox, can be bent into a triangle and decorated with a long white feather – available at any crafts store – to complete the look.Stuck for ideas? Remember, a costume doesn’t need to have a name. Purim is a time to express your usually hidden inner self through colors, details and abstract concepts.Look for vintage or secondhand pieces that speak to you, try them on together and you’ll be surprised and delighted to see a different and lively character starting back at you through the mirror. Clothing maketh the man, and Purim is that one day when you can be whoever you want to be.There’s nothing as fun and satisfying as creating your own Purim costume and stepping out in it come the holiday. Friends will be amazed and inspired. No one else will be wearing your outfit and depending on your personal taste and affinity for vintage, individual elements can be incorporated into your day-to-day wardrobe, making your purchases an excellent investment; alternatively, they can be added to a budding collection of dress-up clothing.Having fun with dressing up is expressive, and shouldn’t just be reserved for children for Purim.Purim sameah, and good luck with all your creative costume endeavors! ■ The writer is the owner of Trumpeldor Vintage clothing, on Jerusalem’s Nissim Bachar street, and an avid DIY home and event decorator.
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