My Halloween Costume

I love Halloween.  Not only does it give us license to indulge our fantasies, it introduces whimsy into our pedestrian lives.  We need more of that.

I dress up in costume every year and use the occasion to be creative.  My costumes are never generic (e.g., pirate); they are specific cultural references.  Last year I was Caroline from "2 Broke Girls," the formerly-rich girl now a waitress.  The year before, I was Alice Kramden of "The Honeymooners," Jackie Gleason's TV wife.

I usually spend many days pondering what to be.  This year, the idea for my costume occurred to me in a flash of insight.  Let me explain...

A decade ago, Jennifer Garner played a female secret agent in "Alias", an entertaining show that ran for five years.  Last month I watched every episode from beginning to end.  In most episodes, Jennifer's character, Sydney Bristow, gets dressed up in a glamorous gown, with perfect hair and makeup, and attends a fancy cocktail party at the bad guys' mansion.  While mingling with guests, Sydney slips quietly out of the party and sneaks down a corridor to a private office.  She picks a lock and enters the secluded office where she copies secret documents or steals a critical object.  An alarm then goes off and Sydney has to battle her way out.  She always makes it back, looking fabulous the whole time.

The combination of female glamour and exciting espionage is potent.  So, this year, I'm going to be Sydney Bristow!

As you know, I already own lock-picking tools to carry in my sequined clutch.  And today I bought a garter belt to holster my gun and tiny grenades.  One nice advantage is that I already have a gorgeous gown for this costume - you saw it here.  Oh, and I'll slip my combat-knife into the clutch next to a tube of lipstick.  A gal needs to be prepared!

What are you going to dress up as this Halloween?