Thursday, October 31, 2019

Hallowe'en Week: Set Phasers to Stun-ning!

Well, here we are: Happy Hallowe'en! You might remember that in the past 2 years, I've done a Star Trek-themed costume, since I'm the instigator of our Red Shirts group costume at my office. 
It's based on the "Redshirt" meme (Wiki link here), and it's an easy costume: wear a red shirt and black pants.


  • Suede suit - Holt Renfrew, vintage 90s, thrifted separately!
    • Jacket last worn here in December 2018 with pant of unusual size
    • Skirt last worn here in December 2018 with an armoured sweater
  • Sleeveless sweater - Twik, thrifted; last seen here (3rd outfit) with a vintage maxi vest in July
  • Boots - Maleika Conquer, Fluevog; last worn here in December 2018 with McQueen checkered trousers
  • Sleeveless coat (below) - Only, thrifted; last seen here on Monday


The first year, I was attacked by Tribbles, here (and there are links at the bottom of that post to every Hallowe'en outfit I've done since I started Ephemera in 2008), and last year I was a Starfleet alien space babe (here).

Today, you can call me Commander Sheila. Set phasers to stun-ning!
My coworker David (who started this whole thing with me two years ago) said I looked "very Janeway" (StarTrek.com link here). A captain who took no guff? Oh yeah!

Not as costume-y as previous years, but that's okay. I've coordinated 4 major all-office events in the past 7 weeks, and dagnabbit, I am tired, physically and emotionally. I'm event-ed out.
This is a gorgeous suede suit - your eyes do not deceive you: the skirt has angled horizontal seams in it.

My badass pose. No one messes with me.
The jacket has long suede ties which are wrapped around me and tied in the back, and covered by the belt.

See? I'm really very nice (but also badass).
I'm still boggled that I thrifted the jacket and skirt separately, two weeks apart in the same store. They have identical labels and perfectly match. They must have been donated in separate bags.

Outerwear - it's hard to wear a jacket over a suede jacket, but this was just right.
We had another gorgeous sunny, but cold, day today.


  • Studded leather gloves - Danier Leather


The stuff:
I thought these boots were appropriately spacey. The studs remind me of rank pips, and the overall shape reminds me of Lt. Cmdr. Saru's feet from Star Trek Discovery (the TV show, link here, and of course, all links are 'cause I love). The boots are slightly alien, and not too high, but I did a lot of running around today in them, and my feet are rather tired. Flats tomorrow, feet, I promise!

Spacey bling:
My new-to-me belt worked great to give an otherworldly look to the suit - I also liked that the wide panels on the side are very flattering for my waist.


  • Belt - BCBG Max Azria, thrifted; purchased here for $6.95
  • Silver/gold cuff - JPL, vintage fair
  • Necklace - POLY, thrifted
  • Top ring - POLY, Hamilton Art Gallery gift shopt
  • Bottom ring - POLY, vintage expo
  • Earrings - thrifted
  • Magnetic communicator badge pin - MoPop gift shop, Seattle

Commander Sheila likes her bling.

These next pictures are worth clicking on to make them bigger.

We did a group photo in the lunchroom with all of my colleagues who were in costume (anything goes, but the Red Shirts are an easy option for playing along with). I also encouraged blue shirts (for science and medicine officers) and yellow shirts (command and security). I cut out paper comm badges with my company logo on them and gave them to anyone who wanted one. Welcome to Starfleet!
We have two poses. This is Live Long and Prosper. Yes, that's a clown on the right; the two women in front's shirts say "404: Costume Not Found" [I work in IT].

Our other pose is We're All Gonna Die! since that's what happens to Red Shirts on the show.
I love my silly colleagues - they really got into it.

And then we were attached by a Space Sloth!
I have not laughed so hard in ages.

I hope you all had an awesome Hallowe'en! I will be back on Sunday with tales of adventure. Thank you so much for coming by.

32 comments:

  1. What a fun group costume! I laughed so hard at the space sloth too Sheila! You looked great and the group pics are so good!

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  2. You are badass!!! Event planning is no joke! Thank goodness for you--- there'd be so much less fun w/o all your hard work and energy!! Love your whole look and the office pics!

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    1. It is so exhausting, Becky! Aw, that's sweet of you, and thank you!

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  3. Great office pictures, Sheila. Loved them. I wore little red lady-demon horns to my office. Just a touch of light fun. I felt the office needed it as I did. My colleagues loved it, but I was the only one even remotely in costume. Halloween is a new thing here (Portugal), and mostly for small school children. November 1st is our "day of the dead" religious holiday. We get the day off, but it's a sad day.
    Maybe that's what pushed me into costume play. Life needs more joyful moments.
    Loved you post and comments, especially the office pics.
    LF.

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    1. Thank you, LF! I love that you wore demon horns! It's fun that you were able to do a little bit of Hallowe'en, even though it's not a tradition in Portugal. I agree, though - be joyful!

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  4. What a fun office you have, Sheila! I'm totally loving your outfit, and I'm especially digging your badass pose! Have a wonderful weekend! xxx

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    1. It is a fun place, and I love my colleagues. Happy weekend, Ann!

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  5. You have such a fun workplace! That bloody post looked pretty real! Have a good weekend!

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  6. What a fun office you work in. They all participate in these dress-ups. Such fun. I didn't see you in the office photos. You were probably the one taking them.
    I think this red suit is absolutely perfect. Length, cut, being suede, colour. Really beautiful. And indeed what a coincidence to have found the skirt and jacket on separate shopping sprees.
    Love the belt you thrifted last week. I think this is a very posh label. The boots are too goog to be true as usual.
    Greetje

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    1. I do - they are always game for events. Yes, you're right, I took all the pics. I love the suit so much. Yes, it is! I knew you'd love the boots.

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  7. The red shirts look like a fun gang.

    There was a range of Star Wars fragrances released (I have the ladies' one, Pon Farr, which is actually not awful) and one of the men's range was 'Redshirt - for the man who lives like there's no tomorrow'. I do regret not buying some for Pete!

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    1. They are a blast! Oh, how cool - I'm not into fragrance at all, but how funny is that?

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  8. Jon just walked past, saw your outfit and said "very Star Trek" so he totally gets it (fellow Trekkie!)
    Love the suit and those cool boots. Your team look like so much fun. xxx

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    1. Nice! Well done, Jon! Thanks, Vix - they are an awesome group.

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  9. Love the suit - you look so elegant! The boots are weird but very spacey and I loved all the spacey bling!
    xxxxx

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    1. Thanks, Vronni! The boots are not everyone's cup of tea, but I like them.

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  10. How fun that you and your colleagues all dressed up together. X

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    1. This is our third year doing it! I'm glad some of my colleagues play along.

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  11. What a treat to see all your co-workers joining in the fun! How amazing to find that suit some two weeks apart. It looks amazing and not at all fancy dress. Very stylish Halloween!

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    1. Ha, this is only a small fraction - we have over 200 people in the office! I know, such a score on the suit. Thanks, Anna!

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  12. That gorgeous suit is very "Captain Janeway"! I admire your commitment to organizing your office Halloween. I was one of three people in our faculty who dressed up for Halloween - I had a dragon costume with wings and a tail! Your boots are channelling Saru's feet. I stopped watching that show after the first two seasons but Saru was one of the few characters I really liked.

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    1. Yay! If you build an easy enough theme, and really "rah rah" people, it can be done. Your costume sounds amazing! Yes, Saru's hooves!

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  13. Wonderful red suit! Yes, you do look very Captain Janeway. My mother and I used to watch Voyager together used ages ago, I think it was when I was in high school.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! How cool that you watched the show with your mom. :)

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  14. love your red suit and love that you created a perfect costume with your brilliant accessorizing and attitude!. And such a fab suede suit!
    Love your office pics!
    besos

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    1. Thank you! I'm so glad our office got on board with dressing up.

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  15. Haha, great company spirit! You go so many people on board :)
    This suit is gorgeous, and i loved the bad ass pose.

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    1. It was a last-minute thing, and it takes so much energy to get everyone on board, but it was worth it. Thanks, hon!

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