The Plaid Circle: Fama

Swift is her walk, more swift her winged haste:
A monstrous phantom, horrible and vast.
As many plumes as raise her lofty flight,
So many piercing eyes inlarge her sight;
Millions of opening mouths to Fame belong.
And ev'ry mouth is furnish'd with a tongue,
And round with list'ning ears the flying plague is hung.
- The Aeneid, Book IV, Lines 181-187

Started and Completed: November 2004

One of my primary pursuits for the past 5 years has been the study of Latin. Part of this has always been my attendance at the yearly VJCL (Virginia Junior Classical League) State Convention. Each year, I am required to do an art project or to enter a contest. This year, after much procrastination, I decided to enter the costume conest. The character for girls was Fama, the personification of gossip, most famous for spreading rumors about Dido and Aeneas in Book IV of Vergil's Aenied.

Winner! 2nd Place in the Upper Level Girls catagory at VJCL Convention 2004
1st Place in the Girls Mythology catagory at Saturnalia 2004 (not worn by me)

This costume is rather unique, because it is the only one that has come entirely out of my own head, the only one that I did not make from any sort of pattern, and the only costume I have ever entered in a competition. At the moment, I only have one picture of it and that is a print, not digital. The costume consists of a tunic worn over a tube dress, wings, striped tights, various feathers and stray pieces of cloth. The tunic is one shouldered and folds over on the upper half similar to a Greek chiton. The body of the tunic is black, but it is covered in shredded sheer red fabric (representing feathers). Underneath the red layer, drawn in fabric paint, are a variety of ears, eyes, and tongues. The wings are made from four wire hangers and are covered with strips of red and black fabric and matching feathers. I wore my red/black striped pirate tights to add to the image. Also, my hair had feathers clipped in it, my arms were covered in fabric strips, and I had drawn a third eye and a tongue on my face. I know, it's rather hard to describe, but I will try to get that picture up as soon as possible.