do whatever makes you happy!!

By all means, do whatever you feel compelled to do. For this past burn in '08, I saw hardly any art/etc that was closely related to the theme, because most people didn't seem too fond of it.

"1. I've seen mention of playawear exchanges/sales. Is there a list of similar events on the net somewhere or does anyone know of any specifically in the Seattle area? Or does anyone want to help me organise one? "

I don't know about playawear exchanges, however I've found used playawear on craigslist ads towards the last couple of months of the burn. Last year was my first burn and I hit up three different playawear sales, one that had TONS of cool fabrics for $1-5! I got boots for $3, a vest for $2, altered cargo pants for $5, a cute playa purse for $3...you get the idea! I must have spent less than $30, paired with some of my old clothes that i altered with the fabric, and had some awesome playa costumes for myself and my little sister(College student on a MAJOR budget). Last year was my first burn too, and it was really nice to hear people say...wow, this is your first burn and you're already looking like a vet burner!

Also, I hit up thrift stores and garage sales. Basically the only thing I wore that was new were my isis wings & 8inch boots, and necessary supplies like goggles, etc

I live in LA, so I don't know how Seattle's craigslist will be, but I would recommend paying it a visit every now and then to see if there are any clothing or supplies that might be playa worthy for your first burn!

I never really follow the theme, I follow what makes me happy. Costuming is the way in which I express the most of my artistic vision (as it were), so I just go crazy and do whatever the hell I want.

Considerations:

-Days are hot, nights are cold. Either design for day, design for night, and change at some point.... or design so that the same costume can be added to/subtracted to depending on the temperature.

-No feathers, sequins, crap that'll fall off or get everywhere or edges that will fray. No glitter (so, that rad glitter fabric is RIGHT out).

-Thrift stores are a fabulous place to get things & then repurpose/reconstruct them. Subset of this is-- clothing dye is your friend. Start browsing the thrift stores now, and the great stores on Capitol Hill in Seattle for funky little accessories/skirts/weird stuff you can build into costumes.

-this tribe's an awesome resource. Spend some time reading back through the archives and in the photo gallery for inspiration, how-tos and other cool stuff.

If your camp is having like a party one night of that week I might
make sure I have an appropriate costume for that. I camped with
the Red Light District for two years and we always had the Red Party
and so people made some amazing red themed costumes for that.
Otherwise, do what you're comfortable with. Just remember....

1. take in to account variations in temperatures.
2. think about, "could I ride my bike well in this?" for everything you make.
3. More versatile individual pieces that you could mix and match make
a lot of sense.
4. Layering is good for nights and it keeps some pieces cleaner.
5. Make sure you have a cool burn night costume.

That is all...

Good for you Heather for planning on participating your first year!

I hear Value Village in Ballard has lots of burneresque costumes and clothing items.

There are clothing swaps at local events. Some talented ones even sew their own costumes.

Hi Heather!
I do not agree that all you need is a g string!
Pole dancing sounds like an awesome costume theme and I for one think you should concentrate all your efforts on creative dance wear and forget about food! Just join a kitchen camp, pay your share and eat like queens on the playa. For instance ... i just happen to have a kitchen camp ahhmmm, and it is the most amazing kitchen on the playa! plan to camp with or near the Black Rock City Canoe Club (usually near or on the esplanade) we also have have a stage and live music that would be cool to have your pole near and we eat well, with real showers, real kitchen, real fridges etc etc contact BRCCC at google groups or reply to this post with email to rocnjbarr@msn.com
hope to see you one way or another!
chefdaddy

I spend most of the week in whatever and diva up the multiple daily costume changes but Burn Night is like the Prom! That is what I save my finest, most perfect outfit for and I design a costume that is theme centric (Floating World, el lit mermaid; American Dream, el lit cowgirl.) Definitely head the advise from an earlier comment and remember the heat of the day and the cold of night... my virgin year I was not as prepared for that as I should have been. Also remember the dust! All that furry stuff looks super cool (and is usually so very warm) but sometimes it isn't what you want for a night out of swinging and teeter-tottering and laying on the playa star gazing. All things vinyl and leather will be playa coated before you are even through the gate... but so will everything else so just experiment!

(Talk up Burn Night at Spitfire and get on the Seattle-announce list and you will find some exchanges or if it not soon enough organize one! Participating already... you are a great asset to the community!!!)

Whatever you do with your costumes, make sure you have some means by which everything you need is attached to your body. Don't count on being able to hold onto a prop -- my virgin year I had the most beautiful leather crop, and I wrapped it with two strands of el-wire, double-helix-wise, and managed to lose it an hour into its maiden voyage.

And don't plan on being able to schlep around a big pack or bag comfortably. At some point you'll want to dance and then the bag will become really cumbersome and the temptation will be to put it down somewhere. And that's when you lose your shit. Everything you plan on coming home with when the night is over should be attached/attachable to your body.

Invest in one of those aluminum watter bottles that has a loop on the cap so you can pop it onto your belt with a caribiner. Look up the utility belt thread on this tribe and figure out whatever similar option works best for you and your resources.

And don't let anyone talk you into taking something off cuz it ruins your costume. Last year I was convinced to take my goggles off cuz I was wearing em on my forehead when I didn't have em on my eyes and they said I looked goofy that way and, sure enough, 1/2 an hour later they were gone. On one of the dust-stormiest nights we had.

Soooo, if you REALLY want to look fly, work all that shit -- your capacity for stowing/storing shit, your goggles, your dust mask, your heavy furry deep-playa coat, your water supply -- into your themed costumes so it all looks super cool and coordinated.

Or not --- one of the most charming things about Burner fashion, imho, is the mix-and-matchedness of it all, the sheer cacophonic kaleidescopishness of its visual impact.

Go nuts. Follow your own creative impulse. And remember, less is not more. MORE is more!

Virgin Advice:
1) Don't spend all your money. Save it for year two when the playa will have filled your brain with all kinds of wonderful and unexplored ideas that you take away from this year.
2) Find fun ways to be lit at night. From all angles. Nothing worse than getting hit by a bike from behind.
3) Comfy shoes and/or boots. Always. Always. Did you get that? Always.
4) If you wear a long coat at night, think about sewing in some "bustle ribbons" to the lining so you can tie-up your coat when riding your bike.
5) Protect your eyes, skin and scalp.
6) Don't ride the pole during the middle of the day. : )

you can definitely make clothes on the cheap, and there are also a variety of places that offer garments that are fun and versatile for dance, play and general cuteness. You really need to look for things that are obviously comfortable, (hopefully) easy to care for and are fun color combos.

www.ojala.etsy.com

offers some really adorable pants that are perfect for costuming out in the playa, or back at home. I wore mine out there this last year, and they were light enough for part of the day, and i put on a pair of leggings underneath when i was out at night. The ones i have were red and black stripes, so they looked like bad-ass pirate pants. i wear them around town a lot as well, and people always ask me where i got them. :-)

I too might get to go to the playa this year for the first time. I went thrifting and spent $4.00 on a really gaudy, eighties silk blazer with sequins. I removed the sleeves and collar, flipped it upside down and used some of the fabric from the sleeves to fill the gap from where the sleeves originally came off and then I created big, long pockets. I am thinking that I probably need even more pockets, more like a utilikilt.

my virgin year, i camped with the Bad Advice Bears, in a sub camp of Viva La Beaver.
i did not dress like a bear, or a beaver.
i did not give out bad advice and i didn't VIVA anything.
i rocked my get ups with no hang ups.

ONE THING i wish someone had told me - the party is at NIGHT! from all the pics i found online i thought it was a day thing, NO! it's a night thing. and when they say it's freeezing at night, the fuggin mean girl!

one more thing - my first time i wished that i had brought more breathable comfortable clothes to wear during the day. not just outrageous costumes and assless chaps.

good luck to you sweet thang!