A witch in high heels

 I ended my holiday dressathon (or 12 Days of Dressmas) dressed as the Befana. She's the kindly local Epiphany witch who brings children treats, as explained at the end of my last post. There were a lot of other women dressed as Befana round here, too; she's a figure as common as Santa is at Christmas. My next-door neighbours returned from their fortnight away and I'm fairly sure they saw me dressed as a witch but, far from arousing attention, that's normal at this season. I like to blend in!

Two years ago I bought a very cheap witch costume and silver wig for Hallowe'en and had some fun with them. Both the nylon wig and the dress, despite its light material with floating cobwebs, are more robust than I thought, and the hat is very versatile, so I thought I'd wear them again to be Befana. This time, though, I matched them with the cobweb pattern elbow-length gloves and tights that last saw action way back, 15 years ago in fact, at the Magic Theatre's Hallowe'en Ball at the Rivoli Ballroom in London. I also wore my smart new shoes. To blend the silver upper half with the shoes better, I layered the cobweb tights over tan ones to give a better progression to the more colourful shoes. As a general rule, open pattern tights tend to slip on better over sheers anyway.

Here is the final result, holding my Befana doll (who is stuffed full of chocolates ... there's no room for mere ornaments round here!)

 

I made some magic potion (well, it's that lovely violet and rose scented French tea in my lemon shaped teapot).

I don't have a magic wand but maybe a smiley-faced wooden spoon would bring a little New Year magic to the world? 

Phew, all these potions and positive spells sure wear a girl out. Time for a rest. 

So many cobwebs! I admit my outfit is more Goddess of the Spiders than Well-Meaning Witch with her patched worsted dress and cape! Oh, well!

This is what's hidden in the doll...

 

This was a lot of fun. Let's hope I've cast enough sweetness and magic to defy the malign spells of the Wicked Wizard of the West.

I dress as a woman every day but usually in casual stuff so it's not often that there's an excuse to wear all my dresses day after day. This dressathon was also a good exercise for me as it enabled me to see how long I could tolerate makeup. I was in makeup for about seven days in all, including four in a row. I know it meant that this Christmas and New Year was less sociable than usual but I thought I'd take advantage of nearly all the neighbours being absent and the fact that I'd already seen a great deal of my nearest relative last year.

Thanks for reading. Have a lovely 2026. 

Sue x 

Musical interlude - silly cosplay

 And now it's melody time, folks ... thus did late Northern English comic Les Dawson introduce the musical segment in his show, which always descended into wrong notes and chaos (and often mother-in-law jokes). Where I live we are now plunging headlong into the annual musical mêlée that is the Sanremo Music Festival, when 29 contestants provide top telly for five nights next week. Although hundreds of millions of euros ride on this festival, and 1500 direct jobs, the area becomes a no-go zone unless you are involved in the music or broadcasting industries. So I'm going away for some of it! 

This month there is also the Sanremo baroque music festival. Which is a bit of a contrast.

Like Les Dawson, my musical capabilities are questionable.* But I thought I ought to get into the spirit of the thing and show I'm not some grumpy old woman. The only instrument I have, however, is an old plastic recorder, like we had to learn to play at school. Decades later, I still haven't progressed much beyond Frère Jacques!

 

However, here are three characters who are experts and present my Baroque, Jazz and Rock festival with solo recorder!

Firstly, ancient music with Philomena Toot playing J.S. Bach's Sonata for Solo Recorder in Z flat (BWV 1745b) on a fine and delicate descant recorder manufactured during Bach's own lifetime by the Meissen plastic manufacturies.

 

The Jazz Lady now, who presents a syncopated number. If you haven't heard jazz recorder, you really haven't heard toe-tapping music. Ron Burgundy and his jazz flute is nothing to this.

 

 

More in the spirit of Sanremo Festival is the rock recorder. Easier and cheaper to smash on stage than a guitar, this is the new sound of 2025. Some photos to accompany the new album.

I'm not sure which was my favourite outfit. The disco pants, glittery slogan T-shirt, wild hair and leather jacket was fun

 

But the jazz outfit is seriously comfortable. The wide-leg trousers from Marks & Spencer are some of my favourite everyday wear. In fact, the day I bought them, the shop assistant happened to be wearing a pair and enthused about them to me. Sold!

I tried some more leggy numbers, too, but they may be a bit too short, even for a fake music festival.

 

I really like the way I look in the second of these.

So I had an afternoon's silly fun. After all, there's nothing more enjoyable than experimenting with outfits. Part of the joy of being trans.

What do you think?

Anyway, I plan to write another post before going away, and then next weekend I'll tell you where I've been to avoid the chaos.

I'll just end the musical theme with a link to satirical songwriter Mitch Benn's brilliant and funny take this week on the new US government's definition of sex intended to attack trans people, Everybody in America is Female. A health warning, though, about Mitch's obscene language.

 

Have a nice weekend. Relax with your favourite music, whatever it is.

Sue x

* Actually, Les Dawson was a very good professional pianist who played in clubs before going on the comedy circuit ... which is why he understood so well exactly when and how to introduce wrong notes.

Hallowe'en photo fun

 I am having terrific fun. It's Hallowe'en and I have spent all afternoon accessorising my silver witch dress. There are many more looks to go but my laptop, my camera and I all need recharging now: they are having their electric juice snacks and I am having my dinner! I'm not sure I'm going to get everything done today. Tomorrow is a public holiday here and then there's the weekend so I may just have to spend four whole days being a cute witch for the camera. A TGirl's work is never done!

I'm feeling good, too. We've had four days of sunshine and warmth and I have been recovering from the seasonal affective disorder that was plaguing me last week. Indeed, today's burst of activity seems to be testament to some new-found energy. Thank you for the kind wishes following my last post.

So what shall I team my cobweb motif silver witch dress up with? I left some cobweb tights and elbow-length cobweb gloves back in London and I regret that now. But I do have some silver paisley pattern tights that were briefly in fashion about 12 years ago. Also for hosiery I have some fishnet stockings, some bold open pattern hold-ups, and some barely-black sheer tights that might work well. For footwear there are some high-heeled court shoes, ankle boots or knee-length boots, all in black. I have decided on red lipstick and nails, having rejected black or silver. I have the cheap silver wig bought specially but also an older and better quality somewhat goth-style ruby red and black wig. The hat that came with the cheap party dress is surprisingly good quality ... but is it best straight up, or with the tail bent? How about worn at an angle or straight? Should I look fierce, mean, sly or cutesy? I've been working through the combinations and now, 4 hours and 150 photos later, I and my kit have taken this break. I think I'll post some photos now just for fun and a more honed selection when I'm all done.

Cutesy fun :-)

I put a spell on you!

And on you back there!

Oops, gone cutesy again. Just can't help it. Burn the evil witch!

Showgirl!? Now you're just being silly!

Silver hat, silver hair, silver dress, silver tights. Have we struck gold?

A curse on this suspender!

Of course, we do need a break half way. The Porky Pig mug seems apt as I have neglected my slimming routine over the summer!

I'm quite liking my close-ups today, too. Sometimes I feel ugly; maybe today I'm having a blast and it shows.

Artistic shot ... with my evil twin

 

You don't have to be in character all the time, though...

I like how I look here. Actually, I look very like one of the regular cashiers at my supermarket checkout who has bangs like this.

I think I look quite sweet, even pretty.

AAAGHH!!! A WITCH!!!

Lol. More to come. Do let me know which accessories work best in your opinion.

Whatever you're doing this evening, have a fun Hallowe'en. Don't eat too much candy!

Sue x