Being Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall was by far the most time intensive of any Halloween costumes I've experienced. And even if nobody really knew who we were (besides our friends, everyone thought we were "people from black and white pictures?"), we loved being Bogie and Bacall so much that we're already thinking of excuses to do these costumes again!
Our outfits were inspired by the famous couple in the movie where they fell in love- To Have and Have Not, which is also a story by Ernest Hemingway. We really wanted to look like we had just stepped out of a film noir movie, so we painted our faces with gray stage makeup and eyeliner, and I sprayed my hair with silver hair paint. My gloves, Phil's shirt, tie, trousers and shoes were already in our wardrobes, but I headed to the thrift to find the trench, my suit, shirt, and shoes. Our hats and my tights were purchased at retail price, but I figured they were things we would wear again, so it was totally worth it!
I'll tell you what, I had loads of fun reenacting this scene, but I must be honest- wearing all of that grey face paint was quite a pain! It was getting it on everybody's faces, on my camera, my phone, and I swear my face itched more that night only because I couldn't scratch it! Ha! But looking at pictures of us, in grayscale, standing next to someone else in color- totally worth it!
L O OK C A R E F U L L Y ! T H E S E A R E C O L O R P H O T O S .
Dude. For a second I thought you Photoshopped yourselves to be grayscale. You've got skills with that makeup! You both look fab.
Posted by: Liz | November 01, 2011 at 01:59 PM
Are you kidding me?! this is the most amazing costume I have seen. I can't believe you guys pulled this off!!! You are just....so creative.
-Leah
Supersition Vintage
Posted by: Superstition Vintage | November 01, 2011 at 02:07 PM
love your costumes, so creative:) x
Posted by: Laura | November 01, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Very cool!! Im so impressed by the grayscale - I thought it was a trick of the eye initially, that must have been painstaking applying the paint so meticulously! Great idea :-)
Posted by: melissa | November 01, 2011 at 02:16 PM
o. my. god. soooooo creative, miss!!
Posted by: jorjiapeach | November 01, 2011 at 02:20 PM
This is totally, freaking awesome. Most ingenious costume I've seen so far.
Posted by: Joy | November 01, 2011 at 02:24 PM
WOW. I am impressed - that looks amazing! How'd you do your hair? Did you add flour or something to it just to make it more dull?
-giedre
Posted by: giedre | November 01, 2011 at 02:26 PM
I am completely in love with your costumes!!!
Posted by: al | November 01, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Oh my goosenest!!! Amazing work!
anna
Posted by: olive green anna | November 01, 2011 at 02:30 PM
Wow, you went absolutely above and beyond Mandi! You two look absolutely fantastic. Although I've never seen the movie you're referencing, I cannot get over your costumes! At first, I was so confused, but after seeing you next to other people I started to understand! Seriously, great job!
Posted by: Meanz | November 01, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Perfection - so lovely!! I totally know what you mean about the gray paint; we did that a few years ago and swore to never do it again. You're so brave. Ha, ha!
XO,
Ashley
Posted by: Ashley Reynolds | November 01, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Wow! Those are inspired costumes. You both look fantastic.
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 01, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Excuse my french, but this is bad ass, Mandi! Bravo! I even showed the IT guy at work. haha
Posted by: Ciara | November 01, 2011 at 02:36 PM
It's amazing! Before I started reading, I thought the first picture really was photoshopped :D
Posted by: Mirka | November 01, 2011 at 02:37 PM
Giedre, we got the face and hair paint both from Amazon. It's a spray, and it comes in a small can, so I should've bought another one! The brown hair underneath kept peeking through by the end of the night.
Posted by: Mandi | November 01, 2011 at 02:43 PM
That is so brilliant! I wish I could have seen it life. Super clever!
Posted by: Vanessa, Take only Memories | November 01, 2011 at 02:47 PM
You look great!! We did this too! Only we were Charlie Chaplin and Louise Brooks. Here's a pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftyminx/6292736073/ Definitely a very labor intensive costume. Kudos!
Posted by: Dana | November 01, 2011 at 02:58 PM
This. Is. Absolutely. Outstanding! I loooooove your idea of grayscaling everything...I've never seen anything this good. Kudos to you. I'd love to do this sometime (and of course I'm a huge fan of Bogart and Bacall, my lands).
<3 Cambria
jupefashion.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jupe | November 01, 2011 at 03:02 PM
One of the guys we went out with this weekend dressed as a black and white film star...he did not even come close to pulling it off as amazingly as you guys did! His makeup was smudging off before he made it to the party we were at! Awesome job!
Posted by: Lori | November 01, 2011 at 03:31 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jaclyn T | November 01, 2011 at 03:35 PM
WOW! bravo!! i cant believe how well you guys looked like a BW shot, without any editing!
-m
Posted by: malia waits | November 01, 2011 at 03:48 PM
HOW AMAZING you guys look perfect. Legitimately black and white. So cool.
Posted by: anastasia | November 01, 2011 at 04:07 PM
PERFECT!!! You honestly look like you are off the set but still in the movie too....WOW!
Posted by: jessica | November 01, 2011 at 04:42 PM
these are definitely the most unique costumes i have ever seen - and you pulled it off so well!!! i would have been amazed to even see that in person :)
Posted by: Courtney | November 01, 2011 at 05:36 PM
So. So. Cool!! The B&W effect is perfect. You almost look like cardboard cut outs in these pictures! Crazy!!!
Posted by: Hannah | November 01, 2011 at 05:57 PM
This is INSANE and AMAZING!
Posted by: Claire | French for Cupcake | November 01, 2011 at 05:57 PM
These are amazing! Nice job!
xo,
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Nicole | November 01, 2011 at 06:26 PM
That is really well done!
Posted by: Danielle | November 01, 2011 at 07:15 PM
Oh wow! I absolutely love it! It took me so long to realize that you were actually black and white! Haha! : )
x
www.lostinthehaze.com
Posted by: Jo - Lost in the Haze | November 01, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Love it! you guys did such a great JOB on the black and white Movie look!
xo
B
Old movies are the best!
Posted by: Brandi Lisenbe | November 01, 2011 at 08:06 PM
That is so cool. Doesn't get much better than Bogie and Bacall, that's for sure!!
Posted by: Katherine | November 01, 2011 at 08:15 PM
this is great! Love it!
Posted by: meli | November 01, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Ohmyword... this is GENIUS.
Posted by: kelly ann | November 01, 2011 at 08:54 PM
i LOVE it! you guys look fabulous!
Posted by: liz | November 01, 2011 at 09:34 PM
Wow, best costumes by far. These are so original and awesome. Def find a way to wear them again!
-Arielle
www.humblepievintage.com
Posted by: Arielle | November 01, 2011 at 09:46 PM
That is amazing! Also true dedication. I thought it was photo editing at first. So fun!
Posted by: Sasha | November 01, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Wowie zowie! I can't stop looking at your fabulousness!
Posted by: Maren | November 01, 2011 at 11:00 PM
You look gorgeous! Love the photos! xx
The Londoner
Posted by: Rose | November 02, 2011 at 08:14 AM
another total winner!!!!
Posted by: Danielle | November 02, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Genius Idea!! Looks amazing in the photos!
Posted by: Sue | November 02, 2011 at 03:19 PM
Ok, this is the coolest thing everrrrrr. Love it!
Posted by: Vanessa | November 02, 2011 at 05:16 PM
mad skills and creativity!
love. this. a. lot!!!
Posted by: Lisa | November 02, 2011 at 06:32 PM
That is un-FREAKING-believable!!!
New follower, and I love your blog!
Posted by: Robin | November 02, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Oh my God! You look awesome! Great job on the makeup.
Posted by: Jenni | November 02, 2011 at 10:57 PM
That's so genius! I love it. Old movies are the best. Everyone is so classy and demure. I wish modern movies were like that. Sigh. I should've been born 70 years ago...
Posted by: Lindsey | November 03, 2011 at 01:54 AM
WOW! This is AMAZING! I look at it again and again because your costumes are unbelievably great!
Posted by: Lisa | November 03, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Oh my god, your costumes...how do I even words?! So amazing!
Posted by: xia alexis. | November 03, 2011 at 02:38 PM
I absolutley love this post!
Posted by: Nina | November 03, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Your costumes were amazing!!! Great idea!
Posted by: Vanessa | November 03, 2011 at 08:13 PM
So clever! I love it.
Posted by: Courteney | November 04, 2011 at 12:32 PM
fantastic costumes!! i actually thought the first foto is in B&W effect and then got confused- OH, it was part of your costume. utterly awesome xx
Posted by: Katrina | November 04, 2011 at 04:28 PM
So. Flippin. Cool. Love! :)
Posted by: Trude | November 04, 2011 at 05:05 PM
Oh Mandi, this is so amazing! I will share it on my weekend links. I too thought that you had grayscaled yourselves!
Posted by: andrea | November 05, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Oh my gosh! This first picture looks amazing!!! Such a creative Halloween costume idea!
Posted by: Dom | November 05, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Amazing!!!
Posted by: Hazel Lou Anna | November 05, 2011 at 02:57 PM
one word: amazing!
Posted by: dayana | November 06, 2011 at 07:30 PM
These are amazing. Love your costumes. That is so classic and unique and creative!!!!!
Posted by: Victoria / Justice Pirate | November 07, 2011 at 11:13 AM
oh WOW. Best costumes EVER! xx
Posted by: Rhi & Lola - SDiB | November 07, 2011 at 01:08 PM
wow...that is amazing. i thought you were doing that weird color edit thing. you come up with most clever halloween get ups! love it...even though it gives me the creeps but I suppose that is the point to this holiday, no?
Posted by: tina | November 08, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Seeriously amazing!
Posted by: Mara | November 11, 2011 at 08:45 PM
this is so awesome!!!
Posted by: Allison | November 12, 2011 at 06:24 PM