Hopefully you’ve already read Part 1, the complete guide to costuming Hadassah in Hadassah of Susa (if not, head there next!). You’ll see links to dresses, shoes and accessories, and also a step-by-step guide to building your own look from the ground up.
In this post, I’ll break down my own costume and explain the moods and atmosphere I’m creating through the color choices. We’ll look at three actual combinations assembled from a hodgepodge of pieces I found over the course of a month.
Look #1: Hadassah in the harem
You know that classic brown robe-dress churches seem to have for any shepherd or Mary and Joseph? That generic “Bible character” outfit?
If we imagine Hadassah wearing that brown robe growing up as a girl in Susa, she’s now moved up.
We meet her in the harem, a strange world with new clothes and new jewelry. She’s got details and accessories, but even though it’s rich, it’s still a simple look. We don’t see her quite decked out like royalty.
This is the look I chose for Hadassah in the harem – Esther the naive, the searching, the unsure. The blues and greens are composed, natural, and simple – a contrast from the bold red and gold we’ll see next.
The dress
It’s this one in white from the Koh Koh line on Amazon. I was nervous that the skirt would be really full but it’s narrower than it appears in the photos. The elastic waistband is a bit tight and makes me stand up straight! The top half is lined with white jersey; I purchased a full-length half slip at a thrift shop to line the skirt.
The skirt
This blue & green skirt is what started it all. It was a chance find on a Saturday afternoon at a recycled fabric & notions nonprofit store (that’s a mouthful). It’s a straight skirt, with small blue beads all over and tassels along the bottom edge. And it’s one of those things you can’t find just anywhere – thrift or vintage stores are probably your best bet.
The shawl
It’s a generic white pashmina scarf that I found at my local Value Village. It probably cost about the same as this one on Amazon.
The accessories
The belt is a find at – you guessed it – Value Village. I like how it doesn’t have a traditional Western buckle. The armband is this one from Amazon. It arrives as a pretty tight coil but expands easily if you take it slow! My earrings are generic sparkly studs from Forever 21.
The shoes
Not shown, but I’m wearing simple tan leather slippers with pointed toes. I was looking at gold sandals but these were in my closet and just felt right.
Look #2: Esther the Queen
Skipping ahead a few scenes, we now meet Esther the Queen. At this point, Esther has been royalty for around 4-5 years, and it’s reasonable to think she’s grown as a diplomat and negotiator over her years in palace life. She’s grown much, learned much, and experienced much.
Red is appropriate – it’s eye-catching, bold, and rich when edged with gold and encrusted with diamonds.
This is the Esther who walks into throne rooms uninvited just to ask a king to a banquet, who entertains her mortal enemy without batting an eye, the Esther who commands all the Jews in Susa to plead with God for their Queen’s mission.
The crown
I fell in love with this crown from Amazon – it has four loops inside the rim that allow me to anchor it to my hair. With the veil as is, I can only pin one or two places, so it’s definitely something to keep in mind as you’re planning your costume!
The veil
Believe it or not, I found this veil the same afternoon as the blue skirt from the first look! When I stand the corners hit or nearly hit the ground, so it feels incredibly regal and also looks amazing while walking. I believe it is a dupatta shawl like these ones.
The hair
I don’t know if I would commit to changing hair in the middle of a production, but I just liked how a small updo keeps the look clean, strong and dramatic.
Look #3: Esther at the end of the story
In my final look, we see a wise Queen who is pondering her experiences. She muses on the complexity of life and the tangling of good and evil, and rests in what she knows about her God and how He has brought her thus far.
This look is more composed, the brown and gold tones are still regal and rich. Esther – Hadassah of Susa – doesn’t need to fight at this point; she’s in a state of peace and reflection.
The shawl
Yup, it’s another thrift store find (here are similar ones on Amazon). Honestly, it’s really amazing what we can see when our eyes are open to the possibilities!
In closing
When you produce a series of monologues, changing up the costume between scenes keeps our visually-oriented audiences engaged. The colors and styling you choose can augment the production by creating an emotional atmosphere for the words you’re delivering.
Thanks for reading! If you’re new here, this post is in reference to the Hadassah of Susa monologue production – the script is available for purchase right here.