Red Head Costume Week: Angela Chase – My So-Called Life

Oct 24, 2012 | 26 Comments

One of my all time favorite shows was My So-Called Life.  When it started airing late summer of 1994, I was like “this show was written for me.”  I wanted to be Claire Danes, with her dyed auburn hair and massive crush on Jordan Catalano.  (Nothing’s really changed because I want to be Claire Danes now on Homeland, just without the electroshock treatments!)

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - Angela & Jordan

Angela & Jordan

Now with my hair in the red direction, I’m adding this to my costume list!  Sure, I’m not a 15-year-old high schooler, but you know I’m going to bring out all that teenage angst!

To get a true taste of Angela Chase, here are the key ingredients!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - My So Called Life - Angela Chase Costume

Angela Chase Costume Basics!

The beauty of this costume is that Claire’s wardrobe was super 90s/grungy/thrift store chic, so in gathering pieces for my version, I’m snagging everything from my closet, aside from the floral babydoll dress I got at a garage sale a few weeks back.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - Angsty!

Angsty!!

Let’s get (Brian) Krack(ow)-in!

To really get in character, I practiced my best “hands on my face” moves…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - Teenage Angst

Where’s Tino!?!?

…took my newly purchased babydoll dress and paired it with a vintage plaid flannel shirt, black opaque tights, and a pair of lace up ankle boots from my closet, and pinned up my hair to make it look shoulder length.  My look was done!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - My So-Called Life

My angst-y Angela Chase!

The shirt was reminiscent of a plaid one that she actually wore on the show.

New Dress A Day - DIY - My So Called Life - Plaid Flannel Party

Plaid Party!

I was totally digging this look and think that I’m going to have to tap into this mix-matched/layering idea more!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - Tights & Boots

Tights & Ankle Boots

I even had my “waiting for Jordan Catalano moment” in the boiler room… (*those non My So-Called Life fans, basically there was an episode where Angela would wait for Jordan in the school’s boiler room each afternoon to make out.  Aah, the woes of teenage love…)

New Dress A Day - DIY - Halloween Costumes - Angela Chase - Waiting in the Boiler Room

Waiting in the Boiler Room…

Who’s in for the Frozen Embryo show??  (Other MSCL’ers will remember that for sure!)  Not a ton of smiles today, as I’m totally staying in character, but I was smiling on the inside!

PS, this clip just made me happy – seven-ish minutes of Angela Chase genius :)

Another costume to come tomorrow!!

In all · Copy Cat · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • http://www.facebook.com/tollyfaye Tolly Bockbrader

    Your website must be getting tons of new traffic with your book, because it takes forever to load now!?! Congrats. Love your red hair!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1290872344 Elizabeth Garcia Buchanan

      Yea I can’t even look at your site most days because it is impossible to load up.

    • newdressaday

      I’m looking into it…sorry it’s acting a fool!

      • http://foryourtastebudsonly.blogspot.com/ Roxanne

        I am glad I look at your site on “off” hours…. like 2:00 am ish before i am off to work because it loads pretty quickly for me!

  • Ani

    Love Love LOVE! My So-Called Life is still one of my favorite shows ever. It was so ridiculously well-written!

  • http://www.facebook.com/melanie.hakimipour Melanie Hakimipour

    Love the hair! You look great as a ginger! And lol @ “Let’s get (Brian) Krack(ow)-in!”

    • newdressaday

      Love that you appreciated that one Mel :)

  • Ira Lee Henson

    hahaha!!!! i agree. i loved that show, and now i want to find it and watch it all over again! am im really happy that 90′s grunge is coming back! EEKKK!!! even if it means im getting older!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethne-Hedren-Denham/100000830136133 Ethne Hedren Denham

    Oh, Jordan Catalano. When that series was canceled too soon, didn’t we all die a little inside?? So glad you brought this look back for a day of good HS memories.

  • Graciemh

    I’m love, love, lovin’ your red hair! *hmmmm…trip to the drug store for dye in the cards?* So perfect with your skin tone!

    • newdressaday

      Yes, yes, yes!!!!

  • Sarah_H.

    Now this looks like a great costume. You do not look like yourself…totally in character.

  • christy

    Marisa, “you are so beautiful, it hurts to look at you”. MSCL is one of my 90s faves!

    • newdressaday

      “Why are you like this? Like how you are?” The best!

  • Alice Bola

    Brilliant. Loved that show. Great idea for a costume. I need to go dust off my DVDs and watch it again.

    • newdressaday

      I watched the “Self Esteem” episode last night in preparation. Dust those disks off!

  • Keenzi

    Sigh, good memories. The red hair looks fabulous, and I am loving this costume-themed week, so fun! Now I just need the scoop on where you got that babydoll dress… : )

    • Keenzi

      Oops, never mind, just saw you got it at a garage sale–what a toal find/score!

      • newdressaday

        I know!! I secretly have been planning this little red head week for a bit, so when I saw this piece, I jumped on it!

  • kissem37

    Love the angst! You are totally channeling Angela. I spent my high school years obsessing over Jordan Catalano. Oh, what I wouldn’t have given for five minutes in that boiler room…

  • lauraly

    Very Angela-esque! Loved MSCL!

  • kat

    Feel like a TV show drop out here. Never saw any of this one. You did capture the look! You look like a high schooler in the boiler room pic. I kinda like that mix-matched, layered, girly grunge look. Like the red locks too.

  • Allison M

    I remember when that show came out! I totally wanted to be Angela Chase!! I love that costume. Thanks for the awesome idea!

  • http://foryourtastebudsonly.blogspot.com/ Roxanne

    I like this look, you still appear teenager-ish – glad you said you pinned your hair up…

  • jebandamy

    The ending of the last episode of the series always breaks my heart. When Brian accidentially tips Angela off to having written the love letter she thought was from Jordan. (sigh) Team Krakow!

  • kristina

    I LOVED My So Called Life!!! Awesome costume and awesome angst :-)