Costober 2020 Day 9: Harley Quinn

My next vigilante is Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quinn of DC comics and films.

About the Look

Harley was introduced in the (amazing) cartoon Batman: the Animated Series. She was Batman’s arch-rival Joker’s sidekick-slash-girlfriend, and former psychiatrist. Instantly popular, she was written into the DC comics universe and has since appeared in numerous titles, television series, and two feature films.

Initially a villain, and in love with THE villain of her franchise, Harley Quinn slowly but surely separated herself from the Joker and reinvented herself as an antiheroine. This is clearest in her most recent appearance on screen, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) where it is the central plot (and long title).

While the Joker is a man who “just want[s] to watch the world burn” Harley is a girl who just wants to have fun. She has poor impulse control, terrible taste in men, and various personality disorders but she’s also whip smart, super analytical, and hugely creative. Harley Quinn is fragile like a flower AND fragile like a bomb.

About My Look

Birds of Prey is an explosion of color and glitter and cartoon violence— and women doing whatever the hell they want. Harley wears a few different looks and most of them are available at your local Halloween outlet store. My look is most inspired by the get up she wears to beat up goons in the final fight sequence. My hoodie is the same color and fabric as the crop top Harley wears with a few of her outfits in the film, including this one. Since it’s longer, I chose to pair it with yellow shorts to get the same effect as the short top and long pants.

The converse are the same ones I wore for Dawn. Everything was purchased secondhand except the sport top (because it’s underwear) which I think I got at Target (not for this look but its sentiment is the whole point of the movie). I’ve had the pink crochet motorcycle gloves for years because obviously. The earring was a free gift with a recent Poshmark purchase.

I’m wearing white eyeliner, glitter in three shades of pink, and Bare Republic sunscreen in Punk Rock Pink. My lipstick is Revlon Matte Lip Balm in the color “Unapologetic”.

During the pandemic lockdown, my daughter removed the door between her bedroom and what was my bedroom but is now her workroom. Like you do. All of the plush and toys are mine.

I worked remotely today, but went on campus briefly for my weekly COVID test (required by the school for all students, faculty, and staff). The nurse found it very hard to reconcile my date of birth with my pigtails. Harley would be proud.

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