it&#39;s like the eye of a duck

Definitely agree that they'd have to apply ghastly white makeup, and then an inexpert layer of ghastly pink makeup on top. Since vampiry cosmetics tend to concentrate on darkening the eyes, and sometimes the lips, I'd say eye and lip makeup should be pale to nonexistent (rather Elizabethan, with the colour focus on the cheeks). Where you were thinking plain pink, I was thinking some vividly multi-coloured floral. Or plaid. Or both. Lots of colours/patterns, put together by somebody who maybe doesn't quite grasp the theory of coordinating them.

I'd also suggest skimming through Terry Pratchett's Carpe Jugulum, which actually HAS several scenes involving teenage vampires who think it's cool to try to look human:

"Lady Strigoiul said her daughter has taken to calling herself Wendy," said the Countess. "I can't imagine why she'd want to when Hieroglyphica is such a nice name for a girl. And if I was her mother, I'd see to it that she at least wore a bit of eyeliner--"
"Yes, but no one drinks wine," said Lacrimosa. "Only real weirdos who file their teeth blunt drink wine--"
"Maladora Krvoijac does," said Vlad, "Or "Freda", I should say--"
"No she doesn't!"
"What? She wears a silver corkscrew on a chain around her neck and sometimes there's even a cork on it!"
"That's just a fashion item! Oh, I know she says she's partial to a drop of port, but really it's just blood in the glass. Henry actually brought a bottle to a party and she fainted at the smell!"
"Henry?" said the Countess.
Lacrimosa looked down sulkily. "Graven Gierachi," she said.
"The one who grows his hair short and pretends he's an accountant," said Vlad.

Plus much more in, if you'll pardon me, the same vein.

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I disagree with the makeup. I think they could get away without the white makeup first. It doesn't need to be a "ghastly pink makeup" either. I think the skin color could actually go more toward a sallow--yellowish tinge. I get the mental picture of a vampire trying to look human with a skin tone more that of an older person, because of the very pale color to their skin. Do the sallow with regular makeup for the rest, and I think it would work.

I've dabbled in theatre for a while and even took a stage makeup class. As for the costumes, I don't have a clue!! :)

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Yes, an adult vampire would likely do a better job of the makeup, but this is teenage vampires. Who have to sneak their makeup when their parents aren't looking. Who steal peeks at "human" stuff, but never get to look at it long enough to absorb and process properly (and likely hide issues of People magazine under their coffin linings so Mom won't find them). Who aren't allowed to "stay up late" and watch daytime TV. And, since human teenagers trying to look like vampires tend to heavily overdo it, I just imagined that teenage vampires trying to look like human teens would do the same ... we probably would look fluorescent pink to a vampire who is used to seeing pallor. ***grin***

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I see your point, but if you use the white-face first, then the pink, all you're going to have is a mess. You won't get the layered pink-on-white look I think you're talking about. With the sallow, you can use a pink blush as powder which will give a pink tinge. You can use the blush to highlight certain areas, and leave parts with the sallow. I think you can still achieve the sort of "not quite sure" look. It will also save the actor/actress several hours of trying to get makeup off their face! :)

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Given the hours I spent on my makeup as a kid, it makes perfect sense to me that a teenage vamp would spend hours with different foundations, trying to figure out what worked. What you describe sounds like tons of work but not outside the realms of the possible.

Look what I just said - the word "possible" in the same sentence as teenage vampires wearing peach base :P

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Actually, it's not. Put on the foundation. Instead of using a regular powder, use a pink blush. Then do the rest. The white first and then the pink would be a royal pain though.

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I can see how the double layer of makeup would be a mess ... that was a person who has only worn ordinary foundation twice in her life (and hated how it felt) babbling. :p Your way definitely makes more sense.

Now all we have to do is build the wardrobe ... hmmm ... mebbe something out of those scary sewing/knitting sites?

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Given that there's a lot of crossover between the costuming and sci-fi fan communities, Pratchett may be exactly what inspired the question (the person is creating a character for a live role playing game).

I think Kat may have a point about the yellow tinge to the makeup though. I imagine REALLY hardcore teen vampires would go for heavy bronzer though, for that "deep dark tan" look :P

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That's also a possibility. There are a lot of ways to achieve different effects. I like to use the powders (blushes, eye shadows, etc.) when I can because they aren't as hard to clean off. They are also easier to take off if you make a mistake. It's a lot better for the face too. Stage makeup can really clog up the pores, so the less you have to do with the foundations, liners, liquid makeups, the better off you are, I think.

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LOL!!!!! Egad, the THOUGHT of an LRPG based on Pratchett. If that's the case, I hope their Granny Weatherwax knows how to think like a moebius corkscrew.

Agreed on the sallow tint ... or grey ***recalling that William Marshall's skin looked a dusty cobweb shade in the old Blacula movies***

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semmie17.livejournal.com

I imagine REALLY hardcore teen vampires would go for heavy bronzer though, for that "deep dark tan" look :P

Now I have an image of Michael McManus as "Prince", where a usually pale Canadian Actor (whose skin actually verges on blue at times in the winter, from his Scottish ancestry *g*) being sprayed with that awful "tanning" spray that turned the poor man ORANGE for the duration of the shoot.

Poor guy...the crew goes to Nigeria or wherever, and while the rest of the crew gets a tan, MM has to wear black, thick clothes and tons of sunblock under white makeup. (Although you can see where his neck is burnt in the scene with him and Prince in the desert, eh?) Then, they return to freezing Halifax, and he has to wear a little skirt, no top, and be sprayed with orange tanning stain!

I remember Bunny's comments in a Sci-Fi interview/chat... "And it turned us ORANGE!"

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That's the worst stuff ever invented.

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Poor guy indeed! He probably stained his sheets orange for a week!

But DAMN, he did look good in that blue dress!

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kiya.livejournal.com

As a kid who experimented with hair colour (which is the closes example that comes to mind) I imagine going down to the local all-night 7-11 or CVS and picking up a container of that cheap "tan-in-a-bottle." *shudder* It makes complete sense for a teenager to try that.

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