What is the Strangest Place You've Ever...

[Vek Eldar]

...worn your costume? I ask the question because last week I wore my Jedi costume up to Blockbuster--which is my place of work--to help promote pre-sales of the Trilogy DVD set. I was actually surprised how many people recognized the costume as being a close reproduction of Obi-Wan's.

Anyway, that is my question to the Assembly: what is the strangest place that you've ever worn your Jedi duds? And no, Cons don't count; I realize that Cons are strange places, but everyone's in costume at Cons (or, at least, everyone should be!) It can be a charity event with any of the three costuming groups, or any other event you can think of.

Really, I just want to make sure that I'm not the only person here who has worn their costume in public and looked completely out of place! ;D

[amber]

Well, I've ridden the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) El a few times. Worn it to work at an insurance company in the Merchandise Mart at Halloween last year.

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

I've worn mine costumes for a few days when I moved down in Tampa cuz my civies were in another state and were enroute. So the Jedi tunics were the only things I had to wear. SO I was basically going everywhere with them.
I left the hardwear off.(Saber, belt etc.) I'd been asked if it was Renisance wear before.:-D

[jedidragon]

I have worn my robe and caried my light saber to the local Wall-Mart several times, caried my lightsaber on my hip while riding my motorcycle, and have also caried the lightsaber into a federal court building(that one was by axcedent though; all though the head security guard knew excatly what it was when he saw it). Just thought I would keep the red necks around here on their toes. My wife, one time, heard a kid say to his father after I passed " Hey Daddy, there's a Monk"! I asked mywife, who is not into costuming, why did she not correct the child? Her response was she was laughing to hard at ME to do so.

[Don Solo]

well, it wasn't a full Jedi costume but some boots, robes and lightsabers got me and my girlfriend some odd looks at Burger King when Ep2 had been out for a month. We had a bunch of movie passes and went like 5 times to the closeing show in one week, and didn't want popcorn one of the nights, so we smuggled some BK Veggies in. How un-Jedi like of us!

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

I wouldn't wear my full Jedi gear out unless it's to a costumed event. I ususally wear the entire gear to and from the event since carring around backpack with a change of clothing can easily get stolen around here. The less I have to carry the better.
I really wonder what flack I might get flying with my sabers in my luggage when I go to Celebration 3.

[Xana]

Hmm........... let's see. Jade and I got lost on our way to ICon a couple of years ago and had to stop to ask for directions. People were making some cat calls at us. So as Jade asked for directions, I said, "Yeah, we're lost Jedi. Our Starfighter is parked out back, but our Navicomputer's busted." And then we all starstruck a group of teenagers in Applebees.


Here's strange for you..... Leda and I went to a Halloween party last year and were the ONLY ones in costume!

[Leda EmBorr]

To a wedding! Actually, it was after I-Con last year, and I left the con early to go to a wedding. I drove there in costume, planning to change in my sister's hotel room. I called to tell her we were there, and to meet me in the lobby to give me the room key, but she met me in the lobby with the whole wedding party and nearly half the guests! I was very embarrassed, especially since I wasn't used to being in costume like I am now. That was the first time I'd ever worn it outside of Halloween. I coulda killed her... but that would not have been very Jedi-like, now would it?

[Nova Darklighter]

I've worn mine all over the place, if I'm going to an event I just put it on and go, living in NYC nobody really notices much, not that I'd care anyway. Last year, on the way to ICon, I went to Penn Station to take the train, as I was walking thru the train station there were Natl' Guardsmen stationed all thru the station, standing w/ really big guns, as I walked down the row, their heads started to turn & finally one goes "Yeah Yedi!" with a really big grin, another SW fan, I turned around and gave them all a big thumbs up and said, of course, May the Force Be With You!" quite a few of them cheered. I think that was my favorite time. When they did the Ep II TSQ TRU toy release event, I ended up all over the news & in ToyFare magazine as well. My Mom called me from SCarolina and told me she saw me on ET, I thought that was a riot. Weirdest was most likely the Ren Faire when I was getting my belt made, I wore it up and it was really funny, because for more than 20 years I'd always worn perfect period garb, people were amazed, I thought that was really the funniest.

[JediMistressDragon]

Would have worn it to the Walk for Diabetes with Garrison Tyranus mebers, but it rained that day and we all didn't want to wreck our costumes.
Did wear it for midnight release at Best Buy couple days ago.
Worn it in stores on way to party or costumed event, just to pick up something.
Worn partial parts of costume as elf for parade for my theater group, but still people yelled, "Jedi!"
JMD

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

Jedi clothing is pretty comfortable to me. Is it as comfy for everyone else?

Another question: How does it feel when someone recognises what you are in costume and says so? (Like yelling: hey Jedi!)

[amber]

I love it when I'm recognized as a Jedi when I'm wearing my costume! Last Saturday I wore it to the Weird Al concert at the Utah State Fair. Very few people recognized it; in fact nobody would sit next to me on the UTA bus going home even tho it was a crowded bus. (but maybe that's an advantage? )

[JediKai]

I've worn my Jedi garb in all sorts of situations, but rarely alone. I've ridden the Seattle Monorail (and got my photo in the Insider and the SW.com caption page doing that) but was with the local group. We also walked around Seattle Pikes Market. These were both promoting the IMAX Ep II release. I've done one of the charity walks in costume with 3 others.

I've been to restaurants in garb, with other in other costumes. I do this in the SCA, too, so it doesn't feel odd ot me.

I LOVE it when people recognize me as Jedi. And even more if they recognize the Jocasta Nu costume, but that is rarer.

[Jen-Ru Balon]

My first costume was Leia in the camo poncho for the special edition theater release. I was in college and hed to attend classes that day so I went all day in them. My younger sister was in 8th grade and had no school that day so she went with me in a camo army shirt. We also carried stuffed ewoks. We got quite a few looks that day, but I won the title of biggest Star Wars fan.

A few years later when Ep I came out I had the beginnings of my Obi-Wan costume. Not very different than know, but with a canvas belt and the walmart rubber boots. I attnded a costume contest for a radio station (the stomtrooper won). Afterwards I needed to go by the elementary school I was interning at and pick up some papers from I disagreeigned teacher. She knew I had this planned. The kids loved it. It was a 1st grade class. I then had to hurry back to the colege campus for an afternoon class, but because I spent so much time with the kids I didn't get to change. So I attended my Elementary Professional Development class in jedi garb. They really weren't to surprised.

Then for Ep II I took an entire week off from work, teaching kindergarten, so I could campout non-stop. However I had to deliver a CD of a power-point to the pre-k teachers for their open house. So I showed up in costume. I got more reaction over my sudden haircut from that weekend than I did the costume. I went from waist length hair to basically what you would call a mullet. Short on top and small pony tail in back with the addition of my padawan braid (the only part not cut). I thought this was the best match to the jedi style and still have it.

The only other interesting location would be a costume contest in Roswell, NM as part of the activites surrounding the annual New Beetle car show. I had the hood up on my robe so I didn't see everyone's faces when I entered the convention center, but my mom was with me and she said every jaw dropped. I did notice the sudden silence. Then after a few seconds everyone resummed what they were doing. I didn't win the contest though.

I absolutely love wearing my costume. The best is always the look of awe on little kids (and some big kids) faces when they see it. It is quite a rush.

[Laan Kro]

Until last week I would say it was a Texas Roadhouse restaurant last year, but it was after handing out Halloween candy so it wasn't that odd. It was just that my wife and I were the only ones in costume besides the waitstaff, and my wife was dressed as a cowgirl so we made a weird pair.
Last week, though, when I took pics of my new costume at a state park we got quite a few looks from several hikers. We went during a weekday, immediately when the park opened, but I was surprised at how many people actually get up to hike at that time!
The best looks were from the park staff who were blowing leaves and collecting trash in the parking lot where I was getting dressed!