On a still summer evening in 1792, within the hallowed halls of the Palace of Versailles, the stench of sweaty white wigs and body odor perfumed the walls of the pre-plumbing castle. The chants of the people could be heard and their torches seen outside as King Louis and Queen Marie indulged in their last meal: cake. New College’s Halloween Center of the Universe Party (COUP) on Oct. 26 will be a spooky celebration of history’s most infamous coup of all—the French Revolution.
Hosted by third-year Alex Diliberti and Old School Catalyst staff writer and thesis student Andy Trinh, heads will roll at the excitement of this ghostly night in the city of lights. Halloween COUP is a fun and frightening New College tradition that can seem daunting to some. This article provides inspiration and advice for what the event entails, with costumes and drinks to match. It’s time to party like it’s 1789!
Horrific History
In the 18th century, France was on the edge of bankruptcy from supporting the American Revolution and King Louis XVI’s shopping addiction (fur was very in). In the summer of 1789, the Estates-General (similar to the British Parliament or the U.S. Senate) collapsed when members of the Third Estate, or the People’s Party, formed their own national assembly to advocate for reform. On July 14, 1789, now known as Bastille Day, the people stormed the Bastille prison and liberated prisoners after weeks of revolutionary turmoil. In the fall of 1792, following many debates on constitutional matters, the revolutionaries arrested Louis and the National Convention was established, abolishing the monarchy. He was executed on a harsh winter day in 1793, and his wife, the infamous Marie Antoinette, was executed on Oct. 16, 1793 in Place de la Concorde, Paris.
Sept. 5, 1793 to July 27, 1794 was the Reign of Terror: a year-long period when thousands were executed for suspicions of being anti-revolution. After Louis’ execution, France warred with numerous European powers and violent chaos festered within the country. The Committee of Public Safety, of which Maximilien Robespierre was a prominent member, exercised dictatorial control over the French government. During the reign, at least 3,000 suspects were arrested and 17,000 citizens officially executed.
A Toast for the Host
This COUP theme had been proposed last spring semester for Valentine’s Day COUP. Diliberti herself has always been fascinated by 18th century fashion and works part-time as an 18th century reenactor. She said she loves the over-the-top styles and the lavish dresses. The big poofy skirts and the lace have always intrigued her. Diliberti knew she wanted to bring it back, but she wanted to add a different layer to the cake.
“What makes the Marie Antoinette style so interesting is its juxtaposition to the lives of the masses, and it’s this really over-the-top lifestyle while most people are starving in the street,” Diliberti explained. “That kind of lavishness was huge at the time, but wasn’t representative of most of the population and it felt really out of touch. So what we wanted to do is really highlight a little bit about the revolutionary tension and make it a little darker and moodier of a theme.”
Diliberti’s favorite aspect of the COUP theme is how versatile the locations and decorations will be. Locations across campus form a counter-clockwise circle to go back in time and retrace the stages of the revolution. The Nook will be transformed into the Hanging Gardens of Versailles. There will be flowers, crystals, fairy lights and faux marble heads hanging from the trees. There will be student DJ sets and a giant cake photo opportunity. The dark and sparkly vibes are reminders of the out-of-touch elite and their fabulous parties.
The Old Mail Room (OMR) will be the Bastille prison swarmed by angry civilians looking for good music and a good time. There will be student DJ sets and red rave lighting. The mood will be angry and loud as peasants furiously dance all night. The stark contrast from the wealthy Nook represents the class divide.
Z-Amphitheater, located behind the Z letter dorm, will be the chopping block and the commons. There will be live music and gory decorations. The bands Mydeadroomate, Junk Drawer (a NCF student band), Now in Color and Slick Palm will perform head-rolling sets. Revolutionists can take photos in the stocks and red foam balls symbolizing rotten tomatoes will be thrown around.
“It’s gonna be very colorless compared to all the other locations,” Diliberti said. “It’s brown and tan and silver and red, and that’s kind of also reflecting the mood of the French Revolution. It’s off their head with the stocks. It’s a little silly and we’re gonna make a guillotine backdrop for the bands.”
Palm Court will be the infamous hall of mirrors. The halls of Versailles will be washed with “blood” and cobwebs as ghosts circle to take revenge on the dancers in their ballrooms. There will be cup pong and student DJ sets. The space will be dark and hazy.
Lastly, HCL 7 will be showing movies that inspired the COUP such as Les Misérables (2012) and Marie Antoinette (2006).
“We’re taking all of these places and turning them into a place where people can really let loose and have a great time,” Diliberti explained. “We really mood-boarded the hell out of this COUP and are very focused on what it’s going to look like and how it’s going to be presented to people. There’s a lot of opportunity for really cool photos. And a good fun-like spooky Halloween feel.”
Diliberti, a self-titled type A personality, explained how in order to host a COUP one must be extremely organized and know the inner workings of putting one on. She is close friends with former Chair of Student Life and third-year Adom Neizer-Ashun and was able to experience the behind-the-scenes of planning and hosting a COUP in previous semesters. She stressed the need of having a strong support system that can help manage everything that has to be coordinated.
“We have a 12-page spreadsheet detailing the budgets and decorations and bands and who’s going to be where,” she continued. “We have a 20-page document outlining all the stuff we’ve done and communicated with Student Activities and Campus Engagement (SAUCE) and Campus Police and Physical Plant and all of our different plans for set up day. My advice is, get someone who’s really good at using Google sheets and Excel and document everything you do.”
On Oct. 23, Trinh and Diliberti hosted a “let them eat cake” sale outside the Hamilton “Ham” Center as a sweet fundraiser for COUP. There were posters, stickers and cupcakes available for purchase. Additionally, there is a Garage Sale in the works, planned for the weekend after COUP, where students can also buy merchandise they might have missed.
Wristband distribution will occur from October 21 to the 25 outside Ham from 11-2 and 5-8 pm. Students can host up to two guests, and guests will need to come the day before or day of COUP to pick up their wristbands with a photo ID.
Fierce Fashion
It’s the 1700s and thick powder facials are in! Tie up one’s corsets for a creepy and coquettish look to die for. The website “What Would Marie Antoinette Do? A Modern Girl’s Guide to 18th Century Misbehavior,” offers great tricks (or treats) for putting together a Marie-approved costume. To begin, buying a wig is impractical for most, and one-time-use costume pieces are out this spooky season. This reporter recommends twisting one’s hair in an updo if long and covering it with baby powder that can be bought at any Walmart or CVS. For a hair tutorial click here. Ribbons and bows are a great addition as well.
For makeup, a heavy foundation and a lot of blush is a must. The rosy cheeks need to match the rosy ribbons in one’s hair. Bright pink or red lipstick is the perfect touch, and “blood” around the neck can really bring out the Halloween spirit. For clothes, a corset or a white tank top is the way to go. Any silky little numbers hidden in one’s sock drawer will also do. Look for a cream white, baby pink or lace. One can layer a lot of ribbons and fake pearls that can be picked up at any craft or dollar store. Using ribbons as chokers or even long necklaces interlaced with fake beads is also an option. After all, this is Paris, the city of fashion. Any skirt that puffs, such as a crinoline skirt, will help produce the effect of a petticoat. For shoes, anything dainty like ballet flats or Mary Janes is perfect.
“It’s Halloween and Mean Girls said it best: ‘It’s the one time a year a girl can dress like a total slut, and no one says anything.’ So what I’m doing is a kind of aristocratic type of look,” Diliberti explained. “A lot of it is DIY for me. So I’m gonna have a three-quarter white sleeve shirt that I’m adding blue trim to and then I’m gonna wear my 18th century custom stays over it. And then I’m gonna be wearing white bloomers, which I’m also attaching the blue trim to, and blue stockings and curling my hair.”
For the more masculine peasants among us, short khaki or black pants work for the 1700s look. Then a white button up dress shirt on top. A tie of any color is perfectly suitable. One can still use the white powder makeup tips above and lastly, black loafers with high white socks. If anyone is feeling particularly festive, they can put on a white wig or use the baby powder hack above.
“It’s going to be stays and ruffles and bows. If you’re really into Les Mis and you want to be a peasant, or do your Les Mis cosplay, I want to see it. I hope someone comes as a cake. I know someone who’s going as an executioner, which I think is absolutely hilarious.”
Monster Mocktails
Summon the queen herself with this blood-curdling bloody Marie mocktail recipe. Begin by pouring 2 cups of tomato juice from a can, ¼ cup of pickle juice or olive brine and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of horseradish, 1 teaspoon of hot sauce, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and celery seeds (celery leaves/stems can also be used and are more student budget friendly) into a pitcher. Then to garnish, one can dip glass rims into a plate of cayenne for an extra kick. Decorate with olives and celery stems. Hot sauce also creates the bloody effect that is perfect for this spooky season.
Queen Antoinette once said, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche,” translated to the popular “Let them eat cake,” but what if she actually meant to drink cake? This vanilla cake martini mocktail recipe will add some pink and pearls to this coquette Halloween. Begin by combining 1 and ½ ounces of vanilla almond milk (a little something for the dairy-free kings, queens and peasants), 1 ounce of white chocolate milk (can also be the powder), 2 ounces of half and half, 1 teaspoon of dry white cake mix in a blender with ice. Then strain and serve. To add sprinkles to the rim of the glass, preferably pearls of course, dip the rim into a plate of corn syrup (or anything sweet and sticky that one already owns) then dip into a plate of sprinkles.
In the pink spirit, this color-changing margarita recipe will have the peasants banging on someone’s door for a sip. Place 2 sliced purple cabbages in a large heatproof bowl. Pour 4 cups of boiling water into the cabbage bowl and allow it to sit in the hot water for 5 minutes or until the water turns a deep blue. Then strain the cabbage and let the water cool down. When the water is room temperature, transfer to an ice tray and let it freeze for 4 hours or until frozen solid. This could also be replicated using beets if one wishes to continue the pink theme.
In a measuring cup or pitcher, combine 1 cup of lemonade, 3 ounces of squeezed lime juice and the recipe calls for vodka, tequila and triple sec. However, for those who don’t wish to lose their cookies, triple sec is an orange liqueur that can be substituted using orange juice for a similar flavor profile. Rim the glasses with lime juice and salt or a lime wedge. One can dip the wedge in leftover beet juice for the pink theme. Then place the purple ice cubes into each glass and serve. Bon appetit!
