My daughter was born on Halloween last year, so I’ve been thinking about what our family costume will be on and off for the last 365 days. Correction: I’ve been thinking about her costume for 365 days and only realized last week, when I was addressing her birthday invitations, that the “costumes required please” also applied to me. Whoops… (face palm). Luckily, every costume has some kind of counterpart that you can easily DIY without a PhD in Pinterest.
For Peter Pan-themed costumes
If you’re child is opting for a Peter Pan-themed costume like my little Tinkerbell, think happy thoughts! I have compiled a list of quick and easy costume ideas. No pixie dust needed because you already have most of these items at home!
Hook
Tuck black pants/leggings into white knee socks. Break a coat hanger and carry it as a hook. Wear an oversized red jacket. (You’d be surprised what you can find at secondhand stores… The power suits that were so big in the 80’s are perfect for this!) Don’t forget the hat and that killer ‘stache.
Wendy
Grab a long nightgown and you’re done.
Tiger Lily
Wear a dress in any shade between taupe and brown. (There’s bound to be at least one in your closet.) Use a stretchy headband as your headdress and tuck a feather into the back of it. If it’s a little nippy, throw on a faux fur vest: Still in costume, yet fashionable and warm.
Shadow
Just wear all black, you lazy bum. (No judgment.)
For superhero costumes
Let’s not forget the superheroes. Every superhero has a sidekick or enemy, right? And just like when the heroes arrive to save the day, you can put these costumes together in the “Ta Da” knick of time!
Cat Woman
Don’t panic, I’m not talking about the patent leather Michelle Pfeiffer Cat Woman or the half-naked Halle Berry Cat Woman. This is a practical Cat Woman. All you need are black leggings/pants, a black shirt, and black cat ears. If you can’t find cat ears, fear not — you can make your own! Get a sample of black felt at any store that sells fabric (it should be less than a dollar), cut two triangles from it, and hot-glue them to a black headband. Meow, pussycat! You’re ready to go.
Bat Girl
You can also easily create a Bat Girl costume by cutting larger black triangles (with scalloped edges if you’re feeling fancy) and then pinning, or sewing, them from your shirt sleeve to the side of your shirt, so when you lift your arms the wings are a-flapping! Don’t forget cutting eye holes into a long piece of felt for the mask around your eyes.
Super Woman
Let’s face it. We’re moms, so we’re all basically Super Woman already, am I right? Not much of a costume. Moving on…
For costumes for the littlest ones
King Kong and Building
You bought your kid a monkey costume and you’re not sure what to do for yourself? Make yourself into a building by wearing a shirt you don’t mind drawing black rectangles (aka windows) on and voila! You’re a tall building! You’re may not be Frank Lloyd Wright, but you did just create a building fit for a a King… Kong, that is. Roar. (There is a variation of this costume that involves wearing a box, but I don’t think that sounds very conducive to having a baby on your hip.)
Daenerys and Dragon
If you watch Game of Thrones, then you know that there is literally nothing cooler than the “Mother of Dragons.” Isn’t it serendipitous then, that there are a million children’s costumes out there that are dragons or dinosaurs? If that’s the route you went, all you need to be Daenerys is a long blond wig, a long dress, and a take-no-prisoners attitude. Winter is coming… And you’re ready for it.
There you have it. Whatever costume your little monster chooses probably has a complementary option or two… or a dozen! Look at Dorothy. We all know she had the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. But don’t forget about the Wicked Witch, the Good Witch, the Flying Monkeys, the Munchkins, the Angry Trees, the Wizard, Toto, the Castle Guards, and the list goes on and on. You don’t need magic spells (or even a sewing machine) to create the perfect family costume. That’s just a bunch of hocus pocus. Think outside the cauldron and don’t be afraid to get your craft on this Halloween.
Halloween is all about the kids, but why not get in on the fun? What will your family be?
This post was contributed by Claire Frost as part of Savvy Sassy Moms Product Scouts. You can find more from Claire on her blog, House of Frost.
