Why buy a costume when you can make one? Credit: Getty Images
What to be for Halloween? It's a question kids everywhere start pondering sometime around early October. But not my kid. She likes to start planning her Halloween costume early. Like November early. This gives her plenty of time to wholeheartedly embrace and then ultimately reject literally dozens of possibilities. And in the end, despite having nearly 11 months of lead time, she will put off making a final commitment until approximately the last week of October.
And then she'll change her mind. Twice.
My experience with the fickle mind of this particular tween is the reason I stopped buying Halloween costumes. The last time I was foolish enough spend good money on something she will only wear once, she had moved on to an ever better idea by the time it arrived in the mail. She wore that $60 pirate costume, but only under extreme duress. And needless to say, nobody had a happy Halloween that year.
After that incident, she and I came to an agreement. She could continue to be all last-minute and indecisive about her Halloween costumes as long as what she ultimately chose was something she and I could make together, inexpensively and in a reasonable amount of time.
The first year we did this, we both had an epiphany: Homemade costumes are way better than store bought anyway. Despite being ridiculously expensive, most costumes that you buy online or in one of those Halloween stores that pop up this time of year are flimsy, uncomfortable and look throwaway-cheap. A costume created from from discount fabric, re-purposed clothes and creative accessories looks and feels special. Plus, making it together is lots of fun.
Lest you get the idea that I am some sort of Martha Stewart, let me be clear: I am not particularly gifted in the textile arts. But I am handy enough with the scissors, can follow directions and can stitch reasonably straight lines on my cheap sewing machine. With my limited skills and her creative input, we've put together some pretty awesome costumes over the years.
But the real advantage to making a costume rather than buying one is that you don't have to choose just one. Last year, she had three separate occasions on which to wear a Halloween costume and she wore a different one every time. Thanks to an old dance recital dress, a few yards of fabric and some odd bits of clothing and accessories, she went as an adorable 50's girl, a fairy and, much to my amusement, a pirate.
Some day she will outgrow trick or treating and won't need a Halloween costume at all. But for now, putting our heads together and coming up with creative ways to make something out of nothing is an annual collaboration that she and I both look forward to. And one that I wouldn't trade for all the itchy store-bought costumes in the world.
Still planning to buy a costume? ParentDish says kids want princess and SpiderMan costumes. No surprise there.
Lespal,10-28-2010, 4:17PM
Ok, I'll listen to what the Jehova's Witness's have to say but every year Halloween comes and goes and not one JW knocks on my door, you'd think the one day a year people expect strangers to come knockin on their doors that the JW's would jump on it!
Reply
Ash,10-28-2010, 5:10PM
what's JW gotta do with Halloween?
Sharon,10-28-2010, 5:40PM
Your cooent , although unrelated to the article, made my day. Thanks for the laugh.
Maya,10-28-2010, 4:56PM
Also, home-made costumes are less likely to be racist/offensive and "slutty". I mean, have you seen what people want females of any age (even toddlers!) to wear on Halloween?
Reply
coastalkate,10-28-2010, 9:16PM
Hooray - using imagination, creativity, recycling and re-purposing - WAY TO GO, Your daughter will thank you for many years.
Reply
Mary,10-28-2010, 7:07PM
Totally agree, I've been making my own costumes for years (my sister and I make coordinating costumes for ourselves every year to wear to all the parties and events). I'll be 20 soon and my costuming is still going strong =D
Reply
bokono,10-28-2010, 5:38PM
Home made costumes show their own creativity. Mom sew almost all halloween costumes for me when growing up...I always felt I wore something different. Store made costumes look cheap and thin materials.
Reply
Sebowe,10-28-2010, 5:42PM
Cheap home-made costumes are also great when you're either a poor college student, or a recently graduated 20-something living on a budget. One year I was a can of Raid (my best friend was the cockroach). That costume took me an hour to make using two macrame rings for the top and bottom of the can, two yards of black felt, some velcro, a hot glue gun, and acrylic paint. It looked awesome. Last year I was a lightening bug. I got a couple lime green kid-sized tutus from the Dollar Tree, cut them up, and stitched them to the back of a pair of black shorts I had, and stuck glowsticks on it. Wore that over black tights and a black leotard, and had a glitter bobble thing for antenna. I've learned to not spend more than $10-$20 on a costume, and have A LOT more fun being creative.
Reply
Mike,10-28-2010, 6:13PM
My best costume was the simpliest. I dressed like I go to work but formed a bloody gash across my bald head with makup wax and fake blood. Then I take the kids out or go to the store. Even on Halloween I have people asking if I was alwright or if I needed help, it was great. Subtle but disturbing.
Reply
Oldkid,10-28-2010, 6:34PM
Your never to old to dress up (or down) for Halloween. I'm 62 and thinking about what I'll put togeather when the day is here. I have a big bag of possibilites. I've never bought a coustume even for my daughter when she was young. It is half the fun.
Reply
D,10-28-2010, 7:40PM
These articles always crack me up... who are these neurotic people? Yes, when I'm on here I do read them once in a while, and feel compelled to comment..so here goes....................
This woman has a very spoiled child. $60.00 on a child's costume? Where is the parenting?
Over the years I've gone back and forth making costumes for my son and daughter and buying them, depending on how much I was able to spend and what they wanted. I am a very creative Mom, but my sewing skills are limited to a straight seam, so velcro was always a great choice, so was finding pieces we needed at the thrift store. Now that they are teens, they put costumes together themselves using what we have around the house. You'd be amazed at what they have come up with, with the addition of one or two items found at the 99 cent store. And not one time has anyone ever asked them "who are you supposed to be?"
Happy Halloween !
Reply