Creative Costuming!
I love Halloween! As an artist, I find it inspiring. My mind fills with ideas for décor, atmosphere, and the ever-exciting “what will I be this year?”
Of course I’m allowed to enjoy it as an adult – it makes for great role modeling for my children. They too become infected with my zest for the holiday and all the imagination-building fun.
So in the spirit of creativity, I have the following design-on-a-dime costume ideas for kids-of-all-ages:
1) Skip the mask: Masks are fun but can also be expensive, hot and hazardous. Anyone who remembers the plastic “blinders” with the single rubber band will agree. If you couldn’t see or breathe very well, at least you could look forward to the rubber band breaking and snapping you in the eye. Parents, try makeup instead. A little rouge and you have instant clown. Some well placed mascara and voila – instant diva (or princess) (Tip: Avoid grease paint unless you like scrubbing tired cranky dirty children for hours.)
2) Oh the many joys of garbage bags: plastic is a great insulator and trash bags come in more than one color. They can also fit over just about any layered undercoating. Uses: Togas, robes, even capes if trimmed carefully.
3) Go cerebral: A good costume isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s more fun to have a conversation piece. Ask the kids to make up an obscure super-hero like Captain Happy – dress them all in yellow and let them canvas the neighborhood laughing. Or put a small chair on their head and go as “gum” (get it?)
4) Size can be everything: Fit more than 1 kid in an oversized sweatsuit and you’ve got 2-headed monster! Dad’s clothes and a little extra stuffing and you have “mini-me” or your home-made “Hulk.” Try the opposite effect with undersized clothing and be “The Incredible-growing-child” (a little faux 5 o’clock shadow will enhance the effect.)
5) Wrap n’ roll: T.p. your child and instant-mummify. Some well-adhered holiday paper and you have “The Walking Gift.” Save the empty rolls for horns, fake noses, spikes, anything you can imagine.
When it’s all over, you’ve spent some quality bonding time in the pursuit of free sugar. You could even say you’re making a political statement (“old-fashioned”, “timeless”, “economical”, “just like I wore when I was his/her age”) You may even be surprised by some of the ideas your child can come up with.
Enjoy it while you take your inspector’s cut of the candy.
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