I just can't ever justify spending money on a crappy outfit that'll be lucky to make it through trick-or-treating, let alone survive to be passed down to younger siblings for years and years. Some people think store bought costumes are easier. What with class parties, trick-or-treaters, sports, and everything else October holds, how do you find time to MAKE a Halloween costume?! Homemade costumes do not- I repeat- DO NOT have to be complicated. Throw on an oversized white Oxford and some Ray Bans? Tom Cruise from "Risky Business." Striped shirt, jeans, and camera around your neck? Where's Waldo.
I have always had a blast picking and putting together my Halloween costumes with my mom, but now that I have a daughter of my own, I get to make her costumes and continue the tradition. I look forward to years of making costumes for my baby girl, and I hope she enjoys it as much as I do. This year would be Izzy's first real Halloween- the first year she would be going trick-or-treating, that is. I have been keeping my eye out for ideas on Pinterest for months, and when I saw this picture, I knew I had found it. I had found Izzy's Halloween costume for 2012.
Photo by Martha Stewart
Now, while this looks on the surface to be a time consuming, complicated costume, by planning ahead (and spreading out the work over a few days) this really is a very manageable look. I simply followed the tutorial on Martha's website, and it took me about six hours or less (over three days, with most of the time being spent stitching the feather boas on the onesie). I just used a onesie (as opposed to the leotards used in Martha's tutorial), and I only used one. I felt she was plenty fluffy without the extra stuffing. I liked the onesie more because, since I left it unsnapped, it gave her a little "tail," which was adorable : ) I couldn't find a white pilot's cap, so I just used a simple white crocheted hat instead, and it worked great. I also ended up buying white leggings and dying them yellow with powder Rit dye in Golden Yellow, because I couldn't find any yellow ones. Other than that, the tutorial is very straightforward, and when you're done... just look at what you get:
I mean, come on people- does it get any cuter than that?! I can't even tell you how many "Ooooo's" and "Awwwww's" we got as we went door-to-door. I literally teared up on multiple occasions that evening. Now, while there wasn't a costume contest, I hold that Izzy won. I don't think I saw more than 5 other homemade costumes the entire time we were out.
On the feet: While I'm SO glad I made them for pictures, Izzy did have a somewhat difficult time walking in them, so we ended up pulling them off and just having her wear her shoes that were underneath. If I had spent a little more time on them I might have been able to position them a little better, but I was crunched for time. Oh well. One last look at my little peep...
I may be biased, but- DANG! That is one cute little kid and, most importantly? She put up with the costume like a pro. I think she and I have many, many happy years of costume making ahead of us, and I can't wait : )
