I recently visited the fabric store where I spent 6 years helping customers. Halloween is, hands-down, their busiest season of the year. Being almost exactly a week before the big black-and-orange day, I was feeling the pressure and I wasn't even making costumes or helping customers! The tension in the air was palpable, and my mind turned to those countless interesting and harrowing hours that I spent lovingly helping people with their costume ideas. As a result, here are some of my top tips for surviving the Halloween Rat Race:
1. KNOW YOUR SKILL LEVEL! I cannot possibly count the number of times I've helped desperate parents and party-goers who had never sewn and were attempting an expert-level costume four days (or the night before) Halloween. It's okay to have great ideas, but be realistic about the amount of work involved and the price tag for the materials needed. Most of the time, simple solutions to creative costume ideas are the best. Martha Stewart's Halloween magazine special issues (and their online archives) contain excellent and easy ways to achieve very successful costumes with minimal sewing skills and commonly available items. Even if the specific costumes they feature aren't exactly what you are looking for, quite often the techniques have multi-purpose applications. What about the tutorial for these adorable Royal Couple costumes? Will and Kate Middleton, anyone?
1. KNOW YOUR SKILL LEVEL! I cannot possibly count the number of times I've helped desperate parents and party-goers who had never sewn and were attempting an expert-level costume four days (or the night before) Halloween. It's okay to have great ideas, but be realistic about the amount of work involved and the price tag for the materials needed. Most of the time, simple solutions to creative costume ideas are the best. Martha Stewart's Halloween magazine special issues (and their online archives) contain excellent and easy ways to achieve very successful costumes with minimal sewing skills and commonly available items. Even if the specific costumes they feature aren't exactly what you are looking for, quite often the techniques have multi-purpose applications. What about the tutorial for these adorable Royal Couple costumes? Will and Kate Middleton, anyone?
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| A royal costume tutorial from MarthaStewart.com |
2. BE FLEXIBLE! More than a few people that I've helped became solidly devoted to a very particular costume idea and sallied forth with no willingness to switch things up when the going got tough. I've heard tales of quests for raw materials sent people miles away from home at odd hours of the night for just the right this-or-that. Unless you enjoy the chase, it's good to keep an open mind about what might complete your costume. If you've involved your child in the design of his or her costume, encourage them to be flexible when it comes to color choices, accessories, and other details. This is easier said than done, I know, but most kids welcome the chance to take their ideas further and sometimes a trip to Goodwill or garage sales can spark ideas (and savings!) that you might never have considered initially. Sometimes it's good to have a couple of costume ideas in mind - you might strike out on one and hit a home run finding items for another... My own famous Carmen Miranda costume from 4th grade happened thanks to an incredibly grody pile of plastic fruit my mom found at a garage sale!
3. SET A BUDGET. This might seem obvious, especially during today's economic climate, but you'd be surprised how many occasional costumers end up spending big bucks without intending to. Even if you are working at the last minute, take at least half an hour (or a full hour) to sit down and sketch or write out what it is you want to make, and see what you have on hand, what you can borrow, and what might get you to your goal cheaply. Craft felt, hot glue, glitter, cardboard and paint can boost a costume without a lot of money. Take into consideration that most costumes are only worn for a few hours at most and don't need to last for eternity; glue is okay, paper's okay, just relax!
4. MAKEUP IS MAGIC! Sometimes all you need to turn clothes into a costume is makeup! For just a few dollars plus what you might have in your own makeup stash, the power to transform is yours. One year I donned a sparkly vintage 1960's top and skirt that I had on hand and did elaborate cat makeup with a $4 fantasy makeup kit from Wal-Mart. The result was the glitziest Party Animal costume ever! Loads of compliments couldn't be wrong. If you're strapped for cash, dress you (or your little goblin) in all black and get creative with makeup and a few strategically-place accessories.
3. SET A BUDGET. This might seem obvious, especially during today's economic climate, but you'd be surprised how many occasional costumers end up spending big bucks without intending to. Even if you are working at the last minute, take at least half an hour (or a full hour) to sit down and sketch or write out what it is you want to make, and see what you have on hand, what you can borrow, and what might get you to your goal cheaply. Craft felt, hot glue, glitter, cardboard and paint can boost a costume without a lot of money. Take into consideration that most costumes are only worn for a few hours at most and don't need to last for eternity; glue is okay, paper's okay, just relax!
4. MAKEUP IS MAGIC! Sometimes all you need to turn clothes into a costume is makeup! For just a few dollars plus what you might have in your own makeup stash, the power to transform is yours. One year I donned a sparkly vintage 1960's top and skirt that I had on hand and did elaborate cat makeup with a $4 fantasy makeup kit from Wal-Mart. The result was the glitziest Party Animal costume ever! Loads of compliments couldn't be wrong. If you're strapped for cash, dress you (or your little goblin) in all black and get creative with makeup and a few strategically-place accessories.
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| Monster makeup tutorial at MarthaStewart.com |
5. DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE BASIC, CLASSIC, OR OLD-FASHIONED. So many times adults and kids go out of their way to attempt elaborate, obscure or character costumes. I don't blame you for doing what you love... However, if time and money matter, don't be afraid to try something time-tested and easy. Who doesn't love a classic Vampire or Mummy? Frankenstein is still scary and awesome, too. Ballerinas, Red Riding Hood and Cowgirls and Cowboys are fabulous... and might be easier and cheaper than a 100% accurate Strawberry Shortcake or Cinderella costume!
6. ADVICE FOR NEXT YEAR: Suggestions 1-5 will get you to the pumpkin patch on time for this year. For next year I offer the following advice, courtesy of my mother, who lovingly made exquisite (and often inexpensive) Halloween costumes for me from age 2 through about 6th grade. Start planning your costume the last week of September and take no more than a week to decide on a couple of ideas to follow. Start looking for best bargains on raw materials or things to repurpose as soon as you can. If you find something (like makeup or shoes) that are perfect and about the right price, buy them immediately (no matter what time of year it is). Pace your work so that you're not finishing things at the last possible minute - that often means doing any sewing first and pacing the finishing touches so that you are only making minor adjustments that week of Halloween. And lastly, make time to enjoy Halloween and the days leading up to it. Planning ahead with a relaxed and fun attitude leaves more time for fun things like making bat cookies, hayrides, and other haunting wonders.
Work smart, be safe and I wish everyone a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
6. ADVICE FOR NEXT YEAR: Suggestions 1-5 will get you to the pumpkin patch on time for this year. For next year I offer the following advice, courtesy of my mother, who lovingly made exquisite (and often inexpensive) Halloween costumes for me from age 2 through about 6th grade. Start planning your costume the last week of September and take no more than a week to decide on a couple of ideas to follow. Start looking for best bargains on raw materials or things to repurpose as soon as you can. If you find something (like makeup or shoes) that are perfect and about the right price, buy them immediately (no matter what time of year it is). Pace your work so that you're not finishing things at the last possible minute - that often means doing any sewing first and pacing the finishing touches so that you are only making minor adjustments that week of Halloween. And lastly, make time to enjoy Halloween and the days leading up to it. Planning ahead with a relaxed and fun attitude leaves more time for fun things like making bat cookies, hayrides, and other haunting wonders.
Work smart, be safe and I wish everyone a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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