Easy Halloween Costumes

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Saturday, October 13th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

If you’re going to get into ‘Easy’ this year, as in “Easy Pumpkin Painting,” then by all means, make the entire Halloween holiday Easy for you and your family. It will be much less stressful and much more enjoyable.

After you’ve painted the pumpkins, turn your attention to Easy Halloween Costumes. They no longer need to follow the traditional themes of witches, zombies and goblins. Today, children are less concerned about following the traditions than about dressing up to have fun.

I just think store bought costumes, although convenient, are just plain boring. Instead, it’s possible to create unique and imaginative Halloween Costumes without going to the expense of buying or renting professionally made costumes. A few old clothes, a creative choice of accessories, some make up, a touch of originality and exaggeration, and you are all set. Here are some easy ideas that I know we’ll try this year.

Doctor
Start with just an old white coat. Find an old stethoscope (ask your doctor if he has one you can use) or use a toy stethoscope. Add a red cross to the coat with some fabric paint, and make up the face with a mustache and some face paint to look like an older man. Somebody in the family might have an old x-ray photograph revealing bones that could be carried. Add a clip board and a treat bag or pail.

Mad Scientist
You could start with another old white coat, and turn your character into a mad scientist or a geeky nerd using the same approach, with relevant accessories like a stack of pens in the pocket and some make up. The mad scientist could wear a wig to resemble Einstein and the geek could wear a propellor hat. Let your imagination run wild.

Princess
A princess outfit can also start with a low cost basic item of clothing, in this case a dress with simple elegant lines, not necessarily full length, and dress shoes. By concentrating on adding copious quantities of sparkling “jewels” in a tiara or crown, necklace, brooch, rings and perhaps a wand, and giving close attention to make up, you will soon have a gorgeous princess look. Silver foil and stick-on shiny artificial gemstones and beads are low cost ways of creating exaggerated jewelry. With a little Face Painting of stars, swirlies or flowers around the temples and forehead, she’ll look gorgeous! A brand name shopping bag would make an appropriate treat bag.

Old and worn dark clothes, such as an old suit, combined with face paint, can be used to create a hobo costume. Sew or stick on some patches, create a few rips and fraying edges, and add an old felt hat - possibly even a Charley Chaplin cane (or perhaps a bottle wrapped in a paper bag in the jacket pocket). Face paint to reflect this tired, dirty and weather beaten character would round out the effect. If you don’t have face paint, light a match at the end of a wine cork, blow it out and let cool. Smudge the soot from the cork on to the cheeks.

Clothes from an earlier generation found in a family wardrobe or thrift shop can be used to create old man or old lady characters. Make up the faces and hair to create an elderly look. Add appropriate accessories like a walking stick for the old man and an old-style handbag for the lady.

Easy Halloween Costumes starting with simple old clothes combined with make up and accessories can also be used to create the look of earlier decades, such hippies in the 60s. Perhaps choose a photograph of a pop star from the past, like Elvis, as your inspiration.

Have fun, get creative and think outside the pumpkin!

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