Halloween is a great time for people to be as creative as their imaginations will allow. Costume ideas run the gamut of silly, historical, literary, and more. When it comes time for you to take your grandchild (or grandchildren) trick-or-treating or to a costume party, here are some ideas that might just help you win a contest or two.
Cruella de Vil and a Dalmatian puppy
Inspired by 101 Dalmatians, consider dressing up as the famous villain and one of the puppies who manage to escape her grasp. You’ll need:
* A black dress – any style
* A wrap or cloak – the original character wears a floor-length fur coat, which is the perfect choice if you have access to such an item or can find something similar at a thrift store. You can also go with any kind of plush wrap, ideally in white
* Black-and-white wig (accomplish this look by parting hair and spray painting with colored hair spray, widely available at costume stores or in the Halloween aisle at your favorite retailer)
* Red elbow-length gloves
Outfit your “puppy” in a dog costume or mix-and-match a polka-dot outfit, making sure to add a little smudge of black paint on the nose, as well as a tail.
Flo from Progressive Insurance and an insurance seeker
Capitalizing on popular television commercials, you might dress as Flo, the cheery representative from Progressive Insurance. You’ll need:
* An all-white outfit
* Sneakers
* White apron on which you can write or paste a sign with “Progressive”
* Headband
Dress the insurance seeker however you want, simply making sure they have a toy car to drive. You might also affix Hot Wheel cars to a T-shirt and call the costume “rush-hour traffic.”
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rspeed/3737705985/
Picture taken by Rob Speed
Role reversal
A fun idea is to have Grandma and Grandchild switch places. You’ll need:
* An oversized handbag
* Apron
* A house dress
* Grey hair – a wig or hair that is treated with colored hair spray, or lightly coated with hairspray and then dusted with baby powder or flour
* Oversized bra that can be stuffed with padding for comic effect
* Orthopedic shoes or slippers (keeping in mind that late fall can bring inclement weather)
* Fake glasses on a chain (or add a chain to glasses you already wear to turn them into a prop)
* Knee-high stockings that are purposely visible
* Additional props like a cane, shawl, or an assortment of hard candy that “Grandma” can hand out to passerby
Grandchild:
* Put hair in pigtails
* Carry a blankie or stuffed animal
* Wear pajamas and slippers in a whimsical design similar to a child’s sleep attire
Ideas abound for costumes, many of which can be put together with items you likely already have around the house. Don’t forget to visit yard sales, thrift and consignment stores for clothes and props whose costs won’t break the bank. Above all, have fun! 🙂
Danielle is a master of creative costume designs. She once decorated her disabled friend’s handicap van as The Mystery Machine and she and the rest of her crew dressed as Scooby Doo characters.
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