The flier arrived at our house a couple of weeks ago. It was a double spread newspaper style advertisement completely covered with photos of kids in costumes. Gleek found the flier and carried it around for days. She and her friend incorporated the flier into some of their games. “Okay and then I transform into this one!” Gleek would declare pointing to the paper. I quickly realized that Gleek wanted to be have one of these costumes for Halloween. I also realized that I did not want to spend hours at a sewing machine trying to replicate a costume that I could go out and buy for $15. So today we made the trek to Halloween USA. Patch went with us.
Patch already knew what he wanted to be. He wanted to be Indiana Jones, just like Link. Link already had all the necessary props (hat, jacket, whip, gun.) Now we just had to find similar props for Patch. We headed to the children’s costumes section. There were no Indiana Jones options in kid sizes. I led Patch to the wall of boy costumes and suggested that perhaps he could pick something else. His eyes lit on a Star Wars Clone Soldier outfit. He decided that maybe being a Stormtrooper would be okay. He then selected a plastic gun to go with it. This was when I made my mistake. I referred to the outfit as “Clone Soldier.” Patch took a close look at the packaging. He realized that he had a Boba Fett gun and Clone Soldier clothing. This obviously would not do. It took much coaxing from me to convince him that it was allowable to mix and match. Fortunately we were saved from this crisis by the discovery of Indiana Jones gear in the adult costumes. Sure the jacket was too big, but Patch didn’t care. We abandoned Star Wars for Indiana Jones and all was well.
Gleek did not arrive at the store knowing what she wanted. She flitted through the entire children’s section pointing out the things she liked, delighted every time she recognized a costume that had been on the flier. “I might want that. I might want that. I want to be spooky. But maybe I want to be pretty.” She hovered with delight like a little butterfly sampling all the available flowers. At last she began to settle. She was drawn to the split angel/devil costumes. One half white angel, other half red devil. But then she thought that she would rather be more devilish. The decision was finally made when we cruised down the aisle full of wings. There was a beautiful pair of big white angel wings. Gleek fell in love. Now she just needed clothing to match her wings. Fortunately that was easily found.
On the way out we trekked through the “haunted house” which was really just a display of animatronic yard decorations. Sufficiently creepy for the 5-7 crowd. Gleek and Patch were fascinated. Then we took our prizes and went home. Hurray! The costumes are done!
I totally know what you mean with the time vs. money aspect of costuming. I used to be a professional costumer and can sew anything (seriously, I can. It’s my secret superpower.) But, when costuming a four-year-old, it’s simply insane to spend the time to make it, when the store-bought stuff is so darn cheap. (And it’s not like it needs to last more than one night, anyway!)
Yuuuuup, that flyer got my business, too! I was going to sew my kids their costumes, but I priced out the fabric vs buying costumes with the $5 off coupon, and the $15 manufactured costumes beat out the $22 home made ones. I do think that when these costumes die, I’ll sew dress-up replacements, but that’s when/if I have more money and time.
I just wish they were less particlar! MUST be Aurora, and Anikin. Not generic princess and random Jedi.
I also love to sew, but I don’t have time for it this year. Also I can picture myself spending hours to replicate a design, only to have my daughter complain because it isn’t made of cheap fabric like the ones in the store.
Some day I’m going to sew an absolutely stunning costume. But that one will be for me.
Picking a costume can be very important to a child. They are identifying who they want to be. Some years my kids are very particular. Others, anything will do.
Yay for Halloween!
We still need to figure out how to do a Jedi Knight (Obiwan style) for LightningBoy… hmm, he does need a bathrobe… lol
I love my ArtGrrl for almost always being a Cat or a Bat, for which I always have a really nice tail (made out of rabbit fur) and nice cat ears and a black sweat suit, OR bat wings made out of a black shirt, with a black sweat suit.
Thank you ArtGrrl!
I bought myself a t-shirt with a barcode on it with the words, “Generic Costume”. Of course, there’s my pin that says “Chick with Brains” so I could be zombie bait! LOL!
I really don’t know what Ross will be… maybe he’ll borrow my Generic Costume and I’ll be more Harry Potter world-ish. I could be dressed normally with an owl on my shoulder and a wand in my pocket. 🙂
Hey, what are YOU going to dress up as Sandra?
Costumes, eh? I ended up with a t-shirt that looked like a suit, and a Jack the Pumpkin King mask for my costume. My wife found a big Bee costume.