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Disney Costumes Family Costumes Girl costumes Group costume Halloween Halloween Costumes for Kids Halloween Costumes for Men Halloween Costumes for Teens Movies Period Costume

Newsies Halloween Costume Ideas

 

Tonight I watched the Disney movie musical, “Newsies” with my girls.  Not sure why I had not seen it until now.

It was made in 1992! 1992 people!!

I have no idea why we didn’t go see it when we were in NYC a few years ago. It was all the rage. Maybe it was sold out, although I didn’t even try to get tickets.  I guess a bunch of boys in a show didn’t seem appealing.

I was wrong.

I liked Newsies for 3 reasons.

1. The songs are memorable, even the beautiful ballad, Santa Fe.

2. My theater-performer-teen mentioned

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ebook General Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Kids

Top 5 Reasons Why I Don’t Like Costumes From Mass Retailers

I am not generally a food snob, but I am kind of a costume snob.  I do not like costumes that come in a bag.

Every year as my family plans for Halloween, we do not shop the costume aisles of the local discount store. Maybe for a few years when my kids were little, but the costume bug bit me bad about 6 years ago and I’ve never looked back.  Sure I would hit the after-Halloween sales looking for some bargains for the dress- up bin, but even then I realized I didn’t like those cheap costumes in a bag.

Disclaimer:

I provide plenty of costume ideas on my blog that are from mass retailers.  They can be used for inspiration or for those who need it NOW. For sure we all go through crazy times in our lives when costumes need to be quick and we don’t have time to go all out.  And occasionally you might even find some decent costumes in a bag.  I won’t judge.

Here are the top 5 reasons I don’t like costumes from mass retailers:

1.  They are cheaply made.  The fabric is cheap and doesn’t last long before you have shredding and tears in the seams.  They don’t have finished hems.  They are typically wrinkled and impossible to iron without damaging the paper thin fabric.  They don’t often last longer than Halloween night after being worn for a party or two and then all day at school, and then finally the big kahuna of trick-or-treating.  You  may be able to get some wear out of these costumes for pretend play, but they usually turn limp and wilty.

2.  It is likely that someone else will show up in the exact same costume.  Costume manufactures  often sell the same costume to multiple different retailers including online costume suppliers.  I don’t mind showing up as the same character as someone else, but it’s not so fun to find an exact twin.

3.  They can be relatively expensive for what they are: Something that your child or you may not wear again.  See reason #1.  They don’t typically come with a wig, accessories, or shoes.  So after you’ve spent $20-$30 on the costume only, you still have some more items to purchase, including a trick-or-treat bag.

4.  If you wait until the last minute, the pickins’ are slim.  You are limited to what the store has in stock and that’s no fun to be disappointed when you finally get your kids to the store with you and they can’t find a costume in the right size.

5. It’s boring.  Unoriginal.  You don’t get to experience the creative process! I believe that everyone has creativity inside of them waiting to be unlocked.  It is so fun to hit the thrift store to find that perfect denim jumper which could be the beginning of a minion costume.  That black and white striped skirt that would be perfect for a pirate, or that donated dance costume that glitters like a fairy costume.  Put the magic 5 ingredients together, and you have an amazing, original costume that you created yourself!

My ebook, “How to Design and Create a Halloween Costume” describes the magic 5 ingredients in greater detail and will inspire you to put together your own costume this year.  If you get stuck in the creative process, contact me on The Costume Resource Facebook page and I can send you some resources and ideas–I’d love to help you create your own costume!

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Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Women Hats Period Costume Refashioning

White Witch Halloween Costume Idea

white witch
White Witch Halloween Costume Idea Photo by Erin Smith of Archive Costumes, Orem, Utah

My friend at Archive Costumes of Orem, Utah posted this picture on their Facebook page of a white witch costume that is available for rental and I fell in love with it!

First, it’s a great photo in a beautiful local park.

Second, I love the hat. I am a sucker for hats.  I haven’t made tons of original hats, but I love to refashion and embellish existing hats.  The broom is pretty cool too.

Third, I love the idea of a witch dressed in white.  It seems so updated.  So fresh.  So youthful and kind. Black is so normal. So predictable. Pink is too Glinda.  White (it might be off white)  is just right. Romantic even.  White may be on my mind because

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Accessories Halloween Costumes Tutorials

How to Make Fake Tattoo Sleeve

My daughters love to watch Bethany Mota videos on YouTube.  She is fun, friendly, and has a great variety of tips, recipes, and DIY projects and crafts.  My daughter showed me this one tonight and I really liked her DIY fake tattoo tights which could easily work for a fake tattoo sleeve as well.  Start watching at 2:40 for the short but clever method.

This video highlights 5 quick and easy Halloween costumes ideas which include:

-Biker Chick

-Lilo from “Lilo and Stitch”

-Red Coat from “Pretty Little Liars”

-Kim Possible from the Disney Channel

-“Error 404 Tshirt” for those who want to be festive but not really go all out in costume

LIKE The Costume Resource on Facebook for more updates, ideas, and tips!

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Cosplay Girl costumes Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Women

Mermaid Tail for Mermaid Costume

I ran across a website that makes mermaid costumes that can be used in water for play or for totally awesome mermaid costumes on land!  They are open on the bottom so that you can walk in them, though with tiny steps. They come in many different sizes for girls, teens, and adults and different colors and fabrics.  Click here for more info; click on the above picture to purchase on Amazon.  Happy swimming!

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Disney Costumes Girl costumes Halloween Costumes Sewing Costumes

Frozen Costume Pattern

The Frozen costume pattern for Anna and Elsa costumes is now available!  There was one left at my local JoAnn store and here it is…

Frozen Costume Pattern

 

 

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Cosplay Disney Costumes Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Women Movies

Disney’s Maleficent Costume

I was reluctant to see the new “Maleficent” movie by Disney because at first it seemed like some of the other fairy tale movie remakes out there, told from a darker side for a more mature audience.  However, “Maleficent”  is not one of those.  With really beautiful fantasy settings and interesting twists in the storyline, it was a sweet film. And thank you Disney, for not spilling cleavage everywhere. I realized Maleficent is definitely going to be added to the list for popular women’s Halloween costumes and cosplay this year.

Today I’ll feature pieces needed for the title role, Maleficent.  More on Aurora and the cute fairies to follow.

To give you a head start on your Maleficent costume, here are a few highlights.  Click on the pics to take you right to their listing.  They have some great accessories including the Maleficent horns, staff, and cape if you already have a great slinky fitting black dress.  Congrats to you if you can look as good as Angelina Jolie in your slinky black dress!  Her cheekbones had to have CGI on them, they were just too angular–I mean her ears were elongated too…

Dress
Maleficent Costume. Click for details
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Maleficent Horns for Maleficent Costume
Maleficent Staff

Towards the end of the film, she is wearing a black outfit of pants with her wings which you can easily add to some items you may already own.

corset top
Maleficent corset top
Black faux leather leggings
Maleficent wings

 

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Cosplay Disney Costumes General Girl costumes Halloween Costumes for Women Makeup Tutorials

Disney’s Frozen Elsa Costume and Elsa Makeup

 

My girls ran across this Elsa makeup tutorial a few days ago and I wanted to share it with all you Frozen fans! Makeup is one of the 6 magic ingredients in a creating a custom costume, so you want to be sure you have thought about the makeup design to go with your costume.  She does a great job of explaining how to do Elsa Makeup including a helpful tip on how to make your eyes pop with false eyelashes.  Who knew you could use 2 pair on each eye? Slip on an Elsa wig and a beautiful sparkling blue gown and your Elsa Halloween costume will be the big hit this year!

To learn about the other 5 magic ingredients in creating a costume, purchase my ebook, “How to Design and Create a Halloween Costume” .  Available for viewing on nearly all electronic devices with this Kindle App.

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Disney Costumes General

Glitter Shoes for Disney’s Frozen Elsa Costume

You can bet characters from Disney’s “Frozen” will be huge for cosplay and Halloween this year!  I will focus on many aspects of their costumes throughout 2014.  My daughters are already planning their Anna and Elsa costumes for Halloween.  I’m kicking off the “Frozen” posts with this link here to a tutorial showing how to glitter shoes for Elsa using Mod Podge and glitter.  This quick and easy process can turn any shoes, boots, or sandals into glittering goodness!  It’s pretty easy to find glitter shoes for little girls, but it becomes more difficult for adults. Using this process you can customize any shoes with exactly the glitter color you need.

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Halloween Costumes Halloween Costumes for Men Period Costume

The Roaring 20’s: Great Gatsby Costumes for Men

The Roaring 20’s and The Great Gatsby seems to be a popular costume theme for parties, dances, and other special events. I wrote a previous post here on 1920’s costumes for women, but I neglected to write for the 1920’s men’s costume.

To me, men’s fashion overall isn’t as fun or dynamic as women’s fashion, but the 1920’s do have some pretty snazzy looks for men. And boy are they good lookin’.

Think 3 piece suits, light colored suit pieces, club shirts with white collars on a blue or khaki dress shirt, bold striped vests and jackets (as in Barbershop quartet-look), pinstripes, pocket kerchiefs, and bow ties.

Cream Linen Suit for Gatsby

Head to the thrift store, raid Grandpa’s closet, or splurge on a dapper suit.  If you can track down a fitted pin stripe suit, add a blue shirt, and a bow tie.  Or go with brown tweed pants, a club shirt which is pretty easy to find, pattern vest, and a necktie with thick bold stripes.  Then there’s always a tuxedo, especially if your date is dressed to the nines. Wear it with a lay down collar shirt (not wing-tip), vest, and hand tied bow tie.  Do not wear a cummerbund and pre-tied tie because you will be mistaken for the waiter.  The two-toned loafer or oxford Spectator shoe is a standout accessory from 1920’s men’s fashion.  It’s all in the details.

Check out this link to Brooks Brothers’ Great Gatsby Collection.

This link is a helpful guide to men’s suits in the 1920’s,  this one for men’s shirts in the 1920’s, and this link for shoes from the era.

Here is a link with many pictures to inspire your costume based on incorporating more recent trends in fashion.

I just can’t get enough of spectator shoes.

Click on image to view on Amazon
Click on image to view on Amazon