Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Revisited


This is a repost from 2008.  It also happens to be my second most popular story.  Apparently people are very interested in the Snap Crackle and Pop outfits pictured further down!  So, I figured, what the heck?

Since my kids won't be dressing up, and since I somehow never found the time to make the Liquorville costumes I was hoping to... and since we really don't have a party to wear them to anyway... why not take a little stroll down Halloween-costume-memory-lane?

So now, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this encore presentation of the very popular Fun Monday, Halloween!





The host for this week's Fun Monday is Sayre of Sayre Smiles. She made me smile when I found out that this weeks participants would be posting pictures of Halloween Costumes! Here's what she says:

"Tell us about your favorite Halloween as a kid (pictures, if you have them!), and show us your costume for this year. If you're not dressing up, show us a picture of a pumpkin carving that really tickled your fancy or how you decorated your house. "

I know, she said my favorite costume, but Halloween is my absolute FAVORITE HOLIDAY and these costumes ... all hand made ... they're like my children, I can't possibly pick a favorite! Growing up, my mother made all of our clothes, so when it came time for Halloween, why wouldn't she make our costumes too? I learned everything I know from her, and continued the tradition of homemade costumes.

So, without further ado, let's bring out our first model...

Here we have my baby sister Vicki modeling a lovely pink pioneer woman dress. This dress, made of cotton candy pink percale, features white ric rack and had a matching bonnet when I originally wore it.

Next up we enter what I like to call my mother's "ethnic years." Here we see me, sporting a lovely bathrobe, magically transformed into a kimono with the use of a scarf, some rubber thongs and a live hibiscus flower. Yes, live.
Moving on, we see Vicki again in another selection from the ethnic collection. This time the fabric is purest white bed sheet, embellished with the finest felt tip markers. Her adorable curly bob is set off with a headband and feather, fashioned from 100% Safeway grocery bag. And pulling this ensemble all together are the blue fuzzy slippers.


Next, we fast forward in time to a David Bowie inspired creation. This stunning silver space suit was the result of finding silver pants at a thrift store for a dollar then spending twenty five more dollars on the silver material, thread, and makeup. A bargain compared to today's prices!

Here we see me sporting a traditional witch costume, lightened up for this festive occasion by the use of a red scarf jauntily looped around the hat, and some red earrings. The real star here is my BFF Kimisue who is channeling Sally Field in her Flying Nun costume. This white, on white on white habit is fashioned again from bedsheet. The hat, or wimple, as it is called, is made from cardboard box, and hours and hours of papier mache.

At yet another party, Kimisue and I are joined by our other BFF Tami! Kimisue, on the left, is respendent in her weathered chaps, with matching hat and ammo belt. Tami, in the middle, 8 months pregnant at the time, was the ball attached by a chain to her convict husband... a costume that proved to be only too prophetic. And here we see the silver pants from the space suit of a couple of years ago repurposed in this ringmaster outfit, complete with red satin waistcoat and tails!

Me again, modeling my whimsical wench wardrobe (at work). This fetching ensemble features a peasant blouse and skirt, dyed to match. Not visible are the white eyelet knee length bloomers which match the perky dust cap which (thankfully) covers my 80s shag haircut. Costume comes with black hose and shoes. Pewter drinking mug and cockney accent optional.


Next up, a splendid recreation of the cereal box heroes - Snap Crackle and Pop. Thats Cathy on the left as Pop! Mary in the middle as Crackle! and on the right, that's me as Snap!

And finally, closing out our Halloween fashion show, the lovely me, in my own rendition of the infamous "picnic dress" worn by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind.

There's my Halloween repertoire, what's YOUR favorite costume?  And make sure you visit all of the other Fun Monday participants to check out their rogues gallery!


13 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Spooooooktacular!!!

I love the little Indian Maiden. So, so sweet.

My costume this year, in all my glory, is posted for Fun Monday....

::::witch's cackle::::

karisma said...

Oh you do make for a lovely Scarlett, however I have to say the little Indian costume was my favourite! Your mama is very talented.

Sayre said...

Those are some amazing costumes! I love when Moms sew - my mom made amazing costumes too, but I couldn't find any pictures!

You are a Halloween goddess, Lala!

m (the misanthrope) said...

Wow - great costumes!! And great memories too, by the looks of things :-)

Heather said...

I love the kimono bathrobe and of course Snap, Crackle, and Pop! Very cute. I'm a huge homemade costume fan and still nudge my kids in that direction each year.

Jan said...

Wow, what a wonderful post. I love all the photos, old and new. Happy Halloween.

Hula Girl at Heart said...

Man, those are all fabulous!! My favorite is Snap, Crackle & Pop. I do love a creative Halloween costume.

Mrs. G. said...

These photos are fantastic! Your "ethnic" years were pretty cute. I love that Halloween brings out the kid in us no matter how, uh, oldish we might be.

Anonymous said...

"I must say Scah-lett...you were beautiful..."

Loved attending this mah-velous style show. The creativity just oozes from the place.

So impressed that you had all those photos and were able to find them.

Happy HOWL-o-ween.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Ha! Love Snap, Krackle, and Pop!

Tiggerlane said...

What fantastic costumes! And I can't get over how much Kimisue really looked like the flying nun! I have always wanted to be Scarlett for Halloween...one day, I will!

Jo Beaufoix said...

Hee hee, those are fantastic. I am loving seeing all your costumes.

Faye said...

The first venture in ethnic costuming was a great success. Live flower a nice attention to detail--Martha Stewart would be proud? Seriously though, how much more memorable those home dreamed up and made costumes--no contest.

P.S. I was a bit tardy getting my Fun Monday post up yesterday--out of town until evening. Check out if you have a minute.