Frock Me Friday - Halloween Costumes from Your Closet

I was in the store and I saw a person wearing what I thought was a costume.  Hmmmm - a little early for wearing that Halloween costume out.  It was like a train wreck where you're trying not to look but end up following the person around just to look at what they're wearing - stalking would be accurate.  If that person isn't you then you may need this post for some easy costume ideas using items from your closet with one or two items added to make a costume.

First up is Luigi:  

green shirt, overalls, white gloves - you might have to buy the gloves unless you're one of those housekeepers who does the white glove test (please don't come to my house.)  Green baseball cap with circle of white fabric. Use some fabric paint to put the "L" for Luigi on it. Oh and don't forget the moustache!  Not pictured is her friend who came as Mario using the same ideas.

The Circus Ringmaster:

From the closet:  Jacket, boots, black pants.  The jacket was modified a little but nothing permanent.  Took some black felt and cut tuxedo "tails" out and pinned to back of jacket.  Cut cardboard out to make epaulets on shoulders.  Glued felt and fringe on to cardboard and pinned to jacket.  Note:  Glued two felt tabs on bottom of cardboard epaulet to have something to pin to.  Additional items:  Top hat and a whip that was from her closet in our costume trunk from an Indiana Jones costume.

Abraham Lincoln:  

Looks easy and uncomplicated.  But wait remember how tall Abe was ...

You need a couple of skills to pull this one off.  You must be able to grow some facial hair or buy some and you have to be able to walk on stilts.

From the closet: black jacket, white shirt, black slacks, bow tie - okay you might not have that.

How to make:

Black fabric was cut and sewn to look like a pant leg and then pinned to the bottom of black slacks to cover the stilts.

Stove top hat from costume store.  

Easy Peasy! - if you can walk on stilts.

More costume ideas:

Jason from Halloween Movies:  Mechanics overalls, kitchen knife and the Jason mask from Halloween Costume store.

Go as a graduate:  old cap and gown is all you need.

Last costume is not from the closet (not from any of our closets but different strokes for different folks) but fairly easy and inexpensive.  No pattern needed, basic sewing or gluing skills is all.

Materials:

Faux Fur

Moleskin fabric or other fabric that kind of looks like leather and will not fray when it is cut into strips.

Belt from Goodwill - Is Goodwill like the belt graveyard?

Sword and necklace from Halloween Costume store.

How to make:  

Everything but the shorts - (we like to call it a diaper) was just strips of fur and moleskin wrapped and tied around arms and feet.  The Conan Diaper (still makes me smile to say it) was cut kind of like a diaper pattern and then the sides sewn up.  You could also glue it. The waist was big to get on and off but the belt kept it up and added to the Conan look.

I am officially out of costume ideas for the day.  Look in your own closet and see what you can come up with!

- Laurie

Frock Me Friday > "Boo"tiful Costumes

Okay not all of them are "boo"tiful but I just wanted to use that word.  Today's Frock Me Friday is brought to you by the letter "C" and the number "5".  Yep, that's right 5 costume ideas that won't break the bank or the clock.  Warning:  You might find some of these images disturbing!

Easy to make with a few supplies:
Sweatshirt & sweat pants
Cheesecloth torn in strips
Make up

We glued the cheesecloth to the sweats since they were an old pair but you could just wrap and pin.





















Luckily our Edward Scissorhands wears a lot of black - so the clothes are her own.


Supplies:
Belts from Goodwill
Pair of gloves from Goodwill
Paint stir sticks
Make-up

The stir sticks were cut down and painted to look like scissor blades and then stitched to black gloves.

Supplies:

Workout Videos

Old bikini

Speedo or briefs

Vines from Walmart

Cut leaves off of vines and stitch to bikini or briefs.  I bar tacked them with the sewing machine but you could probably use fabric glue.  I started with the bottom layer and bar tacked the leaf where I knew it would be hidden by another leaf.
Photo Disclaimer:  This is a horrible cut and paste job of Brad & Angelina but some people don't want to live on the internet.

Easy costume if you are all tatted up and have long hair - just kidding.  I think most of the clothes were his own except for the pants.  Now where would a guy get skinny, shiny, skin tight pants without breaking the bank? Oh yeah, from his girlfriend.  This is a Chaos and Gloss Tip:  Don't be too proud to use all your resources.  You can buy all sorts of Rockstar jewelry, wigs and paraphernalia at the costume stores for a reasonable price.  

Need a realistic looking tattoo:  You can draw one on with a black permanent marker - and yes it will wash off.

Another easy idea - just wear your own clothes.  If you're already a witch just pull it out of your closet and put it on - Just kidding.  But seriously, wear your black clothes and add a  witch hat, tights and a little frill underneath. Oh, and don't forget the makeup.

There you have 5 cheap and easy costumes! 

-Laurie