My history of Halloween costumes is not an extensive one. With six kids to prep, my mom was not one to run out and buy us all new costumes every year. Or ever. We made due with whatever dress up clothes we had around the house and mom would bring out trays and trays of jewelry that I swear I’d never seen her wear. To be honest, I really didn’t care what I was as long as I was something that allowed me to wear gobs of make up and handfuls of that jewelry.
This is why I was content with the idea of being a gypsy. I’m pretty sure my kids don’t know what a gypsy is nor could I possibly talk them into being one, and yet year after year my mom successfully managed to make this sound like an awesome idea to me and my sisters. Because every year. We were gypsies.
When I outgrew the gypsy idea I believe I made a go at Cleopatra (also lots of makeup and jewelry) before retiring my Halloween hat as a ghost. It was my freshman year last ditch effort at acquiring as much free candy as I could get my hands on.
My kids? My kids have been dogs and princesses and butterflies and Care Bears. I buy forty dollar costumes that sometimes get recycled with the next kid in line, but I’ll be honest, if they all want a new costume I’ll find a way to get them a new costume.
I’m not going to spend hours trying to figure out how to make my kid fairy wings out of a hanger and duct tape and confetti. I’m just not gonna do it. Buying them costumes is the only option.
Unless of course they want to dress like hookers, in which case I’ll insist they make their own. No child of mine is going to be stomping around our street corners trick or treating like this,
chances are many of the people answering their doors will opt for the “trick”.
Gigi says
I was a gypsy every year too. When we were kids no one had store-bought costumes. So there were lots of gypsies, hobos, etc.
Looking at the costumes out there today – makes me really glad I had a boy. Why do they feel the need to skank up the girl costumes?
Mishelle says
Bit scary how girls costumes get shorter and skankier each year isn’t it? Makes me wonder exactly why they want little girls to think that THAT is the way to get free stuff!! A whole generation of girl children now have a very warped image.
I was Wee Willy Winkie (from the nursery rhyme) one year, after the 3rd house asked me what I was I just started saying… pj’s as I was tired of saying the rhyme and explaining. Serious bomb costume. :-(
M
Amanda says
I hear ya- why are all the womens halloween costumes so slutty? It’s annoying!
Rachel B says
My mom almost always made our costumes, too, but she could actually sew so she would make things on the sewing machine. One year I was a pink superhero complete with gold armbands and gold headband! Without looking at pictures that is pretty much the only costume I can remember! Oh, I was also a witch one year and my mom made me a black dress.
Jennifer says
I was a gypsy several years in a row too! I think the rotation was a princess or a gypsy–cheap and easy. One year my mother even fancied a crown out of cardboard and tin foil, lol…It looked better than it sounds:)
Kids these days have it easy (my kiddos included)…
Melissa says
Unfortunately some people (mainly women, unfortunately), take it upon themselves to use Halloween as an excuse to dress like a whore.
True story.
Alicia says
I dont have kids…yet, hopefully. But I have seen some of the costumes that are advertised and I am shocked! I cant believe that some of the costumes for little girls have them looking like 2 cent hookers! Kids should be kids! I remember when I was a kid I had not choice in what I was going to be for Halloween. My mom would pick the costume and my grandmother would make it. I was fortunate in the fact that my grandmother was a beautiful seamstress! And I loved dressing up in them. But I always looked age appropriate. I think that is the most important aspect in dressing up for Halloween. Look like a kid.
Venassa says
It sucks just a bit that Halloween is turning more into an occasion to dress like a stripper than a fun thing for children. Our costumes were also ‘whatever’ is laying around type costumes.
I once wore a big white zip-up disposable paint suit my parents had, so technically I was a ghost. But then I wore a feathered mask that covered my eyes and god knows what else. My costume was scary but in a whole other way.
Jayme (The Random Blogette) says
I am not looking forward to the time when my daughter is a few years older. It is so hard to find a decent costume as it is, but as soon as they are tweens they only have the skanky ones to choose from.
I do have to admit that I like to sexy it up with my costumes but that is because I go to ADULT Halloween parties where there are no kids. But if I was going out in public I would definitely keep it tame.
Jen says
Yeah and the trick would be not falling off those shoes.
Lynsey says
Halloween is turning into Slut-o-ween. I admit dressing as Jessica Rabbit one year when I dyed my hair auburn…BUT that was not to trick or treat! What are they thinking making pre-teen costumes look like that?
And, I thought about making my kids a costume this year (did you see the Milk and Cookie costume from Parents’ Magazine? Yeah. I wanted to do that.) But now, I’m tired. So I’ll probably shop the sale the day before Halloween at Target.
S Club Mama says
I was a gypsy one year too – we made do with what we had. Except one year I was a pirate – that was store-bought. Not sure what the difference was, but now I’d like to make their costumes but I’m not that talented.
Jennifer says
I was a gypsy too, and one time I was a “business lady”. My mom put me in one of her suits and pinned it all up, teased my hair and gobbed on the makeup. I was ecstatic. That would never fly for Baby Girl. But I do make her costumes. She loves it.
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Why are costumes so slutty now?? I don’t get it. I need to get more creative for my kids. I also pick out the $20 target special.
Tracy P. says
I’ve totally amazed myself at a couple of really ridiculous costumes I’ve been talked into buying just so I won’t have the burden of trying to make or create one myself. This year it’s Spiderella. Good grief. But hey, 20 bucks. Totally worth it.
Melody Meiners says
My mom always made costumes and made us enter these stupid contests to make a little extra cash with the prize money. The costumes were always itching and stifling hot inside, and I remember wishing I could just dress up as a princess or something normal. I absolutely loathed costumes until I became an adult, now Halloween is my favorite time of the year.
Life with Kaishon says
Oh my gosh Kat! That was too funny : )
My best friend wore that slutty costume last year. She looked great : )
Me too. I am NOT EVER going to mangle a hanger and spray paint feathers. WHATEVER. Get me to Walmart ASAP : ) and I will get my baby whatever his heart desires.
I needed a laugh this morning. I totally knew I could count on you to give me one! : )
mom taxi julie says
What’s wrong with that costume?
KIDDING haha
What irks me is that it’s so hard to find a cute “bigger” costume for kids/teens. Everything is geared to itty bitty.
Losing Brownies says
I can’t stand what Halloween has become. I too came from a household where we made due with what we had. Or we went to the thrift store and created a costume from used halloween costume parts. They turned out great.
I do however plan on buying The Boy costumes at least for a while with the hopes of recycling them. And this year instead of buying one for me, I’m going back to the creative part of my brain and making myself into a witch from things I already have with limited purchasing.
Michelle @ Mommy Loves Stilettos says
It blows my mind how trashy and skanky a LOT of costumes are for young girls anymore.
liz says
And the platform hooker heels just seal the deal…
Lourie says
Growing up we made our costumes and bought thrift store finds to create them. As for my kids, it’s been bought costumes and thrift store finds. This year it was all thrift store finds. One costume was a whole $5. Perfect. They are happy and that is all I need.
And yes, there are some seriously slutty costumes for these young girls.
Diane says
I loved dressing up like a gypsy too! I think I was one on two or three separate Halloweens. I’m with you on the slutty costumes thing. I have boys but I’ve seen those in the stores and have actually seen the girls wearing them. No way would my daughter (if I had one!) leave the house as slutty Dorothy!
Dapoppins says
I bet they have that costume for 10 year old girls at WalMart…in fact, I know they do. And nope, I wouldn’t be buying it.
erin says
1 of the MANY reasons I don’t have a girl?? HALLOWEEN.
Laura @ The Thigns I Said I'd Never Do says
I was crafting almost this exact post in my head on the way to work this morning. My mother was not a crafter but refused to spend money on costumes. Therefore we were hobos every. single. year.
I will go broke making sure my kids costumes don’t suck.
Jessica says
I think nine times out of ten, I was sporting a costume that was, in some way, homemade. For instance, one year I was a cheerleader. My mom put me in a matching skirt and top. She painted the local high school’s “initials” on the font and bought me some pom pons from the Dollar Tree. Sometimes those are the best costumes, but I can’t deny this: my favorite costume was my bride costume. THAT was store bought.