Glamatron

I had one of those mothers who was a sheer genius with Halloween costumes. She could barely run her ancient sewing machine, but the one time of year she did was right before All Hallow’s Eve. Thanks to her, I was an 18th-century court lady with satin paniers, a stand-up ruff and ostrich feathers in my hair. When Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet came out, I became a seven-year-old Shakespearean heroine in red and black velvet. My brother also benefitted from her ingenuity–a three-pointed greenish-yellow satin bag turned him into the blob. A stocking and a tee-shirt with a hand-drawn zodiac pattern turned he and his best friends into the Zodiac killers.

I, on the other hand, can barely sew on a button. At the same time, I hate spending $40 so my kid can be yet another Disney Princess. Which means that it all comes down to accessories. Girlchild plans to be Kiki the witch.

Now, I’m sure there are Kiki costumes all over Japan, but anime characters aren’t a big category at Wal-mart. Fortunately, accessories have come to the rescue–a miniature broom for the hardware store, red shoes from Target, a stuffed black cat and a red bow and Girlchild’s good-to-go except for the black dress. But that, too, has an easy solution–one XS black tee shirt with the sleeves cut down to size. Girlchild is thrilled. Costume is unique and I like to think Mom would have approved of my ingenuity if not my inability to sew a straight line.

Other inspired last-minuted accessorizing I’ve seen–wings, big and small. That and a tight fitting shirt turns you into some sort of flying object. Best version I’ve seen of this was a flower fairy–i.e. mom was there with silk flower petals and hot glue gun to decorate her daughter’s leotard and skirt. Gorgeous, cheap and last minute.

Then there’s my category–adult who works with kids and is need of Halloween garb, but doesn’t actually want to be in costume. I’m big on being a gypsy–peasant skirt, blouse with poofy sleeves and all the necklaces and scarves I can find. There’s a reason this is an oldie, but goodie. Then there’s one’s basic out-of-place wear, A Hawaiian shirt with straw hat and sunglasses is totally appropriate in Kona, but a tourist costume on Halloween. In fact, just think of Halloween as the time of year when being dressed wrong for the occasion is the only right thing to do–so where is that evening gown of mine?