Let’s Talk About Halloween!
Vacation is a Great Time to Start Planning
My three children and I have a very unusual vacation tradition - while we spend two quiet weeks in the summer at the beach, we are brainstorming, researching AND ordering Halloween costumes. There are many reasons why summer vacation time is the best time for this yearly exercise!
- First, ordering early ensures that your child’s “dream” costume will be in stock, not sold out or backordered!! (Picture my ten year old daughter just dying to be a cool “soda shop girl” and sadly ending up dressed as a mermaid, humiliated to be even marginally associated with Ariel!)
- Second, if you deal with it now, overnight shipping fees can be completely avoided!
- Third, even if you like to make your own costumes, once the idea is chosen, you can be on the look out for the various components and accessories as you go about your regular errands!
If all of the above hasn’t convinced you, think about time management! In the summer, many of us actually do have a few spare minutes to think about something like costumes! Picture yourself in September and October when every minute is accounted for!
Now that you’re persuaded, I’ve come up with some unique websites to assist you in the shopping for and/or creating fabulous Halloween costumes! Take a look and end the summer with one big “to do” crossed off of your list!
To Get Started
The Halloween Costume Page
Take a look at TheHalloweenCostumePage! I was thrilled to find this clever site because it really addresses every aspect of Halloween costuming! Use this site for inspiration and ideas. This site is really great if neither you nor your children have anything specific in mind!
- The site follows costume trends, clever props, ideas for MEN (which can be really hard!) and ideas for couples, groups and parent/child teams.
- Halloween costume safety is covered, as well as dollar stretching tips.
- For those who can run a sewing machine, links are provided to companies selling costume patterns.
- If you wish to purchase a costume, this site allows you to click on www.ecostumes.com and do just that.
- Finally, my favorite aspect of this site is its section devoted to creating costumes that are compatible with “trick or treaters” who use a wheelchair, stroller, wagon, cane or crutches! What wonderful thinking!
To Purchase Costumes
Littledressupshop.com
- This site impressed me because it is so “child friendly.”
- All costumes are promised to be itch free, without ties or buttons that are hard for little fingers, made of durable and washable quality material and sent with free shipping! Matching costumes for moms and 18” dolls are also available. (costumes are priced around $26.99, www.littledressupshop.com)
Buycostumes.com
- With a huge selection, you should have a lot of success here!
- In addition to the usual types of costumes, there are also many historical versions that could be great for Halloween, school plays, and theme days. (Some examples include pilgrims, early U.S. presidents, and Betsy Ross!)
- One word of caution here – there is a large category of costumes entitled “Sexy!” Steer the kids clear of that one!
- BuyCostumes.com
Other Favorites
- Some favorite standbys include - The Disney Store, American Girl, Lillian Vernon, and CelebrateExpress (see Costume Express category).
To Make Costumes
- www.FamilyFun.com - this is the first place that I would look for great ideas for homemade costumes! Photos and instructions for over 100 different costumes are available on this site.
So grab your laptop and some catalogs and get thinking! Your children will love working with you to dream up some bright ideas about a favorite holiday!
P.S. You can thank me on October 30th around 9:00 p.m. when you are in bed and costumes are at the ready!
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Tags: halloween costumes, halloween, costumes, halloween costumes for kids, clever, fun, fabulous, terrific, best, top, unique, interesting, handicapped
Thanks for getting me to think about Halloween early this year. I really like the Halloween Costume Page site. Lots of good ideas!
I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one thinking about Halloween!!
My three-year-old daughter wants to be an ACORN of all things… any suggestions on that one? LOL
Emily
http://momminitup.com
Emily - What a funny idea your daughter had! She must be a very creative kid! I did a little looking around on the internet and found an “acorn” costume idea using an oversized brown sweatshirt and matching tights. For the “cap” you could cut pieces of dark brown felt into leaf shapes and a stem, glue the pieces together and call it a day! I’d love to hear how you end up solving this challenge!