It’s finally approaching spooky season, and if you’re anything like me there’s one huge reason to love this time of year … dressing up! But how exactly are you supposed to decide what to dress up as, let alone make it a showstopper? Let’s unpack that.
A great costume doesn’t have to break the bank, or use all of your brain power, it just takes a little creativity. I promise, whether you’re a seasoned crafter or have never touched a glue gun in your life, cool costumes are possible.
Firstly, I think the main thing that makes an effective costume is obviously the choice of character themselves. It’s important to pick someone or something that has particularly notable features. For example, I have previously done The Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Annabelle from Annabelle, and Vanellope from Wreck it Ralph. All of these characters have simple but key defining features. For example, The Queen of Heart’s Playing Cards, Dorothy’s checkered dress and pigtails, Annabelle’s scary doll-like appearance, and Vanellope’s hair sweets. These are all very different characters, but it is that feature of recognisability that makes them a good character to dress up as. An effective costume is ultimately determined by people’s ability to recognise and react to the character you are portraying.
This can be done in various ways. Personally, I think facepaint is the perfect way to show commitment to the cause. You don’t need to be a makeup artist for this, you can simply slap on some facepaint and suddenly you’re Shrek, or Elphaba from Wicked, or someone else who isn’t green, like Sadness from Inside Out. You could even dial it down a bit and do something slightly more subtle, like painting on a black mask and being one of The Incredibles, or be a classic cat with some whiskers. I wholeheartedly believe that possibilities really are endless with facepaint.
Another thing not to doubt is a good old safety pin! Already got a shirt and some glasses? Pin on a homemade name badge, and suddenly you’re Dwight from The Office. Got a green dress? Cut out some tactical felt circles, pin them on, and you’ve got Mike Wazowski from Monster’s Inc. Back to my original point, both of these characters are easily identified by the glasses and the giant eye. The focus is on small, but notable features, not necessarily eccentricities.
Lastly, accessories! Accessories are often a crucial part of visually embodying a character and their identifying features. Got a suit? Whack on some sunglasses and you’re from Men In Black. Literally any coloured dress? Find a crown, or stick some crown-shaped felt (or cardboard) to a headband and you can be any princess you’d like.
People love to see a witty reference or a recognisable character. All you have to do is get creative and a little crafty, and before you know it your costume will come to life.
Photo by Baptiste Buisson on Unsplash
