Here’s a piece of wisdom I learned the hard way: You can be a mom who loves Halloween, or you can be a mom who doesn’t. It’s totally fair to want to be good at Halloween – decorate your house like every sitcom family does, or create the most intricate homemade Halloween costume for your kid that manages to be both clever and scary , fun and unique, but looks like you threw them together like it was no big deal). I knew I always wanted to be this person, but alas, life got in the way.
So I embraced being a different kind of Halloween mom: one who can create a solid costume for her kids at the last minute with just one accessory. In my opinion, this is a skill in itself. Sure, anyone can go out and buy a cool costume, but pull together what you already have at home, add a little accessory, and get ready to trick-or-treat? That’s some old-school parenting.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
felt hat = garden gnome
What’s cuter than a little angel dressed up as a garden gnome? Nothing. To achieve this look, all you need is a long turtleneck that can be worn over leggings, maybe a black belt as a belt, a red felt hat like this one on Etsy , and their My own cute face. If you’re feeling wild, you can always whip out some white batting for a beard, but really, just a hat and a bright suit will do. Why not use their natural, innocent talents to your advantage?
Black Robe = Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Dressing up as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has long been a popular choice for adults, but let’s face it – seeing a little kid dress up as the ever-wise, ever-iconic RBG More cute. Especially if you can comb their hair into a simple bun and find a pair of glasses lying around the house. On top of that, you’ll need a black judge’s robe, which has the added benefit of allowing the kids to wear whatever they want underneath. This is an ideal setting.
Costume Makeup Bag = Zombie Everything
If your kids are at the stage where they want to be a little scary instead of cute, zombies are your best friend. First, zombies are versatile. They’re usually bitten while wearing just regular clothes, so all you need to do is dress your child in some old clothes and – voila! ——Their clothes are ready. Bonus points if the clothes are a little dirty. The real beauty of Halloween Zombies, though, is the costume makeup kit. They have some shades of gray on their skin, some black around their eyes to show they’ve become part of the undead, maybe a little bit of red blood here and there, and then you’re good to go. There are even tons of YouTube tutorials to help you get inspired.
Name tag = Mom or Dad
This is my personal favorite. When my oldest son didn’t know what he wanted to do for Halloween one year, he chose me. He wore my apron and sprinkled some flour on the front of it to show I was baking because I’m always baking and messed up his hair and looked tired. Likeable? Not special. But once he added the name tag “Mom” and stepped into the role, he was warmly welcomed by his neighbors. It’s a hit with me since I spend about $3 on name brands.
Red cloak = Little Red Riding Hood
Personally, I wish wearing capes was actually something we could do all the time. They are generally charismatic. Sadly, this doesn’t seem to be something you can do very often, so why not whip out a red cape for Halloween so your kids (or you) can dress up as Little Red Riding Hood and go trick-or-treating ?
straw hat = scarecrow
Does your kid have jeans? Some kind of flannel or plaid shirt? Maybe even a sling or vest? All you need to add to that list is some straw (you can probably find it for free) and a straw hat (you can buy it here ). In the blink of an eye, you have a cute little scarecrow. Please help me put freckles on their faces.
Red Bandana = Rosie the Riveter
Considering we could actually elect our first female president in 2024, dressing up your little feminist as the iconic Rosie the Riveter is almost the perfect costume for this year. All you need is a red bandana and a denim shirt or jumpsuit, which are likely already in your child’s wardrobe. Roll up your sleeves and, better yet, dress up as Rosie the Riveter for a twinning moment.
Christmas Jumpsuit = Who Down in Whoville
Who do you really have to give it to? How the Grinch Stole Christmas— They know how to pull off a look. Luckily for all of us, this look is easy to copy. Invest in a festive jumpsuit and get creative with some hair products to create a true Cindy Lou Who Saves Christmas vibe. Think hilarious high ponytails and braids, with some tinsel and leftover embellishments, like this. Bonus: You now have Christmas onesies for your kids.
Giant gift box = wrapped Christmas gift
In keeping with the Christmas/Halloween crossover theme, why not wrap your kids in real gifts? All you need is a plain large box ready to be decorated with a bow, or if you want to save even more time, a large packaged gift box already decorated. Cut some holes in that box, maybe tie a ribbon over the child’s head for extra fun, and write “Don’t open until Christmas” on the card. Easy and Easy: You’ve got a quick, cute Halloween costume.
photo frame=artwork costume
Everyone thinks their child is a true work of art, so why not make it a reality this Halloween? All you need is a little imagination, a big picture frame, and a kid to hang the frame on. You can get creative with some makeup and turn them into artist self-portraits, like a young Van Gogh or Frida Kahlo. Or you can dress them up and make them works of art in their own right. Best of all, you can take a photo of them as art and then reuse the frame to hang that photo on your wall for a complete meta experience.
Whatever you do, have fun doing it. Because Halloween is actually just a wonderful time, right?
