I read Alaina's Spin about costumes and thought this would be perfect for a debate.
I'm thankful (and lucky) that Sprite has stuck to the original decision she made last year to be Alice in Wonderland for this Halloween. So far, she has not changed her mind, although, for her friend's birthday/ costume party next week, she did proclaim she would wear her Cinderella dress (bridal white complete with glass light up slippers, both bought on clearance at different times, total cost of $25.00.) (I rock. I know.) (Ask me what I think of letting her wear a pristine white dress after a party full of chocolate candy, vibrant neon frosting, and at least one guaranteed to be messy party game.) (Meh, it was on clearance. Bring it, birthday boy.)
With Rachel's help last November, I was able to score an Alice dress, which is beautiful, very elaborate, almost intricate in the design on the apron (I'll post pictures next week, promise), a perfect replica of Miss Alice herself. Upon receiving her dress for Hanukkah, she announced it to be her choice for Halloween 2011 and after a dress rehearsal last night, she is fully ready to tackle the Fall Festival tonight at her preschool, complete with shoes, ribboned headband, and stuffed Cheshire Cat. (We're currently having her stuffed Disney character collection appraised for insurance. It's probably worth more than we are.)
Now, here's where the debate comes in. Alaina explained how the costume choices these days are so unoriginal. If you're going to be Princess, Disney, Disney, and Disney are your choices. Or for boys and superheroes, Marvel seems to have you covered as well. Where is the creativity? While I fully understand her point, and AGREE with it, (Where's the debate, Jen?) I'm still a little in awe over the magnificence of these costumes that I see in the stores.
Think about it. Back in the eighties and nineties, although, technically, I was probably too old to be trick or treating in the nineties, costumes were either mass produced smocks complete with plastic homogenous mask (which scared the bejeezus out of me during my mask phobia days) or completely homegrown.
I do remember one year in 1993 when my friend Alison and I dressed up as Discovery Zone employees (considering that it was a hot spot for the kiddies then and we were working there, these "costumes" may have garnered us a few more chocolate bars than other teens), so homegrown was more "just got off from work and grabbed my pillowcase, now gimme some candy", but you get my drift.
Now, you see elaborate get ups, even at Target!, and relatively cheap as well, all easily recognizable as the character the child wants to emulate. No fuss, no muss, no effort. Just pull your costume out of the bag and you're Mario. Or Luigi. Or both, if you pester your mom to pull out the sewing machine and put her through days of work just for a 3 hour neighborhood crime candy spree.
But back then, it required more effort. Even with the smocks (which typically had the toy's brand name emblazoned all over the front, more a marketing ploy than a costume), people would still be guessing whether you were a My Little Pony or Rainbow Brite. Now? No guessing. Just don't be surprised when you run into your twin heading down 5th Street, only she has nicer light up shoes.
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Get your Halloween comparisons here!
Peg over at Square Peg in A Round Hole
Kate over at Recommended Daily Dose
Alaina over at View From Down Here
Vandy over at The Testosterone Three and Me
Arwen over at Spors in the Desert -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!
Stacy over at Stacy Uncorked -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!
Gretchen over at Second Blooming -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!
Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!
Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Friday! Fresh Spin!
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Next week's Spooky Cycle: Halloween Show and Tell
This one should be easy for most of you. Just post some pictures of the costumes you or your little ones wore for the holiday and maybe a bragging bonus picture of the loot you scored. This will also be the last Spin until December since November is so chock full of activities, I pretty much won't be able to keep up with the site, let alone run the Spin Cycle.
So grab your camera, teach your kids some good door to door etiquette, and practice some safe trick or treating, y'all!
I noticed that the costumes are way more elaborate (and more wallet-friendly) than they used to be, too. And Disney, Disney or Disney for Princess selections (which is one of the reasons Princess Nagger would prefer to be something that's not available in costume-ready form [Princess Zelda]) so she can be as unique dressed up as she is personally. ;) Which means I'll be spending hours hunched over the sewing machine next year unless she changes her mind...again. :) I'm looking forward to seeing Sprite all dressed up as Alice! :)
And I'm playing along this week:
http://stacysrandomthoughts.com/2011/10/halloween-then-and-now/
:)
Posted by: Stacy Uncorked | October 28, 2011 at 05:27 AM
I was planning to always make my kids' costumes, because I love making costumes (and because I'm a costume snob). Two of them went in pre-mades this year, though. I didn't plan on doing anything for Halloween this year at all, so when we were invited to something a few days ahead of time, we just picked from what we had on hand, which included a bunch of costumes we bought last year after Halloween when they were 90% off. I'm glad we got them. The boys love them and they are easy.
I'd like to join the Spin:
http://desertspor.blogspot.com/2011/10/history-of-costume.html
Posted by: Arwen | October 28, 2011 at 05:44 AM
Oh yes, I do remember those creepy masks! But my mom still stuck to the homemade costumes every year. I always wanted to wear one of those masks, though....
Posted by: Alaina | October 28, 2011 at 06:11 AM
I remember the year Kooky Spookies were out. Good stuff, those blow up heads.
I'm in. Though I almost wrote the same post you did, then I erased it...
http://outoftheboondocks.blogspot.com/
Posted by: MamaBadger | October 28, 2011 at 07:20 AM
Oldest Son and Darling Daughter always had the best costumes in the neighborhood because one of the few fatherly things The Ex did well was make them every year. I kid you not - one year Oldest Son wanted to go as the creature from "Alien" and his father made him one, and a good one too (the headpiece was made out of a 3-liter Coke bottle). One year he won a costume contest as The Rocketeer and got his photo in the newspaper.
And my Spin is up - better late than never, I suppose (and pathetic thing that it is): http://www.janssushibar.com/?p=12465
Posted by: Jan | October 28, 2011 at 08:15 AM
We've been creating costumes here for years--mostly because they have to fit over layers of clothing so the kids keep warm--what fun is it to dress up and then cover it up with a huge coat?
I have noticed that while there is a larger selection, the choices are a bit similar--for mom sexy____(fill in the blank), for dad shapeless doctor, vampire, gangster, for kids the choices are mare varied. But, I still like doing the costume thing at home--the costumes last longer and are more creative.
Posted by: VandyJ | October 28, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Costumes do seem lots more elaborate now. I can't wait for the Spritely pictures!
Posted by: Peg | October 29, 2011 at 11:58 AM
And I hope I get to see it on her! I was glad to help you get the deal! :)
Posted by: Rachel | October 29, 2011 at 12:51 PM
I still have my DZ shorts!!!!
Posted by: Becca | October 31, 2011 at 01:15 PM
Happy Halloween!
Posted by: Kim | October 31, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Show & tell time? http://pegbur7.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/im-a-hallo-weenie/
Thanks Jen!
Posted by: Peg | October 31, 2011 at 11:34 PM
You need to come visit Jude's school on Halloween!! Store-bought costumes are looked upon sadly. Even super pricey ones. Competition is FIERCE, I tell you for the best homemade costumes. It's intense, but...I love it.
Posted by: Gretchen | November 02, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Oh this was great, gave me a good laugh. I do think it's really sad with mass produced EVERYTHING these days. The houses in our neighborhood look exactly the same, same, same EVERYWHERE!
What happened to originality? Both Josh and I made our own costumes growing up, mine was mostly dictated by what my sister wanted to be--like Harriet Tubman.
Finn only wore a store bought costume once. 1 hand-me-down and 2 that Josh created. However, the turtle costume this year was EXPENSIVE and it took Josh forever to make, but I think it was worth it in the end. I love to see the kids that are creative and original. However, it's really just about fun and scoring CANDY. If the kid is happy with the costume, then that's all that really matters (to me anyways)!!
Posted by: Kate | November 03, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Yeah, costumes now are fancy. I remember wearing some kind of plastic jumpsuit to kindergarten one year and sweating my ass off. I might have been Felix the Cat or something equally stupid.
My oldest spent the night handing out candy with my husband, she said a girl walked up wearing bagels on her bra. Explain that one. Surely a plastic jumper and a face mask beats that.
Posted by: Mrsbear | November 03, 2011 at 09:17 PM