Retro Halloween Costumes That Are Easy to Make

My sister and I were usually gypsy fortunetellers for Halloween. We had license to raid Mom's jewelry box and makeup. We'd don colorful skirts and blouses from our own wardrobes, put on loads of costume jewelry and wrap a scarf around our heads. After applying lipstick, rouge and eyebrow pencil, we were good to go. It's easy to create the same costume today. Mardi Gras beads add a lot of sparkle without a lot of weight, and a clear playground ball can be a crystal ball, or add a really retro touch with a Magic 8 Ball.

The classic Halloween costume is a ghost costume made from an old sheet, with holes cut out for eyes and mouth. From my childhood experiences, however, such a costume is a pain, because with every movement, the sheet shifts, making it hard to see through the eye holes. A much better plan is to cut a neck hole in the sheet and use an old pillowcase for a head cover. An alternative plan is to just wear the sheet over the body and use white makeup on the face. Hair can be gelled and slicked back, or teased and frizzed.

Vampires have been standard Halloween characters for a hundred years, but they are newly hot with the popularity of the Twilight books and movies. A vampire costume really only requires two items: a cape and a set of fake teeth. A cape can be easily sewn or just improvised with a length of black cloth. If someone on the scene can make one with a stand-up collar, that's optimal. Solid black clothing or black pants and a white shirt should be worn under the cape. A little red makeup and a little gel for the hair will create the final look.

My own daughter was a witch most Halloweens. I made her a long, loose black dress, and she wore it for years. The hem gradually rose, but that didn't matter. Such a dress is easy to make if you have any sewing skills, and it can be created using Stitch Witchery for those who don't have a sewing machine. The hem and the sleeve edges should be tattered rather than hemmed. If the legs show, a pair of striped socks adds a nice touch. Witch hats are cheap to buy, although one can be improvised from black poster board. Tease the hair, or add a fright wig. A little creative makeup adds the final touch, and an old-fashioned broom is a nice accessory.

Pirate costumes were popular even before Johnny Depp. An eye patch can be improvised from a scrap of black cloth and a bit of elastic. A pirate's hat is cheap to buy or easy to make, but a bandanna tied on the head works as well. Almost anything will work for the top and pants. Stripes have a pirate-y feel, but any old clothes that can be tattered around the bottom will work as well. Add a big hoop earring and draw a scar on the face. Then all your little pirate has to do is practice saying, "Aargh!"

If your little darling wants a princess costume, chances are that she already has some of the components. A tutu or a frilly nightgown will serve for the main costume. Add a sparkly tiara on a girly hairstyle, or fashion a floral crown from silk flowers. Improvise a wand by gluing a star on a stick or piece of stiff cardboard. Here's the fun part: Add odd bits of jewelry, more silk flowers or a feather boa. To turn your princess into a fairy, improvise some wings. Glitter hair spray or sparkly nail polish will add the final touch. As a rule, if it sparkles, your little princess will like it.

Yes, we played cowboys and Indians when we were kids, and those were popular Halloween costumes as well, as we often had the makings at hand. A Western hat is the essential item for a cowpoke costume. The rest is easy to improvise. A gingham shirt is perfect to pair with jeans, but any kind of shirt can be given a Western touch with a bandanna. When we were kids, everyone had toy six-shooters, but most parents today will want to substitute a coil of rope. Add a sheriff's star to show that your little buckaroo is on the right side of the law.

The essential item for an Indian costume is the feather headdress, although it can be a full headdress or just a few feathers stuck in a headband. A plain white T-shirt can be painted with tribal designs, and a pair of old khaki pants can be cut at the bottom to create fringe. If you want to be a bit more creative, visit the fabric store for real fringe that can be sewn or hot-glued on, or add beads with thread or hot glue. Girls should have their hair arranged in two braids. Add a little war paint, and you're ready for trick-or-treat.