Create Original One of a Kind Halloween Costumes from your closet, thrift stores and online finds.

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I guess in my mind, an air of mystery and fun have always surrounded it. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, Halloween was a simple holiday. Simple homemade costumes like a white sheet for a ghost, a black cape with a witch hat and a broom for that scary Halloween favorite. Or scarves out of your mom's dresser tied around your wrist and a flower crown transforming yourself into a magical fairy.
The simple party in a basement decorated with jack-o- lanterns and thread hanging from the ceiling for spider webs. While music played and scary Halloween stories were read in the dark. So whether it was trick or treating, attending a party or a neighborhood gathering, Halloween was a time to see your family, friends and neighbors in a new light.
Now 5 decades and 5 sons later Halloween is still my favorite holiday. I figured I've made costumes for my boys at least for the first 10 years. So 10 costumes times 5 boys is 50 costumes plus the 30 costumes for myself equals 80 costumes. I would either sew the entire costume or put different pieces together to create a costume. And of course sometimes store bought accessories are called for, like a tree goblin mask that could not be passed up by one of my teen sons. We bought the mask, combined it with a pair of work coveralls to which I glued artificial fall leaves, sticks and spider webs to for a complete one of a kind costume.
Also because of my love for Halloween I found myself working at a couple of different stores that catered to Halloween. The first store I worked at was a large vintage and retro clothing store that had 2 floors full of clothing from the early 1900s to the 1990s along with a large selection of costumes for sale and for rent. The days leading up to Halloween were so crowded with all kinds of people looking for all kinds of things it was like one big party.
Then I worked as assistant manager for a Halloween superstore for four years. It was just as crazy but more mainstream of a place. Here you could find all your basic costumes and accessories. No surprises there. So I thought I'd share some ideas with you.