Barbie Doll Costume

A few months back I made a trip to Savers in hopes to find the perfect costume.  My main objective this year was to find something inexpensive, comfortable and creative.  So, I tried on brides maid dresses, cocktail dresses and everything in between before I finally found "the one".  Well, really the "two".  These dresses couldn't have been more perfect and I knew that this was the year I was going to be Barbie.  I've wanted to dress up like Barbie since before I can remember.  I'm an avid Barbie collector and darn it I wanted a "pretty" costume.

Not-so-pretty-me on Halloween

Anatomy of a Barbie Costume

Dress:  I found 2 black dresses at Savers around $12 each (one was floor length with feather detail - reminded me of a Holiday Barbie I had as a kid and the other was a strapless knee length dress - more on the retro side).  I bought both dresses because they fit like a glove and I figured I could re-use them in the future.

Accessories:  Blonde wig, costume jewelry (ring, bracelet and necklace), handmade Mattel purse, feather boa, handmade Barbie wrist tag, black gloves, eyelashes and endless amounts of makeup.

DIY Barbie wrist tag:  I made a template out of scrap paper - I wanted the tag to be over exaggerated in size and big enough to fit around my wrist. Once I came up with my desired shape I traced the form onto pink poster board.  I printed 2 Barbie logos on regular printer paper and glued them on either side of the pink label.  I wanted the tag to last (I'm big on re using costumes) so I laminated the tag and added Velcro (the Velcro didn't really work so I ended up stapling it instead).

DIY Mattel logo purse: I don't exactly scream Barbie so I didn't want anyone to question who I was trying to portray.  If the Barbie tag and blonde wig wasn't enough, I figured the Mattel logo had to seal the deal.  I printed 2 logos on white paper, glued them to squares of red poster board and had them laminated.  I adhered them to either side of a clutch I already had (using Velcro) then rimmed the purse with red duct tap.

This was such a fun costume and I felt like a million bucks!! 

Link Parties:  Becoming Martha / Whipperberry / Happy Hour Projects / Craft Junkie Too / The Answer is Chocolate /  Its a Hodgepodge Life  /  High Heels & Grills / The Crafty blog Stalker / House of Hepworths / Momnivores Dilemma / I Gotta Create / Southern Lovely / Someday Crafts / 733 / Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 

Ghosts of Halloween Past

My earliest memories of Halloween begin with an annual costume parade put on by our local elementary school .  I remember how excited I was for a free day of dress up and candy!  Grades K - 6 stood in line impatiently waiting to be let out into the 'I can see my breath' freezing cold.  October in Ohio is somewhere between rainy & freezing - damp & brisk.  If your costume required a skirt or short sleeves you always paired it with sweat pants and a turtle neck which inevitably messed up whatever theme you were shooting for.  Wet leaves, cold air and bone chilling wind never stopped us.  Sleet did.  I remember a very quick parade one year.  Are you shivering yet?

Halloween Parade 1990 - Strutting my Vampire costume.

Another childhood Halloween that will always resonate with me was my Mom's version of a Haunted house.  Well, it was more of a Haunted front yard.  Dry ice, headstones, and creepy music were always a staple on Halloween night.  She even convinced my Dad to dress up as Dracula (which was a big deal because anyone who knows my Dad knows he's not big into the holiday spirit) and boy did he make a great Dracula!  

Dracula (Dad), Catra (Me) and Snuggle Bear (Jaime)

Lil' Bo-Peep (Me) / Sheep (Jaime) Handmade costumes by Mom

Babies

Punk (Me) - 1991

As a teenager (that awkward age between too old to collect candy from the neighborhood and too young to attend adult parties), I took a short sabbatical from playing dress up. 

In my  twenties my love for Halloween returned as one of my best friends shared an even stronger passion for the holiday.  We discussed costume options mid summer and attended multiple Halloween parties each year.

Girl Scout (Me) / Life sized Doll (BF) - 2004  **The green vest and patches were mine when I was in Girl Scouts although I added a few novelty patches for fun.  The cookie box was made into a purse and the green belt was my Mother's when she was a Girl Scout.

Evil Fairy (BF) / Vampire (Me) - 2003

Now, in my thirties, I'm even more excited then ever for Halloween.  It means a trip back to Ohio to see the family, my Sister's Halloween party, Fall colors and of course I get to dress up as somebody else! 

I feel a little lazy this year because the components of my costume are very minimal in comparison to years past. I'm going with the "less is more" approach this year ;)

In need of inspiration and/or motivation?  Check out more of our costumes below.

Flapper

Design DNA - 2005

Lawn Jockey

Elderly Couple

Creepy Santa

3rd Annual Halloween Party - Costumes

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!  

We saw many creative and spooky 

costumes this year.  

Being one of the party props however, left me with little time to play photographer :(  

The Dead Bride

Skin: Dermablend Leg & Body Cover in Ivory (a little goes a long way) / White eyeshadow was used as powder to seal the foundation in place.

Eyes: Black, white, maroon eye shadow and black eye liner / White out contacts

Mouth: White and Black eyeliner and foundation - cover mouth with the Dermablend then outline with white liner.  Draw crack marks with black liner and blend slightly.

Hair: Farrah Fawcett wig I used last year for my Princess Peach Costume

Dress and Accessories: Aunt's Wedding dress circa 1977 and Wedding veil purchased from Hobby Lobby

 

 Fiona

A Lawn Jockey and his Southern Belle

Twisted Santa Clause

Dead Bride and Victorian Hostess

 Design DNA

Halloween Costumes

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion

 

***This was my original Girl Scout vest with patches ( I added a few extra for fun)the purse was constructed out of a girl scout cookie box.