Every year in mid- to late-October, I dust off my super basic junior high school home ec sewing skills in order to make Halloween costumes for my children, who seem to take particular delight in coming up with the most random, impossible-to-buy costume ideas. A few years ago, my oldest went as broccoli while her sister dressed as a peacock. Last year, I had to come up with a potato costume. But, no matter how strange or difficult their requests, I always acquiesce.
This year’s request, an ice cream cone, only took three hours and one painful needle in the finger to make. I feel like I got off easy somehow.
Dressing up for Halloween was not really a thing for me growing up. I remember at age seven wanting to be an iconic, instantly recognizable character—not just some generic chef or farmer—but there were not a lot of options in the mid-1980s for a Chinese kid. Mostly, I wanted to be Cinderella, but I knew it wouldn’t be accurate because I had neither blonde hair nor blue eyes. I briefly considered Snow White—the only alternative I could think of for a little girl with dark hair and dark eyes—but I hated the colours of her dress (and the fact that she was so easily tricked into eating that apple. I mean, really: stranger danger!)
The decision was moot, anyways, because my parents were immigrants who often worked evening shifts and wanted someone (me) to hand out candy at home. There was no need for me to dress up. This sounds like a sad thing, but it really wasn’t because in Calgary, Halloweens run cold, and my brother always shared his haul with me at the end of the night.
It is only sad because I very much enjoy wearing costumes and wish I’d had the chance to do so as an adorable little kid. By the time I had a real reason to dress up for Halloween, I was in university and decidedly less cute. It was still fun, though, because I’ve always looked at costumes as an opportunity to get creative and be resourceful. Nothing off the rack for this crafty girl.
Once, I cobbled together Queen Amidala’s decoy gown using items from around the house, including a dress found in my mother’s closet, a necklace, ear muffs and some fabric remnants. The only things I bought were a package of black feathers and some face paint.
My most ridiculous show of resourcefulness would have to be the time I went as Waldo. I couldn’t bring myself to spend $20 (my entire lunch budget for a week back then) on a red-and-white-striped shirt that I would wear only once. So instead, I took a white sweater from my mom’s dresser and, with a $2 roll of red electrical tape, made my own stripes.
I still can’t believe I went out like this—and so proudly, too. Thanks for the photographic evidence, Lisa (a.k.a. Pippi)!
I’m not dressing up this year (we’re not even sure if the kids will go trick-or-treating). But if I needed a costume, I would definitely dress up as Kiki, who ticks all the boxes for both kid me and current me. Dark hair, dark eyes, makes good choices (eventually). I already have a dress that works, I think. It would also give me the perfect excuse to learn broom-making. And if there was anyone out there who wanted to be the Tombo to my Kiki, I know a quick-and-dirty way to make a striped shirt.
:) Teresa
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