Squad ghouls : A Case for Family Costumes
I understand that some people don’t like dressing up for Halloween. No wait - I don’t. I respect that some people don’t like dressing up, but totally don’t understand it. I love the nostalgia, creativity, escapism, and also the opportunity to bond as a family. And I love that Jeff and Alex are just as into it as I am!
One of my favorite Halloween traditions is choosing family costumes. The excitement of brainstorming ideas and bringing them to life was slightly easier before Alex had a say, but I love that he has a (strong) opinion now! My parents usually visit for Halloween, and most years even let us rope them into our theme. Total troopers.
If you want to do family costumes this Halloween but don’t know where to start, just know that it doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive! We’ve had years where we’ve gone all out, and chaotic years where we decided a couple of days beforehand what we were going to do (ahhh…the toddler years). If you need a little inspiration, here are some simple DIY ideas to consider:
Superhero Squad: Pick your favorite superheroes from comic books or movies. Create matching costumes with clothes you have around the house or buy colored sweatsuits. Add DIY (felt + glue gun works great and is a no-sew option) or store-bought capes and masks and POW! You’re done.
Classic Monsters: Vampires, witches, ghosts, zombies, and mummies - oh my! These are all simple options, and how fun would it be to wrap someone in bandages?! Use clothes you already have as a base and then buy or make an accessory, or two. Add simple props and some face paint to complete the look.
Movie Magic: Pick characters from a beloved movie or TV show (or book!). Thrift stores often have clothing items that can be repurposed into fantastic costumes. Sometimes just browsing around will spark an idea for a theme!
Zoo Crew: Dress up as a family of animals. This can be as easy as some cat ears, a tail, and eyeliner for whiskers. Or, let your imagination go wild!
Remember, the key to creating your family costumes is to have fun and let your creativity flow. They don’t need to be perfect! After all, this is all about making memories and enjoying the spooky, kooky, and fun sides of Halloween as a family.
