It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween: Tastes Like Chicken Edition

Now that it's one big Something Special company, you can find a hefty cross section of costumes, mostly Simplicity, in the costume book at Joann's. there are still costume patterns in the individual pattern 'company' books, but this does get the job done for the current crop.

I adore Halloween. I am glad it doesn't run all year long, but it comes close and the amount of creativity involved in it gives me life.

I also get the chance to play the "who's IP?" That is: you can use or restyle an existing costume pattern and present it as the thing you don't have a license for. Or you can be baldfaced about it (previous editions of this post have pointed those out).

It's not chicken, but it tastes like it.

She may have a dragon behind her, but she's the Queen of Fire, not the MOD. This would be a great MOB dress. I have no plans or needs but now I have ideas. 

Cersei might make more sense. Don't worry, my kids don't read this blog

This is a classic. Our men have always been bees. A bit more gendered of a statement but they were bees.

I have no idea what this is riffing on, but it feels specific. I do not watch the Disney channel right now but guessing princess.

Heathers the Musical? MeanGirls? They are both musicals.

Animals are always a solid costume. 

Donnie Darko vibes

There are more Lolitas, but this is the new one

Axoloti! Porcupine! How cozy can that sloth be? VERY

The lion, a previous cute baby costume staple has been replaced by Toddler Shark. Long live Toddler Shark (which is a costume that really makes sense for a toddler. They never sleep and must always keep moving)

Licensed. I love the Unnamed Doll love here. It gets cold the end of October, so this might be more dress up box.

More licensed. Now all I can see is how impractical this is going to be on a chilly October night.

I love the doggy dinosaurs but I understand the grandpup does not want to dress up as a purple pleather faux embossed crocodile dinosaur. Um yes, I still have the fabric. Such is life.

If my kids were teens I would know who this was. I spent some time on Google image search and it has let me down. so many anime with blue coats blue flame and wild hair. BTW Cation Designs did a really sweet Calcifer flame hand prop (from Howls Moving Castle) ; they are mostly on IG now but go look for it. Simple and cool.

Six is on tour. Get ready now. 

And this is not licensed.

For a movie about couture, this is appropriate.

You can make a regular item into a specific costume with the right fabric and makeup. Don't sleep on this approach; this pattern gives you the jacket, pants and the ruffled shirt. He's the most on tour!

Leave off the studs. Pretty sure the mask is foam.

Top hat pattern sold separately (it actually is)

Also on tour, Satine.

Officially licensed. I did not find the Sally fabric in the store but it's available online  https://www.joann.com/nightmare-before-christmas-knit-fabric-sally-patch/16713299.html

Off licence, but I like this one better

The obligatory Oz costumes, and I gotta say they nailed the Flying Monkey (I think this may be a first time for this character).  Go read their copy for this https://simplicity.com/mccalls/m8186 as well as 

https://simplicity.com/mccalls/pdm8127

Oh my god, the Winkie guard gets a costume! This IS a first. And I can't find my photos of the Winkie suit at MoPop, but I know I've posted about it.

When will Wicked get some quality knockoff costumes for the leads? The stage show is not the movie, and the Wicked movie is in production.

We'll always have the originals

There are many new costumes I just don't care about but you may.

https://simplicity.com/costumes/adults/

And now that it's McVogerickity, it's one stop shopping.

#fauxtuny

 I finally made a Fauxtuny

This is as John Singer Sargent as I will ever get

This started last year

https://erniekdesigns.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-fortuny-dress-cant-be-that-hard-right.html

The grey pleated polyester fabric for the toile was more expensive than the Joann's but too heavy and not suited to the task. The Joann's is thin fake china silk, the perfect weight and did I mention that it was already pleated? 

https://www.joann.com/navy-solid-pleated-bodre-silky-fabric/18260612.html 

The toile is heavier and not worth mentioning for this use, but it was informative. I did not quite pay attention to everything it told me.

The neckline is a portent of things to come

the ensemble, minus handboat

There's no photos of it in action because it sorta fell off me.

I have had cosplay failures. Seam ripped up the backside of the pants, the belt disintegrated. Heat stroke in a onesie in a cold convention ballroom. You just keep going as if nothing is wrong. this is how it works. 

Pay no attention to that woman with the dress falling off her

This time the problem was something I anticipated but didn't do anything about and forgot about. 

The delphos opening of the dress at the top is entirely gathered by cord and the sleeve are secured by beads spaced out. The neckline needs to be a separate loop of cord, or secured somehow, to keep it from expaaaaaaaanding so the dress falls off your shoulders. 

Which it did.

I was wearing a slip dress underneath, so it's not like anyting was showing, but the comments went from "I love your dress" to "Your hat is very nice" over the course of a few hours. Sitting in a theater seat did not help. The cocoon wrap also slid off. Not checking in the restroom mirror did not help (I was ushering, I did not have time)

I needed to keep the beads in the gap and the cords at the end. It's 50% of the design, and 100% of the effort I put into it. No, I did not pleat my own fabric (thus the faux) but the beading was vital to the look.

So much handsewing to keep the pleats pleaty and the tunnel for the cord open

THIS TIME, I added stitching through the cord and the first bead and the fabric, back and forth a couple of times. The neckline is stablized.

I used my head as a measuring device to determine the optimal neckline opening.

And here we are

With the not entirely period one piece cocoon wrap, made from a frosty mesh knit from Joann's 

(it leaves a trail of silver dust wherever it goes)

There is no pocket in this ensemble. That is a fault I will live with.

For a cheap piece of Joann's polyester and a bag of glass beads, it's a great dress; It really looks great, it's appallingly comfortable. I made a belt only because without it feels unwieldly.

Now I'm going to need a hat to wear this to Seattle Frocktails