Rabby Roo?

October 20, 2006 6:01 PM

Momentarily bereft of cash, I'm left wondering how my family is going to attend a costume-mandatory Halloween party next Friday. Any ideas?

My wife recently got out of the hospital, and we're dealing with a metric ton of related bills. I'd really like the opportunity of having a good time with the family, and we've been invited to a costume-mandatory party at a friend's house next Friday. The problem is that we're poor enough right now that we're living on plastic until payday, so going out and buying costumes isn't an option.

I've thought of the second-hand clothes route, but I couldn't figure on a good theme for the group. I thought we might go as Scooby and friends (as there are 5 of us), but I'd be at a loss as to how to decorate my youngest son as a convincing talking dog.

Anyone have any quick and dirty, potentially clever and party discussion inducing, ideas for costumes for the family? We're composed of (1) father, (1) mother, (2) boys, and (1) little girl.

posted by thanotopsis to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 comments total)

Family Guy family?
posted by padraigin at 6:06 PM on October 20, 2006

the Von Trapp family. bonus points if anyone can sing.
posted by killy willy at 6:18 PM on October 20, 2006

dryer lint- wear sweat suits and pin socks and fluff all over.
posted by kendrak at 6:41 PM on October 20, 2006

Piece of rope, painted silver (spray paint)

Your escaped convicts trying to blend into society. Maybe gel up the boys hair for that too.
posted by filmgeek at 6:42 PM on October 20, 2006

each other?? may require safety pins, tape, tissues, etc., to make things "fit," but if this is a good friend, and you know the crowd, it's an easy and cheap joke that your kids will appreciate...
posted by whatzit at 6:56 PM on October 20, 2006 [1 favorite]

I'd be at a loss as to how to decorate my youngest son as a convincing talking dog.

-brown pants
-brown shirt. If the shirt is old and can be painted, draw Scooby's distinct black dots on here with Sharpie, otherwise cut them from paper and attach with something not as permanent
-brown face paint, except for the nose, which is black.
-tail: you need old brown tights or an old brown stocking, and a long length of wire. Fold wire once, molding tail shape from folded part and the loose ends will go around his waist. Make sure there are no dangerous pointy bits sticking near his stomach, obviously. Attach stocking over wire, fill up with whatever (cotton balls, old socks). You can mold the tail however you want with the wire in it, but it will tend to hang. I made a cat tail like this once.
-ears: Make them from brown cardstock glued to a hairband or headband. Just see what you can find that fits his head and attach it to it.
-collar: Scooby Doo has a light blue collar. If you can find a real collar that would be awesome, but even a piece of light blue fabric cut to collar size around his neck would be obvious.
posted by easternblot at 7:12 PM on October 20, 2006

get some cans of beans, some spoons, and some used shoes and go as hobos.
posted by milarepa at 7:22 PM on October 20, 2006

You could be cursors, wear all black and make a cut-out white arrow mitten for your hand, and a rainbow colored circle mitten for your other hand. You could then go around clicking on things.
posted by coevals at 7:36 PM on October 20, 2006

Wear your tackiest, mismatched clothing, hang cameras around your necks, and be tourists.


My little brother's favorite costume was really simple: he splashed himself with blood (red food coloring) and carried an empty box of corn flakes. He was a "cereal killer." Ha.
posted by chickletworks at 8:12 PM on October 20, 2006

Toga, toga, toga. No, seriously, how about as a bunch of deities - you've got your greek ones (togas - white sheets draped carefully, maybe some paper olive leaf wreaths for your head), death/mort, a blanket cape+hood, with a skull mask (card with skull drawn on it, two holes for the string), a cardboard scythe, Viking/valkyrie gods - Thor - blonde pigtails, hammer and lightning.

Pirates - eyepatches, blousy shirts, jeans, boots, hook made from foil, eyeliner scar.

paper mache heads - Ernie & Bert are relatively easy. Perhaps the wiggles? Basically a bunch of different coloured sweaters.
posted by b33j at 8:18 PM on October 20, 2006

Peter Pan and Wendy! Or, rather, the Darling family....nightdress and ringlets for the girl, jammies for the boys, top hat for you, shawl and some costume jewelry for the missus. Give someone a flashlight and a bell to play Tinkerbell with. Get a stuffed dog to be Nana.
posted by fuzzbean at 9:18 PM on October 20, 2006

I did cereal killer once, but did little tiny boxes of cereal with plastic knives in them.
posted by k8t at 10:29 PM on October 20, 2006

I was once at a loss on a way to a halloween party. I stopped at a grocery store for two boxes of cheesecloth, and wrapped the entire thing around me. It was warm and quite effective, especially as I gradually came unraveled over the course of the evening.
posted by wzcx at 8:40 AM on October 21, 2006

I suppose it's obvious that made me a mummy?
posted by wzcx at 8:40 AM on October 21, 2006

Near me is a chain of stores that sell close out items. They currently have very large burlap onion and potato sacks for about a buck each. You could cut holes in them and go as a country bumpkin family.
posted by Gungho at 9:13 AM on October 21, 2006

If you have overalls/blue jeans and some flanel shirts, you could go as scarecrows. Get some face paint to draw patches on your faces. You can also get some fabric scraps and sew them loosely to your clothing for patches. I say loosely because then you can take them off without damaging the clothing and continue wearing it on a regular basis. Get some straw (usually on sale for Halloween decorations) to stuff in your pockets, sleeves, etc. You can also look for some cheap straw hats at a party store.

Togas may be the easiest though. I did that once. All I had to do (aside from finding a white sheet) was get some fake ivy from the craft store and bend it into a crown-type-head-thing. Instructions on how to tie a toga here, here, and here. I have used a sheet in the past, although most sites recommend getting some fabric instead.
posted by youngergirl44 at 10:58 AM on October 21, 2006

Be a perfect Stepford family. Dress in you best clothes, bonus if your wife has an apron. Slick back your hair and plaster smiles on your faces. Give the older kids some lessons in extra special politeness. Have them say "Yes, Father, it would be delightful" or "Dearest Mother, may I have a snack please?". Easy to do, and nothing to buy.
posted by saffry at 2:14 PM on October 21, 2006

suburban zombies, similar to the stepford theme but ZOMBIES!!

You've got to spring for makeup and blood and get free bones to gnaw on from the butcher. Dry them out overnight in your oven.
posted by mecran01 at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2006