Today, I'm going to share some costumes that inspire your creativity, and also share where to find ones that you don't have to construct yourself. Find a place to go this Halloween or have your own party, but be sure and dress up and be someone else for the evening!
Here's some of the ones I've done over the years and how I got inspired by some aspect to find a costume that suited my attitude, skills, and my basic physical appearance to work with -
This took using a skin adhesive to attach a folded paper around my nose, some feathers, some makeup. The inspiration behind this one was practical. I had just gotten Bell's palsy on both sides of my face (6 weeks apart) and I was working with an expressionless paralyzed face that was out of whack. BTW, I am very active on the support group for facial paralysis/Bell's palsy on Facebook - Bell's palsy & Facial Paralysis Support Group and often counsel folks with it.
lion
The lion was a simple test of makeup skills. Given my coloring and my big orange hair, what creature could I be? I could be a kitten, but my hair was more like a lion's mane. The tip of my nose became a lion's nose with a black eyeliner pencil and then some dots where whiskers go. I put foundation over my lips to make them colorless, and added angry lined eyes. The purpose of this one wasn't for a party costume, but for a series of photos expressing the lion.
clown
Someone gave me this green wig and, well, I felt a clown challenge was necessary. Getting the white face done is always a tricky thing. I honestly put down face foundation first so it's not going against bare skin. It may take a few layers to get it truly thick and then powder it lightly. I had a belly dancing scarf and wrapped that around my neck for the colorful effect.I created a face that I thought would be my clown face - I love sun symbols and bright pastel colors. Very upbeat.
Elvira
I took on this challenge for Elvira because actress Cassandra Peterson who plays Elvira has red hair and was born on September 17th. I am red haired and born on September 17th. This was a really scary challenge, but honestly once i got the wig on, I felt very diva.
zombie
I tend to like zombie makeup that looks like I've been dead awhile - some purpling, some bluish tones, colorless, bloodless, and uneven pathchy spots where blood pooled during death.
mummy
I entered college wanting to be an egyptologist and part of that was growing up in a Civil War hospital and spending my childhood digging up artifacts, and the other part was I simply loved the Universal Studios mummy. So, this challenge was a hard one. I didn't want wrap up my face and be unrecognizable, but I wanted to give the impression, so I did the makeup and wrapped cheesecloth around my head and shoulders. Some dark bluish undereye circles and you're good to go.
baby doll
I had a doll's head that was cracked and it creeped me out, so I just had to imitate. I did the clown face base, but then used a fine makeup brush dipped in water and then in black eyeshadow and dragged it across for the cracks. Dolls have overly done red lips and blushing cheeks, long lashes.
Frankenstein's Bride
I love with my long red hair and pale skin to do Victorian Era costumes. Steampunk is always good, but i wanted horror. I thought about Frankenstein's bride and decided - Yeah, pale Victorian looking makeup overly exaggerated as a creation to attract Frankenstein. A battery-operated candle to place me in the era, and then the stitches on my neck - That was done with a black eyeliner and then dots where the stitches go and some eyeshadow-created bruising.
cemetery statue
I had always wanted to do a photo session in a cemetery where I am wrapped in grayish fabric with a stone face and pose as a statue there. I love cemeteries, often going and cleaning up trash, taking photos, and leaving flowers on the oldest graves that are unattended. I draped a sheet over my head and the makeup had to be completely and totally pale gray to look like stone and closed my eyes to become a classic cemetery statue.
doll
My main goal here was the puckered mouth. It was a bit Betty Boop meets Cindy Brady!
ventriloquist doll
At some point when Dale the Doll (find him on Facebook) was my sidekick, I just had to become a doll too.
gypsy
Since I was a kid, gypsy costumes were my constant favorite. I loved the layers, the flowing skirts, the tons of jewelry, and being able to read palms without people looking at me like I'm crazy. This started with a scarf. As you can see in the below 3 pics, I never give up on gypsy girl!
hillbilly
I was gifted the fake teeth and so it seemed like I was obligated to honor my mom's kin that inhabit Southeastern West Virginia. Freckles for the redhead, pigtails, and my character "Sherry Lou" came across.
Sugar Skull
Living in Arizona, I went to Day of the Dead celebrations on November first. I was intrigued by the sugar skull faces. I decided to make my own. This took hours and a lot of patience, but with a colorful scarf around my head, it made a great head shot. I love the challenge!
scary witch
Pretty witch is easy, but scary crone is tougher. I used eyheliner pencil to accenturate forehead wrinkles and nasolabial folds, grayish sick complexion and undereye circles rounded it out.
Practical Magic style witch
I don't know why this pic came out so smooth, but I call it my Stevie Nicks witch. I just accentuated my pale skin, a hat with netting, and full red lips.
druid
I call this one a druid. I had a black hooded long cape and I cut the sleeves and chest open and weaved autumn leaf garlands in and out to hold it together. Another picture of it below -
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pirate wench
This was for a fearcon event. I wanted to go pirate wench and the costuming was easy, but the makeup...I didn't want to wear an eye patch. I figured, why not do it with makeup?
autumnforest
This is my alter ego. I went by Autumnforest for decades. I have an autum leaf tatt that I feel represents my spirit, from an oak tree, tumbling, changing. This was put together with tons of autumn leaf clusters from Michael's craft sore and some seed pods from a tree in the backyard.
and, don't try this one below - I had to put face putty over my eye and fix it and then blindly do the other eye, while also feeling around for the cellphone to get the selfie.
Sally from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
There are plenty of makeup tutorials on YouTube and costumes can be made of cardboard and other items from around the house.
Remember, too, that anything can be a zombie. With zombie makeup, you can be a construction worker, a housewife in curler and a robe, a nurse....
Happy costuming!