Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Halloween Costume Idea Please

Mendecino halloween

Photo and text by Corey Amaro

We drove along the coast towards San Francisco, Chelsea studied in the backseat, she had a mid-term last night… otherwise we might have never left Wesport.

Of course French Husband drove,

and of course I went in and out of sleep,

Catching a glimpse here and there of the ocean, the redwoods, the vineyards, the oak trees, the golden gate bridge, the marina, Chelsea's school, the Giant's stadium…. We drove over seven hours, from Westport, to Cloverdale, to Sonoma, to San Francisco, over the Bay Bridge, down Eighty, took 505 Cutoff, to Interstate Five… (Interstate Five I can and have driven that with my eyes closed.) to Willows.

My rear end is numb.

But here is the question, and it is a serious one at that; Chelsea needs an idea for a costume. Remember we do not do Halloween persay in France.

What are you dressing as this Halloween?

I was a bumblebee one year. Sexy I was not. I stuffed myself with pillows, wore black leggings, a black sweatshirt and added yellow tape over the middle of me. You could say I was a lumpy bumblebee.

Before that I dressed up as a Fortune Teller.

Any ideas? My friend Ellen dressed as a cheese cutter one year… she wore black and held a string from one hand to the next above her head. Easy. Original. Clever and no fuss. Though she had to tell everyone what she was doing holding up a string above her head.

 

Note: Many of you commented about Chelsea's scarf. She bought it last year in France at a shop called: Morgan (You can find similar ones here click.)

 

 

Comments

46 responses to “Halloween Costume Idea Please”

  1. meredith

    She should be something oh so very Frenchie:
    -a French maid in a little black and white costume
    -a thin mushtached artist with a beret and palet of paints
    -a baker with a big white hat, apron and a baguette

    Reply
  2. Merisi, Vienna

    Love that idea of wearing strings, er, being a cheese cutter for Halloween! *giggles*
    How about Papagena, from the Magic Flute?
    Here is a cute one http://www.flickr.com/photos/13937207@N07/2220848074/
    Or Queen of the Night, perchance?
    This one looks like fun:
    http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=5440
    I am looking forward to see what you ALL are going to wear for Halloween! 🙂
    Hugs, M.

    Reply
  3. Alan

    I dress as a photographer and take photos of everyone else. People really open up when they are in costume and you have a camera.

    Reply
  4. Lisa

    One year I needed a costume and had just barely an hour to pull it off. I popped over to my friend’s house and we came up with the Frazzled Housewife/Mother (in all honestly, that was really close to the truth anyway LOL). I borrowed/wore her old robe, put rollers in my hair, dark eyeshadow under the eyes and tied one of her daughter’s baby dolls to my leg… the frazzled look was readily available as at the time as I had one child in school and three little ones still at home =D
    Of course this costume probably be wouldn’t be appreciated by the college crowd. Chelsea is a very lovely girl; I would suggest a Greek goddesscostume. She could pull that off very well and it could be simply made.

    Reply
  5. Debbie

    A very classic Carla Bruni or over the Lady Gaga or Pink. Would depend on the party she plans to attend. Pacific Heights or Castro.

    Reply
  6. Debbie

    Meant to say over the top Lady Gaga

    Reply
  7. dancing kitchen

    A friend of mine wore all brown…a halo and wings…and went as holy shit. It was a hit.

    Reply
  8. Everton Terrace

    I once went as Lady Godiva. Full flesh colored body suit and this giant wig that went to my knees (costume shop). I carred a toy horse, the kind that is just a stick with a plastic horse head on top. It was a big hit.
    I like the idea of her being something oh so very French like Meredith said.
    Can’t wait to see what she comes up with.
    My daugter (in grad school) is going as the Queen of Hearts.

    Reply
  9. Heidi

    She could go as a “chest of drawers”–dress all in simple black clothing and safety-pin (clean)underwear across her chest!

    Reply
  10. DanaSmith

    Way back in 1976 at the University of Kentucky my date and I won the Chi O/Delt Halloween fest. I hope this doesn’t offend anyone……..but we wore brown tights and tight brown knit long sleeve shirts. We took a huge green garbage bag and stuffed it and cut a hole out for our head. We covered it in fall leaves and on every other leaf we taped a condom. We went as Rubber Trees!
    btw…at the end of the night neither of us had a condom left on our “tree”! lol

    Reply
  11. gail

    I was thinking French Maid also, it’s just fitting!

    Reply
  12. Jenna

    Every woman should be Madame Butterfly for a day.
    http://www.marthastewart.com/article/madame-butterfly-costume?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/our-favorite-costume-ideas#slide_1

    Reply
  13. Catalina

    The easiest I ever saw was a girlfriend wrapped in toilet paper… as a mummy (she dressed on white panties and T-shirt and just wrapped herself with the paper (white of course or maybe you would like to be a pink mummy… 🙂 )
    Usually I’m a witch, that is quite easy, you just need the hat that can be found any place (like supermarkets) and dress in black
    Dracula just need a cape (and teeth?)
    a ghost (just an old blanket and cut 2 holes for the eyes)
    ( I guess any of those are easier than a bumblebee….)
    xoxo

    Reply
  14. Brother Mathew

    Go green. Dress as “paper or plastic” Get a partner, one dresses as paper by wrapping oneself in paper bags and the other dresses as plastic by wrapping oneself in plastic grocery bags. I know not very sexy. A bumble bee????

    Reply
  15. Brenda L from TN

    Do something French…like the French maid…
    Thanks for the tip about the scarf…
    I have a question about Sacha and Chelsae…
    Do they speak American with an American accent or a French accent? And do they speak French with an American or French accent?…I’m thinking French both ways…but which is it?…just curious.

    Reply
  16. Catherine

    Gypsy, she would be the most beautiful one!

    Reply
  17. Sharon, Morrison Mercantile

    A black lacy slip, fish net hose, lots of jewerly, and a 1930’s hat. She can go as a flapper girl.
    Or…jean, long white shirt, little scarf tied around her neck, and hair in a pony tail..that would be a 50’60 girl.
    She will be great in whatever she chooses.

    Reply
  18. martha

    Marie Antoinette. With a blonde wig tied in a bun and fun and frivolous things like candy intertwined into her hair-nest. They could relate to some of Chelsea’s favorite San Francisco finds. White powder makeup, soft pink cheeks and a well placed beauty mark. For wardrobe, she could wear something very San Fran, or goth or rock…….

    Reply
  19. Kathie B.

    As a sister vegetarian, I’m appalled to report that Lady Gaga’s meat dress is rumored to be a popular choice this year. (But just imagine how rank it would smell after a few hours unrefrigerated!) Perhaps one can buy a soy-based imitation? LOL!

    Reply
  20. Victoria Ramos

    My daughter went as Lady Gaga her freshman year in college and was a hit. (Lady Gaga in the ‘early years’ with just that blond bob wig, beret, big round sun glasses, lips painted red like a cupid, black gloves, blank tight tank and some black spandex pant, black high heals,face make/arms up done super pale/light). This year, it is a sexier version of peter pan for her.
    I won several contests in my day dressing up as a ‘dead bride’. Found old funky dated bride dress at 2nd hand/good will store — slightly shredded it/soiled it. Painted my face (which I loved to do) white/my hands/arms too and then did sexy super dark eye makeup, blood red lips. Hollow out the cheeks with darker eye shadow and a brush. Teased my long hair (at the time) out and made it look dirty with the black makeup/paint, put some tigs in it. Good to go.
    Gosh — now I want to dress up too! BooStaculare!

    Reply
  21. Kristin

    Zombie’s are big right now…. She could be a ______ zombie, bride zombie, lady gaga zombie, etc… also, if she likes the game plants vs. zombies she can do something along that idea…
    Also what about something political, perhaps something to do with retirement age in France? or the gas?
    A dancing with the stars dancer?
    When I was little my mom’s friend went as a tea bag. I always thought that was cute and so easy, 2 clear trash bags and leaves in them with a label.

    Reply
  22. Di

    I went to a fancy dress as an aircraft carrier once – grey dress with paper aeroplanes pinned to it. My friend Gary always has the best ideas……he went as Goldfinger once to a James Bond theme party -he actually went as gold finger…..

    Reply
  23. joanne nixon

    i once went as a pregnant nun….it was quite appropriate as i WAS pregnant, but not a nun…my husband went as st joseph….no one recognized us…..

    Reply
  24. Denise Solsrud

    why does she need a costume? why can’t she go as she is? A GODDESS! Bestest,Denise

    Reply
  25. Melissa

    She could go as static cling. Pin socks to her clothes. Or as a bunch of grapes for wine. blow up balloons and pin to matching leggings and shirt. She could go as a fairy, a lady bug, a tea pot. If she goes with someone else, one person could be the dish and the other the spoon.
    I’ve been following your trip on your blog. I’m so glad you are having such a good time and are able to be with your family so much. Bye for now.

    Reply
  26. M

    hi, corey,
    even in california, seven hours of driving covers a lot of ground! wonderful photos.
    i’ve always said that one year for halloween i would ‘go’ as myself, and scare the wits out of everyone, but, alas, halloween is not a jewish holiday…….
    ‘cut the cheese’ is an american idiom these days, which probably wasn’t yet invented when your sister dressed as a cheese cutter, but don’t advertise her costume tendencies.
    chelsea, of course, could dress as chelsea-clinton-but that would take a very smart white gown! no sense suiting up as one of the tea party candidates, palin, odonnell, et al,…. and being a teabag is no fun at all.
    last year in orlando, as the paid speaker at a girlscout banquet, joan rivers announced ”i’m sorry to say that once again this year paris hilton failed to earn her
    ‘wearing panties for a week’ merit badge”. all kinds of possibilities here, but chelsea, i am sure, is a well-brought-up daughter.
    ok, ok, i’m just being a brat. bon chance with halloween costumes. m
    ______________________
    Hi M
    You Crack me up with your humor!!
    C

    Reply
  27. Marie- Noelle

    Chelsea could dress up as an antique dealer/seller. Could wear “tatters” with strings of old bits and bobs all around or
    on a vintage hat.

    Reply
  28. Christine

    She could be a doctor … or a lab scientist…. with her hair up, dark rimmed glasses, long white lab coat, add medical accessories ….

    Reply
  29. Tamra / The Gilded Barn

    I too feel Marie Antoinette would be perfect but if you want cute and low/no budget then you can always don a strapless swimsuit, wrap a towel around you and a towel around your head and go fresh out of the shower.

    Reply
  30. LaurieSF

    Statue of Liberty of course. France’s gift to us, Chelsea.

    Reply
  31. Lorelei

    Chelsea could dress as Coco Chanel. Sweet little suit, purse, cigarette holder….

    Reply
  32. Robyn [miss*R]

    what about a Willow Tree? brown shirt and leggings and some kind of green wig for the leaves

    Reply
  33. jend’isère

    A simple black cat…clad in leotard, attached tail and trianglar ears on a black hairband. Comfortable,traditional for a beginner Halloween-fest, without need to explain the entire night.

    Reply
  34. Sugar

    How about Corey and FH going old Hollywood dressing as the characters “Somewhere in Time” and Chelsea dressing as the daughter of a wine maker… off the shoulder white blouse, festive skirt with her beautiful hair falling to her shoulders holding a basket of grapes? Sacha dressed as the Red Baron…white scarf about his neck, white shirt, brown slacks, leather headgear with goggles?

    Reply
  35. Marie

    I am going to be Athena a greek goddess for halloween!!

    Reply
  36. Denise Moulun-Pasek

    Chelsey could be a mime.
    Dress in black leggins and long-sleeved black and white striped t-shirt, paint her face white with black around the eyes and a red tear on her cheek. Just google images: mime and you’ll get a good idea for the face paint.
    Easy peasy!

    Reply
  37. susanna

    What a haunting photograph, Corey. It’s wonderful! As for costumes…with the French theme…how about a Macaroon? I talked with my b-mother yesterday and she said that her favourite costumes were a bunch of kids dressed as a herd of giraffes. I thought that was a great idea. My sister’s favourite trick-or-treater costume was a little girl dressed as a jellyfish.

    Reply
  38. kelleyn

    I second the French maid costume!

    Reply
  39. Ann

    1. Bridesmaid from the 50’s (thrift store shopping!)
    2. American tourist in Europe (silly hat, camera around neck, funny summer clothes, Hawaiin shirt)
    3. Late for class (half PJ’s/robe, hair messed up, still wearing slippers)
    4. victorian lady
    5. Princess Leia from Star Wars movie
    6. Marilyn Monroe in white dress – ooolala
    Imagination needed here. Ann

    Reply
  40. Sallie

    My daughter when she was as young as Chelsea and quite beautiful and womanly as she is, rented a tuxedo, top hat, and carrying a dancing stick went as Fred Astaire. Costume was the hit of the party. I suspect that whatever Chelsea wears, she will be too.

    Reply
  41. roses madrigale

    Being an artist I love Halloween-
    my best costume was The Blessed Mother-
    I gave out get into Heaven Free Cards-
    which people still carry in their wallets-
    I tell them I think it expired!
    Black Sicialian mourning dress-rosaries and BVM blue silk sari scarf on head with a beatific look on your face-

    Reply
  42. Karin

    This year I am going as a skeleton a la Mexican Day of the Dead. Black body paint, painted bones on my bare skin, and dressed similarly and as colorfully as Frida Kahlo with a fabulous glittery fruit headpiece. SF’s Haight is a treasure trove of second hand shops for great Halloween inspiration!

    Reply
  43. Sue

    Take two pieces of poster board (colored to look like a McDonald’s french fry box)and affix to Chelsea front and back. Cut rectangular slices of yellow rug padding different lengths and jam them in front and back and voila — French fries, emphasis on the French.

    Reply
  44. kristin from toronto

    my favourite costume from university was with 2 other friends…we went as 3 Blind Mice… black tights, black or jean mini skirt, black long sleeve shirt, homemade mouse ears using headband, hand painted black nose and whiskers, sunglasses, and a cane made from a tree branch. cute and fun. lots of comments and great to have the cane as a prop 🙂 hope she has fun.

    Reply
  45. Amy

    Here are a couple of easy ones that use word play…
    Put black eye make-up on one eye and cut out a large letter “P” — affix that to your shirt to make a black-eyed P (pea). If she does this with a few friends, they could go as The Black-eyed Peas (a play on the pop music group).
    Write “Go Ceilings!” on a t-shirt and carry some pom poms — for a “Ceiling Fan”.
    Wear all white. Affix a yellow circle to your belly. Add devil’s horns to make “A deviled egg.”

    Reply
  46. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    What a creative bunch of suggestions! I trust, Corey, that you WILL show us what costume Chelsea ends up with?

    Reply

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