5 Oct 2011

When it comes to Halloween, why buy your costume if you could make it (or better yet, pull it out of your own closet!)?? All week long I’ll share my ideas for inexpensive, homemade Halloween costumes. Enjoy!

It’s been twenty years since I did a witch costume for Halloween, so why not compliment Dorothy by doing my own version of the Wicked Witch of the West? My key inspiration is more of the Wicked variety than the classic Wizard of Oz, although I referenced both when planning this costume.  I’m making use of what I already have (black coat, hat) and adding in small, inexpensive details (face paint, socks, broom) to get the look. 

Inspiration:

Key Elements:

• Green makeup
• Black Hat
• Black Coat or Dress
• Striped Socks
• Broom

Only two of my Halloween costumes required a trip to the costume shop and this was one of them.  I wanted to track down the MAC green makeup they use for the Wicked show on Broadway, but came up short.  My second option proved to work just as well (at least in making me green) and only cost $1.99. I also picked up the $5 broom and $2 socks to complete this costume.

Once I had this costume on, I felt like I was a mash up of Rachel Zoe (loosely waved hair, wide brimmed hat) + the WWOTW.  If you already have a pointed hat in your costume closet - go for it. I just didn’t want to buy a cheap-o version and wasn’t about to splurge on the $30 hat either so I just went with what I already had. Once you’re painted green, however, you definitely get the point across. 

A note on the face paint - it isn’t enough to just slather yourself in green.  To bring depth back to your face - use browns and grays for your eyes and lips.  Bonus points for painting your hands (or any other skin that shows) green as well.

I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!

Cost: $10
Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Time Commitment: Moderate

Photos: Idina Menzel as Elphaba in Wicked, Screen shots from The Wizard of Oz

Photography by Suzie Reecer.