Annie's "Saucy Sailor" Halloween costume: satin minidress made from a 1972 Simplicity pattern, red spike heels, and sailor cap. To be worn to school on Friday and to a party on Halloween.I fully intended to show you a photo of Annie wearing this year's Halloween costume. It's absolutely adorable on her and she's very happy with it. But then I read this article in Sunday's New York Times, and I thought uh-oh, will I be pimping my daughter on the Internet if I post a photo of her? It's a little unnerving to think of where our photos can turn up these days. If you ever see a random photo of me somewhere, like as the before shot for a plastic surgery ad or in an over-50 dating service ad, let me know, okay? Same for my kids. Let's watch out for each other when it comes to unauthorized use of our images.
Sewing details: Satin fabric from Jo-Ann's, trim from my stash. Instead of facings I lined the bodice with self-fabric. Everything else was done quick and easy, like pinking the seams as a fast finish, because this is a costume, after all, plus anything made for a teenager has a limited lifespan. Vintage seventies Simplicity pattern bought online. Dress looks super-short but it meets Annie's school dress code (the old fingertip rule).My son David is making it easy on me: He's wearing a "Eurasian Traveler Wig and Mustache" with his regular school clothes (t-shirt and jeans)—no sewing involved. What about you, dear readers? Are you finishing up Halloween costumes for your kids?
Note: I am aware Annie's Halloween outfit is a little on the trampy side. I've gotten comments in the past from readers who chastised me for allowing my daughter to wear high heels and short dresses, and I expect those readers will want to express their disapproval again. Feel free. Aside from the short skirts Annie wears occasionally, my daughter dresses more on the preppy/conservative side. This outfit is just a costume and is not representative of her moral character or mine. Nuff said.
46 comments:
Ha ha -I thought I did see you in a cosmetic surgery ad.........I'm kidding.
Costume is darling......you should be proud. When I hear about the costumes at the high school each year here,Annie's is tame!!!
My oldest is a ballerina-made her tutu this weekend (when does Halloween end-she is nearing 21????) My second is still deciding - a son,my third went as an 80's guy-no sewing (yeh) and my youngest has changed mind AGAIN and is going as a baby-foot pajamas and pacifier from Target-no sewing-yeh!!!
Adorable costume Annie will look the best!!!!
Great costume, Momma! Does costume making ever end? I think not. I bet she looks just darling in this outfit.
I'm so amused that an daily item from the 70s is a costume today! Looks adorable.
Super cute! I know she will look great. Great work, Mom
The sailor costume is so cute! I will have to keep the 70's patterns in mind.
And I have a clown, supergirl, and a paramedic on my end--actually I had very little sewing. They were very happy in the Halloween store.
And I much rather see a teenager dress up as a sailor than a 6 year old girl as hannah montana or some other "teenage" pop star! good job mom!
Well my girls would adore that outfit! I certainly think it is cute! What is Halloween for if not the opportunity to act a bit out of character for an evening! If I get a photo of the outfit, I will share the sexy bride of frankenstein outfit that I am donning for some murder mystery performances this weekend!
Cute costume! Really, I don't see the issue with legs; now cleavage (if there is any...) is different imo. As to "what to publish on the internet", I've thought about that a lot, and I know the safe route would be never showing the kids'or my picture. On the other hand the internet is such a great medium for sharing, and I love what other sewers put out there, so I choose not to be completely immobilized by fear and put (modest) photos out there. I have for this reason disabled search machines (blogger option). I don't want just anyone to look in on my blog; I figure if someone is interested in sewing they'll find me sooner or later.
Well done, she will be the hit of the party! I thought I got off easy this year since the little guy wanted the store-bought Spiderman (with built in muscles) and DD wants to wear last year's costume again... until DH informed me yesterday we're headed to a party Friday night! Ugh...
What an adorable costume! I was telling my boyfriend about the "fingertip rule" the other night and he couldn't believe the nuns allowed us to wear our skirts that short (today they must wear them 2" above the knee)! Hey, it was the 70s and many outfits worn then seem positively indecent by today's standards, don't you think? Some of our dresses then were barely longer than crotch length and we wore bikini bottoms underneath. Your daughter always looks lovely.
Cute costume! I'm sure she will have a ball wearing it!
Great costume! Ahhhh, to be young again!
Cute costume.. I know its going to look nice on your daughter...
I think the costume is wonderful - and when I show it to my 14 year old daughter, I know what she will be next year!
My daughter wears all sorts of plike heels - but never to school. She loves short skirts also - but she always wears them over leggings - her own personal style.
And most people think that my daughter looks like a tramp for halloween each year - this year she is wearing a super short fairy skirt, red corset, and black lace top - with fairy wings...
What an ingenious use of the vintage pattern! The costume is great, and totally appropriate for a teen. I just recently saw this video of how to do "anime makeup" to look like Sailor Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i5qkSxF60U
Super cute! I would love a costume like that.
That turned out absolutely adorable! I'm guessing your daughter looks amazing in it - nice job mom!
You are a hoot, cosmetic surgery ad. Ha ha.
I think the Annie costume will so cute and fun.
I want to dress up like Annie, only longer for me because of my age.
Cute outfit. Can't wait to see it on.
That is such a cute outfit! And your son, is he practising his accents yet?
Very cute! I'd wear it.
I only had to make one costume this year, which was a witch. My little one decided she wanted to be a dog and our daycare provider had a perfect costume she let us borrow.
My kids would be jealous that Annie gets to wear her costume to school. No mention of Halloween at my kids school because we wouldn't want to offend someone!
Oh, my gracious so cute!!!
This year I made a Halloween costume for a 1 yr old little girl and got paid for it. It was Lamb Chop. I found a vintage pattern on ebay. Your blog has inspired me to start up my sewing business again. I'm working on a princess dress for my daughter. Funny though my kids wanted Wal-Mart costumes this year, but that was a good thing.
Adorable costume! Boo to those people who don't think your daughter should dress as she pleases, and huzzah to you for letting her (my mom definitely wouldn't have let me where an outfit like that when I was in high school)!
Darling costume! But I have to ask, ... are those Stuart Weitzman pumps? Tell me not so. I have a pair of those, and can't imagine allowing one of the girls to borrow them, esp for a costume. If they are, you are one super generous mama.
I wore dresses that short on a daily basis back in the 60s so I sure can't criticize you or your daughter. I think the costume is adorable and I wish you could show her in it, but I know where you are coming from. I've about decided not to use anymore photos of my grands on my blog.
Super cute costume. I hear you on the photos. It always is in the back of my mind when I post.
DD1 is also a sailor; Sailor Moon :)) Thankfully that costume was made two years ago, just don't have any time right now. DD2 is mini moon, and let's just say that it involves a lot of steam a seam :)) Hopefully the nice boots and wig will make up for mommy's slapdash work...
I agree, this is certainly tame. No tramps in sight. It's also cute and should look great on her.
To Marji: Heck no, those are not Stuart Weitzman pumps! As if! Those were bought on the cheap from the local trampy shoes store.
Cute! I have never done a sailor costume and now I'm thinking I missed out.
I made a back-to-school dress my freshman year of high school (yep, date matches - 1972) from that pattern. A slinky bluish fabric with some kind of fabric and a white color with ribbon trim. A little on the clingy side which is probably what I wanted at the time - you know, older guys?
Very cute and fun dress, perfect for Halloween.
I loved making costumes when my daughter was young! Annie's going to be a hit!
It's a very cute looking costume and I'm sure she"ll look great :)
You did a great job!
Very cute - sort of a superhero sailor!
Love that costume! Are those Dorothy's ruby slippers?
For the let's say fourth year in a row my son is wearing the same store-bought spiderman costume (all in different sizes) and my daughter will be a princess. Wait, she was Cleopatra last year. Okay, 3 princesses and 1 queen. Have I started it yet? Oh, I think you know that answer to that one!
Great costume!! I am sure your daughter will be a hit! Your work is beautiful and your daughter will always remember all the wonderful things you made for her!
Very cute, your daughter will be a lovely sailor.
Halloween is not really a tradition here, so I never made a costume for that.
Really cute outfit. And a great idea for a costume. I'm with Julia...we wore skirts short like that every day back then. However, no cleavage! It's funny how we see cleavage everywhere we look (and look away!) on all ages and sizes of women today. But show a little leg and people go wild! Let your daughter wear the short skirts and enjoy them while she is young. I did!
Very cute.
I think that costume is sweet and fabulous!
It's so cute, why not show her with her head turned? Wouldn't that satisfy the privacy concerns?
I think that costume is adorable! I especially like the little sailor cap. Where does one find something like that?
Anyway, super cute! And if Halloween isn't an excuse to dress a little on the trampy side, I don't know what is!
That's a cute costume. I would have loved to wear that when I was a teenager. And I really like the red heels! :-)
love it and love the Sailor Moon idea. Can Maggie borrow it next year? Doubtful. I'm sure that's going off to college with DD.
Oh, LOL, I just realized the outfit is just "sailor," not Sailor Moon, so my Sailor Moon link was sort of random. Duh moment for me! It is adorable anyhow. :)
Love it! You'll have to tell us how everyone loved it when they saw your daughter wearing it.
Kids need to express themselves... hopefully they will think b/4 it goes too far! You did a great job on the costume! I'm sure she may not admit it, but she probably got lots of complements!
Good idea though about not putting the picture on line... you just never know any more do you!
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