Halloween Costume Idea

This Halloween, while everyone else is dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, why not be something really important? Why not be the most important thing in the entire solar system? The sun.

Use Mexican folk art to inspire you for this year's Halloween costume and enjoy the creative, tactile experience of re-creating yourself as the sun. It's a quick, simple costume to make. Fashion yourself a head piece of sun rays, find some yellow clothing, and add a shiny yellow scarf. Start by gathering the supplies you'll need.

Supplies:
Face and Head
• 1 sturdy, yet comfortable hair band (The kind that can hold your bangs back off of your forehead.)
• five to ten sheets of yellow or golden paperboard (Consider two complementary colors.)
• florist's wire
• black felt-tipped permanent marker
• pencil
• scissors
• 1 roll of durable tape (yellow electrical tape would be ideal) or contact cement
• yellow or golden face paint or makeup
Optional:
• black face paint or makeup
• yellow or golden string or ribbons
• yellow or golden sequins and some glue
• glitter and some glue
Body
Yellow or golden…
• clothing
• scarf
• shoes

Designing and Assembling the Head Piece
Use a pencil to trace sun rays onto the paperboard. You can erase and redraw until you like the shape of each one. Be sure to design a "tab" onto each ray so that you can attach it to the headband later. Try to think about how to make your rays as strong as possible so that your sun won't set before the night is through. Crease some rays "the long way" at the bottom to give a triangular shape to the base so that they don't flop over onto your head as you are walking or dancing.

Once you like your "rays" cut them out and glue or tape them onto the head band. Optionally you may want to outline each ray or add other features with the black felt tipped marker, ribbons, sequins or glitter before attaching them, just don't make them too heavy. Use the florist's wire to add support behind each ray. (Tip: Try the whole thing on once or twice as you are working to be sure that you like the layout and proportions of your head piece.)

Painting Your Face
Cover your face in yellow or gold depending on what you think would look best with your original head piece. Sprinkle glitter on your cheeks and eyes so that you shine like the sun. You could also use black face paint to add features such as a winking eye or curly cheeks to accentuate your Halloween costume.

Designing Your Clothing
What would the sun wear? A skin-tight lycra body suit? A sheer and flowing gown? A yellow pin-striped suit with golden tie? The options depend on your mood, body type (hey, it's reality folks), and what you have available. Take a trip through a used clothing store to see what you can find that will make you look like the sun. (Tip: They do make yellow nylon stockings in case you opt for shorts or a short skirt.) If you're going to be outside you can plan a layered look with a yellow sequined sweater or shawl that will allow you to stay warm without ruining the look of your costume.

This year's Halloween costume will be original, comfortable, attention getting and fun. You'll make memories both while designing it and wearing it. Since it won't cover your eyes you'll be able to see everyone at the party. It won't cover your mouth so you'll be able to munch and imbibe freely. But the best part is that everyone at the party will want to be in the light of your sun.-jt