Happy Halloween, Book Lovers and Idea Seekers! (It’s okay to say Happy Halloween the entire month of October) Since the actual day and most parties are still a couple weeks off, you might not yet have decided on a costume. And, if you’re like me, you might love to lean towards your favorite literary characters. If you’ve not decided, I assume that’s why you’re here… or you’re curious about what I’ll suggest. Either way, read on, dear reader!
P.S. You get bonus points if you carry around the book your character is from.
Miss Mink: Life Lessons for a Cat Countess
This is a picture book that I just think is delightful because she’s so fabulously dressed throughout. It won’t necessarily be an easy costume, because her style is from the 1920’s, but if you’ve ever gone to a 1920’s themed party that occasionally pop-up (I once went to a Christmas party with this theme!) and need to dust off that flapper dress, this is a good time to do so. Frankly, the hardest part will be figuring out how to style your hair into finger waves.
Pete the Cat
I promise I won’t just suggest picture books, but this one is incredibly easy because he has so many different adventures that you can tailor your costume to whatever book of his you choose. In this one, “I Love My White Shoes,” you would just need white shoes, a blue shirt, and cat ears to make it work! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Percy JacksonThis could be borderline boring since Percy wears our regular clothing. BUT getting a shirt and emblazoning “Camp Half-Blood” on it and carrying a sword is pretty easy way to have a really cool character as your costume – particularly last minute.
One of the Twelve Dancing Princesses
The Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of the Grimm’s fairytales that has been adapted into different novels and has multiple picture book illustrators, so there isn’t one specifically anyone can hold you accountable to. That said, to pull this off, you just need any sort of nice gown. In the original fairytale they’re wearing ball gowns, but considering the plot is how much they wear their shoes down, I think it’s okay if the dress isn’t completely a ball gown and/or isn’t in great condition (like, for instance, purchased secondhand for cheap).
Amelia Peabody
Amelia is from the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series that was published from 1975 to 2010. Since throughout the series she wore different outfits and had them described she, like Pete the Cat, has multiples to choose from. Of course, she was a British Egyptologist in 1884, so it’s fairly easy to make an educated guess what her regular attire would have looked like. Some brown jodhpurs (Victorian pants), matching vest, and white long sleeved blouse, perhaps? Very easy!
Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
For fans of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this will be a very fun one. Just put on a bathrobe, grab a blanket, and remind people throughout the night not to panic! You might have to explain your costume but just tell them the answer is 42.
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