I didn't really have my heart set on any particular costume for Molly this year. She is just starting to get into the phase where I can dress her up in something that isn't as cutesy. Nothing against cutesy. See here. I just favor the bigger dress costumes.
So when Molly said she wanted to be a witch I thought, "I can make that work." I think she got the idea from a Sesame Street book about cookie monster, a witch and a magical cookie tree. The witch in the story is the traditional green, ugly, hag-like depiction. But I didn't feel compelled to stick by that standard.
Of course, I did stick with the traditional black BUT I made a long dress and smocked the skirt (which took forever BTW). I then bustled it so she could walk. Finally, I added a bunchy pettiskirt underneath to puffen the costume out at the bottom.
I lined the sleeves with a dark red embroidered flower taffeta. The upper part of the sleeves is cinched with gold trim lined black cuffs. I also filled the neckline with a black lace embellishment.
For an added flair I added an orange crushed taffeta and black velvet lined madame's cape with brown ribbon ties. I also bought the witch cone hat at the thrift store for just $1.
I really loved the way it looked put all together. I found the straw broom in my basement. Yay for hoarding!
I'm actually keeping this one. I always imagined having a trunk of dress up clothes for my girls. And that they would occasionally wear them and put on plays. Unfortunately, I give all my cool costumes away. Lily never really seemed to have an interest in dressing up until recently. Molly seems to love it....for a while. So perhaps if they start to show more interest I might save some of my creations for them and make that trunk I've always dreamed of.
Like not spending money? 
43 {comments}:
absolutely beautiful, as usual! I love it! You can tell a lot of care went into it. I'm in awe of your skills!
That walks a wonderful line between cute and beautiful!
Oh my!!! The costume is SOOOO cute and so designer perfect. However, the cuteness of the witch surpasses the threads. CUTE!!!!
Holy Smokes! I think this might be the best Halloween Costume I have seen to date! The smocking on that skirt is FABULOUS! I am far, far and away impressed! GREAT JOB!!!riz
It really is just darling! I love the smocking detail. Looks very 19th century. Lovely!
So beautiful! You are amazing. Your daughter looks so cute. She is a sweet witch in the forest. I just love it.
That has to be the most beautiful witch's dress I've seen. The sweet girl is gorgeous as well!
Oh I wish I could sew. My poor kids just have to have store bought. This costume is perfect. Love, love, love it.
wow. gorgeous!
All of the costumes you have made are so impressive!! Awesome job.
Wow, the costume is stunning as are the pictures! I love when your girls model your creations :) I'm glad to hear you're keeping it. I don't know how you manage to give so many beautiful things away! Your readers are very lucky!!
Love the detailing! I'm glad you're keeping it (even though I really want one).
That is an amazing costume! I love the smocking!
Beautiful! I wish I had an adult version of this costume!
-Amy
Crafting by Candlelight
Ooh, it's so pretty! I must say, I'm pretty jealous...
Gorgeous costume. I'm very impressed by how much effort Americans put into Halloween compared to England!
What a great costume! And such a cute little girl!
I so want an adult sized one of those! I love the way the bottom of the dress is done. Is there a tutorial you know of to so how to do that?
Make the trunk! Growing up, my mother used to hit the bargain fabric shelf and make a variety of super simple skirts, tops, capes, etc for the dress-up box. She would then put all of the pieces into big boxes and let my sisters and I unwrap them for Christmas. Talking to her later, she told me that is was easy and inexpensive, but if one of us decided that we wanted a wedding dress or something special, she could always make it and give it to us to add to the collection as a gift. Best of all, my nieces now have all of the dress up clothes and continue to play with them. Cheers!
Incredible!!!
I had to look up in the dictionary "cutesy" I thought that it meant "cute" and I didn´t undestand why you didn´t find it cute...
she is gorgeous in that costume, and I would die for it!!!!!!!!! (well, a bigger size, I mean)
Oooooh does this come in grown-up sizes?
I wouldn't be giving this if I were you!
It's gorgeous! The costume is to die for and the scenery you chose for the pictures couldn't have been more authentic! Love everything!
Molly looks so cute/pretty in the costume! And so happy! And the dress is just really amazing, really nice. I'd love to have such a trunk too =)
i love this costume. i want it for myself. all that you posted for this year are grand indeed. tulia didn't want a homemade costume this year...sigh. can't wait to see what's next.
This looks fantastic! I love the sock monkey baby too, very talented!!
This is utterly adorable. I love it! Beautiful :) And Molly is too cute!
This is amazing. She is a luck girl !
Absolutely AMAZING!! Your little girl and the dress are absolutely adorable! I echo what Jennifer said--is there a tutorial for how you did the bottom part of the dress? A tutorial on any of it would be great, actually! Your costumes are just fabulous!
I don't blame you one bit. We have our photo shoot ready. Happy Halloween
the smocking is really lovely; that's a very special halloween costume.
p.s. really excited for embellish month! like, geeky excited.
This is gorgeous! I always enjoy seeing the great costumes you come up with.
Any chace you could do a technique Tuesday on how you did that fabulous smocking? I have been looking all over the internet on how to do that type of smocking but to no avail. The costume is stunning by the way :). I hope your little one enjoyed it.
GORGEOUS Kathleen but than I am not surprise. You always do such phenomenal work.
Any chance you could do a technique Tuesday on that fabulous smocking you did? I have looked all over the internet to find out how to do that, but to no avail. What a darling costume! I bet your little one loved it :).
This is so beautiful. I have a Molly, too, and she loved to dress up when she was little and still does as a teen! My girls still have a dress-up collection, even though a lot of it is my 80's outfits.
This looks AMAZING. You did suck a great job. Could you explain how you did the smocking?
I want one for me! So cool!
Super adorable!! Beautiful work.
I'm glad you are keeping that one for your daughters, that is gorgeous, and I don't think I could have parted with it.
I remember finding your blog, when you were giving the Marie Antoinette costume away, and I just couldn't believe you were!! I made all my daughter's costumes, and I can't even imagine giving them away.
Love the smocking!!!
She is the cutest witch I´ve ever seen. Dress is beautiful too
Adorable! And you have gone to so much trouble not only to make it but to style the photos. Just beautiful! (Why anyone buys the glossy mags for beautiful fashion photography, when you can get it for free here, I don't know!)
WOW. This goes so far beyond a mere costume. I am in awe of your talent and patience!
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