Keeping a mermaid warm

how about polar fleece underneath? it's pretty easy to work with

polar fleece leggings wouldn't be that difficult to run up (and they could be useful later in the season)

Oh, it's about a kid.

Cause my first reaction was, I can do that!

Spencer.

I think the seaweed cape sounds kinda cool!

If seaweed doesn't seem mermaidy enough maybe you could use some shiny blue fabric to make a "water" cape. Use some wire to give it some movement, have it come up over her head like a crashing wave or something.......

I looked through Google images to find some photos that might offer some inspiration to gather some ideas from.







Here's an idea for making the seaweed. This is yarn dyed, raveled and twisted to look like seaweed. You might be able to find some yarns and glass babbles to do something similar.
http://www.temptressyarn.com/news/2008/05/08/seaweed-adrift/

They're cute,Butrflynt!

I like this here too! underneath the costume sozlet could wear a tan colored sweater and pants.



Here is a nice wig that goes along with it.

Tights under the, uh, waist to tail section? Mermaid boots?

Cute pictures, thanks!

And thanks for your ideas so far, everyone!

Some sort of water or seaweed (or both!) cape sounds like it'll work OK. I'm less concerned about the bottom (lots can go under the mermaid tail) than the top.

Right now what I do have planned:

- Hair down (it's gotten quite long -- about waist length -- and is wavy/ curly)
- Headdress/ crown sort of thing on top of that, with shells (we have a gazillion from Florida), fake pearls, and "sea glass" (some really cool glass beads I have), trailing ocean-colored silk ribbons
- Lots of pearl, shell, and "sea glass" necklaces and bracelets (including some to camouflage neck and wrist lines of skin-tone top)
- Silver sequinny shoes
- Some face painting -- at a fair this summer we saw some silver curly twisty stuff that was pretty and that sozlet thought would be good for a mermaid
- We have a mermaid outfit that I bought cheap after Halloween last year that I'm going to mess with -- it looks something like this:



In fact, that might be it.

The bra thing is removable, plan to either replace with another, more interesting one (probably involving real shells) or do something more continuous (no belly, as suggested by caribou in chat I think). Also might do a lot of sequins (scales).

Generally plan to just use that as a base and do so much with it that it's unrecognizable.

How come this thread has only had women commenting, save for the one male looking for companionship?

Speaking from the words of someone who hates cold weather, I swear by long underwear shirts and leggings under all my clothes.

Add a layer of flannel fabric or some other quilted style skirt that gently bunches around the legs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUxUbYUHExs

OK so I bought the silk undershirt -- useful anyway (so soft!).

Plan to make a seaweed cape after all but a little different than originally planned. Will cut out a bunch of tendrilly seaweed shapes from dark green polarfleece, then just overlap them (will do some pinning ON her to get a good fitted shape at the top) (yes I've been watching too much "Project Runway).

Then most of the rest as described already I think. Will make a crown/ garland with seaglass beads, shells, pearls, etc., and then have silk water-colored ribbons trailing off the back. Etc.

Came here to note some stuff for NEXT year though. (I know, I know.) We started talking about the idea of her being a punk this year, and it was sounding good to me especially in terms of how much she already has. But after some discussion, she prefers to be a mermaid but really likes the idea of being a punk next year. So a quick brain-dump:

These are meant to be used for zombies or something but would be great for fake safety-pin piercings:

http://www.halloweenexpress.com/second-skin-stitches-kit-p-4515.html

If I were doing it this year I would dress her in (items she already has):

- Plaid leggings
- Black mini
- Sailor Jerry devil Chuck Taylors (Converse sneakers with a Sailor Jerry tattoo design on 'em)

Then would get

- Fake (fleece instead of leather) motorcycle jacket from Old Navy (pretty cheap, almost bought it anyway)
- fake safety pin piercings
- Other fake piercings (for ears, eyebrow, etc.)
- Fake tats

And would make:

- A torn-up, punky shirt
- Customize the jacket (like an Anarchy circled A on a piece of fabric that's safety-pinned to the back)
- Customize other stuff too, especially with safety pins

I'd either give her a ponyhawk (a series of ponytails then gelled to stand up) or have her wear a mohawk wig.

And probably give her some heavy black eyeliner.

Mo did punk for blast from the past day at school last year. It was great fun. I think I posted a photo of him all decked out in punk garb. So easy too. I wish he would have chosen that for Halloween.

Right, I remember!

One thing I thought of for a bat face would be to get a fox mask and then paint it black or brown. Since bats are known as "flying foxes" and have those foxy little faces.

*****

I am the luckiest girl in the world. The mermaid costume is coming along but I just haven't been able to figure out what to do about the front -- keep it as stupid foam fake purple seashells (no), take those off and replace with real shells (maybe -- problems include color [too flesh-toned, really don't want her to look topless] and hardness/pokiness), or maybe try to make one of those more continuous costumes, more like an evening dress, rather than a bare top and the scales starting at the waist. (Ya know?) Problem there was what to make the top part out of. I was thinking of cutting some out of the sides of the dress where the "fins" come out, but there wasn't enough and there would be a seam and...

Anyway, I was fretting and plotting and then went to JoAnn fabrics to get various items. (Wire, fake pearls, green polarfleece for the seaweed cape, etc.) There... right in front of me when I walked in... and 60% off... was the PRECISE fabric used in the costume!!!!! I mean not the same idea or something, THE stuff. Exact match.

So cool.

Then on the same display stand was this shimmery liquidy blue stuff -- great for a "water" cape.

And made by the same company (Disney, as far as I can tell) and from the same collection, I'd guess, so it "goes." Similar weight, sheen, etc.

So I got some same-colored polarfleece to line it (partially, the bottom part will be single-layer, just the watery fabric), and I'm set.

I was thinking of cutting flippy watery edges -- like cresting waves, crescents -- but the other side of the watery fabric isn't great (just flat boring blue, and not a great blue), so I think I'll just do an undulating edge. It'll have lots of movement when she walks.

I also got some super-cheap but REAL starfish and one little REAL seahorse (a dollar!) at a local store. Those will go in her crown thing.

This should be fun.

Soz, You have to post a picture of the finished creation, preferably with your daughter as the model.

I'll take some pictures of her in the whole outfit today or tomorrow.

Here are a couple of pictures though -- the necklace (scanned directly):



And the garlandy crowny thing (could NOT take a decent pic with the digital camera, grr... gives an idea tho):



It has really nice oceany movement to it when she wears it.

By the way, high of 67 tomorrow!! YESSS... (It's been extremely cold lately... high of 40 or something on Monday.)

I'm looking forward to the pictures as well. The necklace and garland look
divine and I am sure, sozlet will be a smashing hit tomorrow.

In Jane's school the kids have a Halloween party today and they're allowed to wear their costumes today and tomorrow (black angel for Jane).

Oh gosh.

That is totally darling. You did a brilliant job. I bet she loves it!

I wish our bat costume would come together. I'm cutting it awfully close this year and if the latest twist doesn't work I'm sunk.

If I hear "Moooooooooooooom. That doesn't look like a real bat." one more time I'm gonna scream.