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Costume ideas for a walker

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For people with a medical condition requiring them to use a walker, finding a good Halloween Costume can be a challenge. We’ve put together a few ideas below to help you or someone you love out. The costumes range from quite simple to very elaborate depending upon your inclination and time. We also have pages for more handicapped costume ideas, ideas for costumes for people using walkersand costume ideas for people using wheelchairs. The Halloween.com Forums also have sections to discuss these type of costume ideas.

  • * Go as a grocery shopper. You could use the walker as part of a shopping cart and be shopping.
  • * Or cover the walker with brown butcher paper and BE the groceries in a bag!! 
  • * Putting on a Texas Ranger (or other cowboy type costume) costume and going as “Walker, Texas Ranger”.
  • * Use pieces of cardboard to build a haunted castle or haunted house and you can dress as frankentstein or a ghost or witch etc…looking out the window.
  • * A robot which includes the walker which would take account of limited mobility.
  • * Build it up into a haunted tree and you could be an owl.
  • * You could also put some mountainous pictures on the walker and when people ask what you are, you could say “The Walker Mountains in Antarctica of course!” Or some pictures of a lake and go as “Walker Lake” – there are a number of Walker Lakes out there.
  • * Get a large stiff piece of cardboard to attach to the front, shaped and painted or colored to look like a coffin with a small opening for you to look out of. Old fashioned coffins used to have a little window, sometimes shaped like a bat with screening in it!
  • * How about french fries and a drink? The fries are the walker and the drink is you.
  • * You could be a Christmas present. The box is opened and you are coming out as a doll or jack-in-the-box.
  • * Put a little model of a city on top of the walker, then dress up as Godzilla or some other monster coming towards the city about to CRUSH it.

If you have more ideas or want to talk more about it, come and see the Halloween.com Forums costume section.

Some other great inspiration is shown below:
Photos of costumes from the Bridge School: from a fireman in a fire truck (the wheel chair) to an ice cream stand to a flower in a garden to Alladin on his magic carpet to a biker and babe! These are some wonderful costume ideas.The MDA also has some pictures of more costume ideas.And finally, there are more great ideas are on this page.

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween Makeup Ideas

A lot of the theatrical makeup used for Halloween dress-up can cause reactions in sensitive people, so always test it first. Or, read the ingredients before purchasing.  You don’t want to look like  a leopard with spots, if your goal was to be an Egyptian queen!  If you’ve purchased your costume then it will usually have a few make-up ideas in the package.  If you are lost and don’t know what you’d like to do, then  look at some books or designs on the Internet and they will inspire you.

If you sweat a lot, then chose a light makeup up look.  The more “greasepaint” you put on your body, the bigger the likelihood that you will sweat.  There are natural mineral makeups out there plus specially designed ones used in show business, that won’t cause reactions.  They can be more expensive but it’s worth it if you’ll feel more comfortable.  Some costume designs require a lot of makeup to create the look, while a few hardly need any.  A lot of costumes use masks and if you aren’t allergic to latex then this is an almost instant way to glam up your outfit.

Makeup for animal costumes is more complex than a lot of others  This is like those face paintings that the kids get done at county fairs.  One accidental wipe at your cheek and the look may be ruined.  Even little babies can have a few dots or noses or whiskers on their faces.  Of course, any makeup for babies should be hypoallergenic from the get go.  Watch out for glitter.  It’s usually applied by a spray and it can cause reactions, besides the fact that it tastes funny if you get some in your mouth.  Use a well-lit makeup mirror for your makeup if it’s complex.  Try and get a photo of the look you’re aiming for and tape it up on the mirror at eye level so you can refer to it.

One thing to be careful of is makeup staining either your skin or an area of your home where you don’t want it.  You have to get it off you before you go to bed, and sometimes it does take special removers.  Test first, well before you’ll be needing it, and also test how to get it off.  Remember — read about both the makeup and the way to get it off, because you don’t want your skin being removed along with it.

Theatrical makeup artists study for a long time because they often have to age or “young” an actor up for a role, or create a monster or disfigured person (such as in Phantom of the Opera) and these become an integral part of an actor’s costume.  Once they start to act, then the two often meld together to form the character.  We’ve gotten a few tips together for specific looks.

Monster

This is not just throwing a bunch of makeup on your face and mixing it up together like a bread pudding.  At the base of every monster is the person or being which existed before they became a monster.  Somehow, you have to transcend the bridge and make your monster real.  If it’s an “affliction” then make it as simple, and as real as you can.  Sometimes a perfectly simple Mardi Gras-like mask can help, as in Phantom of the Opera.  There needn’t be anything behind a mask, but we can always wonder.

Swashbuckler/Daredevil

For men, there’s a certain swagger to an explorer or adventurer or pirate.  This can mean beard stubble, which is easy for men as they have their own.  Just don’t shave for a few days.  You can always stipple on some black makeup as well, unless you are a red head of course.  An old sword wound can be created as long as it doesn’t curl up on  your face like a mini-venetian blind because of sweat.  One director made himself up as Nanki-Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and he was so active that his eyebrows started to peel off.  I couldn’t look at him without choking up.  You can buy wounds in either a magic shop or makeup store or off the Internet.

Women’s Makeup

Most women use makeup every day, but some do not.   Most women leave the superhero and heavy makeup look to the men and opt for a more natural makeup job.  Most women know when they look silly so most women will do alright at Halloween.  Have a friend help you if need be.  Help the men in your family with their makeup, because they are no doubt quite inexperienced at it.  Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Halloween Costumes for Pets

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Pets today are often considered part of the family, and are treated as such most of the time.  Halloween costumes for pets are commonplace, but they need not be common.  If the pet is dressing solo or part of a group, then the size, temperament of the pet and wishes of the owners have to be taken into consideration. There should be no restriction on movement for the pet and it should be able to see and walk normally.  Safety should be first and foremost on Halloween, for children, adults and pets.  A few pets have no tolerance for wearing anything, especially hats, so if this is the case, then you must costume your pet simply.

There are hundreds of pet costumes to be found on the web, but many you can make or adapt yourself.  If you are in a patriotic mood or perchance marching in a 4th of July parade, then an Uncle Sam costume for your dog would be a wonderful way to show your pride in the US.  These are usually made of a simple bodysuit in red, white and blue, with a matching hat.  The latter should be lightweight or your dog will think a bird has landed on his or her head and they’ll try and shake it off.

Another funky outfit is called a dog riders cowboy and it has a miniature cowboy riding your dog like a bronco.  Test your dog first as it’s the same as  a hat — your dog may simply want to shake the cowboy off.  A cute outfit for a pug is a bumblebee. Everything is flexible and comfortable so the likelihood is your dog won’t try and shake it off.   There’s a bee-striped shirt (leaving your dog in a natural state in the rear), an antenna headband with a set of black pompoms for antennae, and mesh wings.

If you’re into gardening then dressing your dog up as a flower could work.  For this ensemble the manufacturer has made a light green cape, bright pink flower petals, and a set of antennae to match of pink and green.  Are you from the islands — Hawaii, that is?  Perhaps you’re just a fan of that nostalgic cop show set in Hawaii.  It’s a comfortable and simple outfit, with a lei and a Hawaiian shirt.  Perhaps this would suit that surfboarding/skateboarding bulldog they have in Southern California.

A butterfly ensemble from Animal Planet has printed foam wings that look like a bright Monarch, plus an antennae headband.  Another one from the same company and TV channel is a cowboy dog costume.  This can make your little dude into a regular cowpoke  It’s made from a character jumpsuit, has stuffed arms, a vest with a fringe, a rope, and a cowboy hat with string to hold it under your dog’s chin.  Another costume suitable for a pug, is Yoda from Star Wars.  It has Yoda’s big green ears sticking out from the headpiece and a jumpsuit with attached arms.  If you love Star Wars then let your dog be the Jedi master for a change.

Zelda the rock star could make your dog over into a punk musician, with its zip-up black jacket, red spikey wig, pants, and a studded dog collar.  By far and away the most unusual new costume for this year is a hammerhead shark one.  This is another Animal Planet outfit, as is the raptor (dinosaur variety).  Both the shark and raptor have nice teeth, but they are harmless.  Kids love these types of costumes and they could be used as puppets throughout the year.

If you’re into The Flintstones, then Zelda the cave dog is the perfect outfit for your dog.  It’s a stone age riot with its animal print wrap-around shirt, and a black spiked wig.  This particular outfit would be perfect for a trick or treating stone age party, including the dog of course.  There are classic dog dress up outfits such as a foam bun which fits around your Dachshund making him or her into a real “hot dog”, or a pink tutu for your poodle.  Pet stores have regular clothes for all sizes of dogs and these can be used or adapted towards Halloween costumes for pets.

Cats were never mentioned I regards to dress-up, because we all know how cats feel about any kind of costume: “What — you want me to wear that?”   Perhaps  a cat who’s eaten a whole can of tuna might be inclined to wear a headband for a few second.  Just maybe…

Halloween Makeup Ideas

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Halloween makeup ideas can be a crucial part of your costume. In fact, in some cases, it may be the most important part of your costume. The outfit is one thing, but makeup can help drive the point home about what your costume is supposed to be. A zombie isn’t really a zombie without makeup to create the full effect.

The Easy Route

Some store bought costumes actually include a small kit of makeup to help with your costume, for example, may include a tube of green face paint. A monster may have already made scars that can be fairly easily applied. If not, there are still ways to create or add to your look with little to no effort.

The simplest approach may be using white face paint and black eyeliner. These two items can help you create multiple looks. Ghosts, skeletons and mimes all utilize these two shades and also don’t require too much skill. That, or don’t overlook the simplicity of creating a simple cat face with whiskers. You can do the nose in black, but pink can add a little more depth to it.

As a Costume

Maybe you want your Halloween makeup ideas to act as your costume, not in addition to it. There are ways to do so, but some can require some intricate work. Shop online or offline for makeup kits that include stencils for this specific purpose. You could also consider using a professional makeup artist, or hitting up a friend who is one for a favor.

So, if you have time, patience and a wide variety of colors to work with, here are a few ideas that act as costumes instead of just makeup. One idea is a deck of cards. You can paint your face white and add either multiple suits, such as hearts or clubs, or a single one. Or, how about a zebra or tiger! While it doesn’t have to be perfect, it will be slightly more time consuming than some other options. Just think of things or animals that could be easily represented by face painting, like fish scales, and give it a go.

You also pick something that is highly recognizable by its face. Think comic books, super heroes or cartoon characters. Anyone would recognize a well painted Spider Man or Joker face. You can also just think back to your childhood when you would get your face painted at the fair. When in doubt, simply painting a swimming fish or mystical unicorn on your face can act as a costume. If nothing else, you can also go really simple and paint puzzle piece sections on your face. At least it is something.

More Elaborate Ideas 

You can get as complicated as you like when it comes to painting up your face for Halloween. It depends on your ability and the amount of time you have. As mentioned before, zombies just aren’t the undead without a full face of makeup. For those who have the skills, create deep cuts, gashes and scars to make a dramatic impact. Keep in mind, there are recipes to be found online to help create 3D effects for some Halloween makeup ideas. For example, corn syrup and red food color can be used to make sticky bloody marks or incisions on your face.

Tips

Decide if you should put the costume on before or after the makeup is applied. If your costume tends to make you heat up and slips on without going over your head, then you will want to wait until after you’ve finished your makeup. Otherwise, especially if the costume slips on overhead, it is generally a good idea to have the costume on. Just be certain to cover up the costume to prevent spilling any makeup on it.

Bring extra makeup with you. There is always a chance of a smudge occurring and having your kit with you enables you to make a quick fix. Of course, it is also a good idea to bring some tissues and facial wipes with you. You may find out an hour into the party your eye makeup is irritating you, and should have a quick easy way to remove some or all of the face paint. At the end of the event, you also may want to remove the makeup immediately to allow your skin to breathe.

The idea is to have fun with it, try not to take it too seriously or get frustrated. Allow yourself some time and, when possible, practice your technique before the holiday party. Halloween makeup ideas can really add some depth to whatever character you decide to portray for the holiday.