Princesses, Wizards and Incredible Hulks:
Magical Clothing for Make Believe
By Tamara Halbritter
November 2003
Costumes give children the chance to embody a favorite character they
enjoy, to be someone else for a while. On a special occasion such as a
birthday or Halloween, donning a disguise gives children a creative outlet.
Deborah Dalva, senior marketing manager at Disguise,
explains how manufacturers are allowing room for this creativity by giving
kids more costume choices: “We're moving away from the macabre. It exists;
it is still part of Halloween, but as the years progress, we have adjusted
our costumes to be more fun. Children like to be fairy princesses for
example, characters who are magical, light and upbeat.”
Sugar Plum Fairy
Who Would You Rather Be: Fairy, Boar or Film Star?
If a girl wants to be a fairy, Fairy Finery’s newest creation,
the Fairy Flower Tulle Dress with a flower tulle skirt
and velvet bodice ($47) has her covered. Would she rather be a princess?
The never-ever droop Princess Hat with Boa ($21), also
from Fairy Finery, is made of special fairy fabric and tops off any regal
outfit.
Visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy come to life with Fairtytale
Fashion’s new design that features three layers of glimmer tulle
and an elastic back with adjustable straps for easy fit ($59).
Uniboar Blue
Disguise’s new Kozmic Kreaturez™ line of costumes ($24.99
each) let kids fashion their own interpretation of who they want to be.
Uniboar Blue’s boar-like teeth on its character hood
contrast with a whimsical yellow furry belly and polka-dotted body suit.
If kids are too young to laugh at Merv the Griffin’s
name, they’re sure to smile when wearing a soft green, velour-feel costume
with detachable wings. A space-age choice is the atomic action hero, Mr.
Atom, with a cool space helmet.
Rubie’s Stealth Pilot Harry Potter Robe
Rubie’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Child Costume
Hermione Kids’ Costume Set
Rubie’s Costume Company adds over 300 new items to their
costume inventory each year. New Rubie’s characters include: Yu-Gi-Oh!
Child Costume ($24.99), Cleopatra Child Costume
($15), Pirate King Child Costume ($13.99), Angel
Costume ($22.95), Astronaut ($26.95), Statue
of Liberty Costume ($13.99), Cheerleader Costume
($16.95), Stealth Pilot – Young Heroes Costume ($25.95)
and many more.
Rubie’s also designs costumes for kids who want to reenact favorite film
moments. The new Harry Potter Fiber Optic Robe ($45.99)
features The Hogwarts insignia that lights up with a magical glow. The
Hermione Kids’ Costume Set ($42.95) comes from
Warner Bros, and Elope (ToyDirectrory)
produces the Harry Potter Student Hat ($19.95).
Dress Up Like Important People
Elope's Firefighter
Learning Curve’s Fire Fighter
Learning Curve’s My Dress-Up Travel Trunk
A line of form-fitting backpacks by Elope transform
children into a Firefighter, Robot,
Dragon, Gnome or even a Tiki
($28.95 each).
Learning Curve’s Small Miracles: My Dress-Up
Travel Trunk ($39.99) takes a more feminine approach with a purple
velvety top, white fluffy boa, flowered tulle skirt and white hat tucked
inside a trunk. Other accessories include a magic wand, hair clips and
bracelet. In contrast, the Small Miracles Fire Fighter Career
Outfit ($29.99) has a shiny red jacket, hat, “pretend” fire extinguisher
and hose.
The Hulk Deluxe Muscle Costume
Just in case your child insists on dressing up like The Incredible Hulk,
Disguise provides a hero-worthy costume: The
Hulk Deluxe Muscle Costume ($29.99).
Writers Bio: Tamara Halbritter has been
teaching creative movement and dance to children for over 15 years. As
a professional dancer and freelance writer, she puts plenty of playtime
into her schedule. Currently, she is writing a book about a gifted pair
who see other people’s dreams.
