If you are going for her 80's look, I don't think I ever saw one with an actual crinoline. I think her petticoat were layers of ruffled tulle or similar fabrics; very much like a 1950s full skirt petticoat but much shorter. You should be able to alter one you have, or make one fairly easily with a sewing machine. You can double up the layers with the part you cut off by sewing it on. Laying up a skirt is not too difficult and looks much better than wearing the waist where the bra should be. This post was edited by taoseeker on Sat, Oct 18, 14 at 13:53

Tradition is that I lay the costumes out before I mail them . . . here they all are: Little Red Riding Hood Alice in Wonderland and The White Rabbit (Both red riding hood and Alice were chosen by DD) Oldest grand wanted to be a witch and her Mom decided that her one year old sister could be a black cat. Witch and the net at the top of the picture is the "cat" costume for the one year old (there is a tail and ears somewhere in the picture). The witch costume I made back in the 70s for DD. It is a new hat and broom. The stars are on the costume because that is where the holes were in the 35 year old costume! Oldest wanted to be a witch again and so did the two year old. I had the pattern from the original costume and so made the 2 year old a witch costume. Those stars are not because of holes but rather because her sister had stars! Which brings us up to this year and the Princess and the Mouse! I do enjoy it but I was most pleased that DGD could wear her mother's costume. Hopefully youngest will as well in a year or two. The other costume I made for DD was a clown costume which she wore for 4 years -- sadly, clowns are now bad . . .it was a cute costume and I still have it! Perhaps when HER children have children, clowns will be in again and they can wear their grandmother's old Halloween costume that their great grandmother made all those years ago! LOL!

Nice to see that I'm not the only one in the Halloween spirit :). Good luck! Tonight, I will be, *hopefully* going out with a couple of friends of mine for some Halloween themed karaoke and I will be dressing up as Winnie again. Not taking my Book or broom, but she's so recognizable without them, it works perfectly. I don't have the buck teeth, but I can easily replicate her facial expressions ;). Brad AKA Moonwolf

I have a different take on this. Leaving aside for the moment how the *temperature* in the country may change in a year, you are creating a costume. Much has been made about cultural appropriation and no doubt there have been inappropriate uses of things identified with specific cultures. IMO and I know not everyone will agree, much depends on intent. I see nothing wrong with wearing a Frida Kahlo costume if the intent is joyous and respectful not malicious or to ridicule. In a different era, kids (and adults) often dressed as Michael Jackson for Halloween because his look was iconic and his music was a huge part of life at the moment. I personally never saw anyone in that costume in black face which would have taken a fun costume into another realm in a horrid way. But famous people are always used as Halloween costumes - artists, actors, politicians - it kind of goes with the territory of being famous. And if what they are famous for lends itself well to a costume (think Reagan and the cowboy hat/denim shirt) all the more likely to become a costume/character. I understand your hesitation and think the only way you will feel certain is to ask the relative as long as you are certain she can answer honestly and not say what she thinks you want to hear - and that depends on what your relationship is like. edit - eld and I were posting at the same time - she says it much more succinctly ;-)