From the super creative to the super cute… you’ll be amazed by the thought and details in each costume.
Every year, along with a couple of other photographers in other cities, my studio holds a fundraiser by taking Purim portraits in exchange for a donation. Each family comes in their Purim costume and gets a file to use for their mishloach manos, or just to have for their memories. On Purim day, there’s no pressure! Win-win for everyone!
Every year I’m impressed by the creativity of these moms (and dads). Here are some highlights:
Classic toys by Faigy Friedman
We love a theme that has the siblings dressed in different costumes – that they love. Toy soldiers for the boys, a paper doll for the sister and a baby jack-in-the-box in a onesie: everyone is happy!
For the soldiers, Faigy used cheap soldier costumes, gloves, old shoes/boots and piece of cardboard cut out in the shape of the soldier base. She spray painted all of this green and then added green face paint so the boys would be completely green. The paper doll is a template Faigy bought on Etsy and had printed in a large format. Shea attached it to a firm backing and had it laminated. She tied it onto her daughter using ribbons she attached.
The baby is sitting in a storage ottoman (like you can always find in Homegoods or TJ Maxx) that’s been covered in felt that was stapled on. The red onesie has a collar made of felt and little jingle bells that were glued on. The hat is also felt. Fun fact: the first year of my Purim fundraiser, I photographed the biggest brother in the little jack in the box costume.
Cabbage Patch Dolls by Batsheva Treitel
With the chubby cheeks on these adorable babies, it doesn’t take much to create the cutest little Cabbage Patch Dolls! The wigs (which are actually comfy yarn hats) were from a vendor on Etsy, the pantaloons from Amazon, and dresses were from Zulily. Add a basket and some fresh cabbages to complete the look.
Flight Attendants by Sara Stein
The adorable little airplane with vintage hat found on ebay was the only pricy part of this costume series – but it makes all the difference! The stewardess outfits were from Walmart and the hats/scarves were from AliExpress.
Cats by Sara Stein
Sara chose to make a costume that was affordable, easy, and most important, comfortable for the kids to wear all day. She ordered tutus, ballet slippers and cat ear headbands and tails in advance from Ali Express (China) and used some eyeliner to draw some cute cat faces!
Flamingos by Chayli Fischer
These flamingo costumes were totally DIY. Headbands were handmade from foam sheets which you can get at any craft store like Michaels. Chayli hot glued feathers to a shell from Shell Station and a tutu is from amazon. Easy!
Items needed are: Foam sheets in colors hot pink, light pink, white and black. Headband. Pack of feathers (Chayli got a pack from Michaels that included 3 shades of pink) Glue gun and sticks. Hot pink shell, hot pink tutu and black tights.
Drunkin’ Donuts by Shulamis Wolhendler
This costume idea came about through a bit of broken telephone. Shulamis’s husband overheard her say something about Dunkin’ Donuts and thought she’d said Drunkin’ Donuts. They just decided to run with it!
The caps and apron were bought on amazon. The donuts are made from felt, stuffing, lots of hot glue and black puff paint for outlining the eyes and mouth. The donuts are attached to two strips of felt crisscrossed in the back and attached to the bottom portion (around where it hits the waist ) of the donut with velcro.
Swan/Duckling by Esti Friedman
Let me just say that even though Esti called her baby’s costume “The Ugly Duckling,” I refused to put that as the title because this baby is certainly not ugly!! Can you believe she’s only 2 months old here?
For the swan costume, Esti made the tutu by tying strips of tulle to a crocheted tube top from the Hair Bow Company. She got feathers, felt, and the mask at Michael’s. She copied the mask pattern from Pinterest. Thinking practically, she also made a feather headband, because—let’s face it—it’s hard to wear a mask all day.
For the ugly duckling, she got a yellow onesie. The yellow feathers are from a boa from Party City. She cut it into strips and hot glued it around the torso (careful not to glue the snaps shut!) and ankles. She copied another beak pattern from Pinterest for the baby hat. Bonus: No sewing required! Everything was done using a glue gun.
Victorian Girls by Bina Gitty Gross
Of course, having three doll-like girls is the most important part of this costume. Add thrift shop dresses and hand-sewn giant hair bows and you’re on your way.
The finishing touch is the little bootie. This is actually a white bootie that was painted with the black design to resemble a popular style from the era.
Runners by Zisi Kaszirer
One of the best things about booking an appointment to have Purim pictures taken a couple of weeks before the big day, is that you are forced to be completely ready ahead of time. This theme was born at the last minute and worked out perfectly! A team of runners was transformed with a simple sweatband, some sneakers, and custom race bibs. Gatorade for hydration, and, of course, a medal for the winner!
I love how this bunch of girls looks so happy and fun – really in the Purim spirit! Throw a bunch of rainbow accessories – tutus, flower wreaths, tights and arm warmers at a set of sisters and all you need is a giant lollipop to finish the look.
In a great-aunt’s borrowed fur jacket, even the sweetest girl can turn into the evil Cruella De Vil. And those little baby puppies… sigh.
Shana is the absolute master of homemade costumes. Every year she outdoes the previous one. This is the one we all wait to see—what’s she gonna bring us this year?! And, of course, she didn’t disappoint. Each costume is different and absolutely perfect. You’ll just have to stare at each one to see the details.
Of course, not very many of us are capable of creating costumes on this level. After many requests for information and help, Shana decided to start making costumes for others.
Clue by Shana Zeiger
For this set, Shana took inspiration from a favorite board game. She made the weapons out of decorating foam and spray painted them gun metal gray. Shana added little details to the costumes that really took them over the top: Colonel Mustard with his adorable fedora and his military style pins, a pipe and pocket watch for Professor Plum, sheer gloves and fancy hair fasteners for the ladies as well as the peacock feathers on the back of Mrs Peacock’s dress. Mishloach manos was packed in a box decorated to look like the game box.
With two new babies in the house, there’s not much time for creating fancy costumes. But this simple costume is a scene-stealer. Have you ever seen cuter eggplants?? A knit beanie from Etsy + some purple swaddling fabric and you have a simple costume that makes for super easy changing. Big brother farmers (carrots and farmer hats are from Hobby Lobby) are the perfect supporting characters.
Sometimes you just have to go with a classic. And there’s nothing simpler than a ready-made costume from a dress-up company. This magician costume is a full set from Melissa and Doug. A tutu and some bunny ears and you have an adorable duo!
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