Think Fast: Solving a Unplanned Costume Chaos

So one of my newly annual Halloween activities is going trick or treating with my friend Ann at Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland.  This requires a 2nd Halloween costume for me as they have some guidelines:

Costume Guidelines

All event attendees — including adults — may dress in their favorite Halloween costume and must follow at least these guidelines:

Costumes Should

• Be child-friendly.

Costumes Should Not

• Be obstructive, offensive or violent.
• Drag on the ground.
• Contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
• Contain any weapons which resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.

Masks

• Masks may be worn, but they must not obstruct vision and eyes must be visible at all times.

The other reason certain costumes won't work, which aren't mentioned, is that the costume needs to be comfortable to walk around the park in, and to wear on rides.  Obviously shoes other than flats, or wigs, for example, would not be ideal.  Last year I wore a kangaroo costume, that was kind of like onesie pajamas.  It was comfortable mostly, although the weather was still a little warm, even at night.

This year I was planning ahead as early as this summer, and I decided I would be Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill, which would be a comfortable costume to wear around the park, as it consists of a track suit and sneakers.  I tracked down a pair of Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 sneakers in gold and black from England on ebay... the closest I could do, as the actual fencing shoe in that color combination was impossible to find.

I then found a cosplay site that made an authentic looking replica of the suit custom to your measurements, so I put in an order, expecting it to be made within 2 weeks as specified and then shipped in around the same amount of time.  However as 4 weeks approached, the status on my account remained unchanged since the day of purchase, and I was continually unsuccessful at contacting the seller.  I pleaded them to please respond if they were legitimate, as I would have no choice but to contact Paypal, but still to no avail.  I ended up having to start the complaint process, in which Paypal contacted the seller with my complaint.  I then got a response from the seller telling me my payment was safe, and I could be refunded if I didn't want the costume, and then they refunded me before I even requested it, without further explanation.  Did they even make my costume?  I would have rather received it, but I assume they didn't make it, as it was custom, and I doubt they would go with a refund if they had already constructed a custom costume.  I still am unsure though, if they were trying to rip me off, or if there was just something lost in translation, as the company was located in China.  Still, do not ever order anything from this company.

At this point it was already mid September, and I was unable to get another suit made as all the other cosplay costume companies are also in various eastern foreign countries, and offered custom over ready-to-wear.  I considered making my own, which I am confident I could do given more time, but with my other costume on my plate, it just wasn't viable.

Because all of this, I struggled with the idea of a new costume.  Frustrated, I didn't really want to spend tons of money, and I still had my heart set on my original idea.  Then the date we had planned on going sold out, so we thought our plans might be canceled.  I kept considering things I already had, but it was difficult as it had to meet the guidelines, and I hate doing anything halfway.  I was just feeling defeated.

Then at the last minute we decided to get tickets for this weekend, and I came up with an idea, using some of what I had, and a little bit of creativity and renewed enthusiasm. 

Using this dress...

and these leggings....

and creating this mask...

I bring you Dias de las Muertos Minnie!  Trick or treat!