Homemade vs. Storebought

So my sister has "handmade" all her children's costumes since they were born. Except for one year. And when I say handmade, I mean from scratch. She didn't buy a sweatsuit and bedazzle it, or take her clothes and resize them. She literally bought patterns, fabric, fired up her swing machine with her 5th grade Home Economics education and viola. (Which should be said with a flourish and not be read with a quizical "who plays the viola" look.)

So I think she was a little disappointed when I decided to buy Ellie's first costume. Oh she didn't let on but we are both so similar that she won't deny, if pressed, a fleeting moment of remorse for Ellie. Part of her surely thought "Oh how fun to make a baby costume!" I know what she means. there is something symbolically loving about making one yourself.

In some respects I compromised. I bought it used, on ebay, not retail. So almost homemade, right? Still creative.

She's going as an Elephant. Get it. ELLIEphant.

Like Goldilocks, her first ebay costume was too big. The second, my neighbors Old Navy surprise was too chintzy looking, finally the third came via usps. We love it...but there were no feet! It was listed as having "White cotton tusks and footprints" but the woman meant the arms. She insisted that since an Elephant was on all fours, that her use of the term footprints was correct and inclusive of the arm imprint as the arms were in fact the elephants legs. Because I should have looked at it from the animal point of view surely?

Whatever, all I'm saying is that I expected footies damnit.

So I went online to look for slippers or something. Then it hit me.
And my sister should be pretty friggin proud of me.

THE OUTFIT
Notice the lack of feet...














THE IDEA
(1) pair circo gray socks from Target













(1) Set Avon Dry Polish French Manicure Strips















YEAH BABY! WHO'SE GOT YOUR FOOTIES NOW BEYATCH!
Tell ME I don't love my baby...xoxo Ellie-phant!!!