In 1977, Star Wars changed everything. It feels ironic that 32 years after my brothers and I dressed as the Star Wars trio you see above, my own sons are poised to be Anakin Skywaker and Jango Fett this Halloween.
My brothers made their costumes themselves. Back then, most people did. Or at least we always did. Middle brother (14) made his own paper machĂ© Darth Vader mask and a chest plate with electronic parts and switches. Oldest brother (16) made his R2D2 costume out of a cardboard drum and weather balloon, also paper machĂ©d. He had a little tinted panel to see out and rigged a light that he could light up by pushing a button from the inside! Very high-tech. And then there’s me (12), Princess Leia in a sheet and a tin foil belt. I had a brown wig that my mom twisted up into the iconic cinnabon hair-do. 🙂
Every year we impress upon our boys how important it is to make your Halloween costume. We allow them $15 a piece for materials or any accessories they might need to complete their looks. Um…that may have back-fired a little this year! Their costumes are pretty complicated and took a LOT of time to make. In fact, I think my husband started the Jango Fett costume in July!
I will try to update this post later when I get a photo of them together. In the meantime, watch their favorite video if you like Star Wars and John Willians music!
Have a great Halloween and may the force be with you!
Post Halloween Update: The Star Wars saga continues…
…with a blurry lightsaber action shot!
What great costumes in ’77. Can’t wait to see this years. I love it when the kids come up with their own ideas and make them themselves.
I love it!!! My favorite crafting has been making Halloween costumes-the kids are always so cute & original.
Rene’
Wow, those costumes are amazing!
This is my girls’ fav:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GayASsb4G8k
Love the costumes – that R2-D2 is amazing!
I also try to keep ours fairly simple and home-made. I really think the boys have more fun coming up with the costumes than they would buying one straight off the rack.
I’m always amazed by how many costumes are for sale in the store. Like your family, we always made our own-it was part of the fun. That being said, as a mother of a four year old, I’ve been buying a costume. I think I’ll try to get my act together next year and make one-she’ll be better able to help me then! Thanks for reminding me of the “good old days”.
those costumes are awesome. I think next year my son will be able to play an active role in making his costume…so far he has picked out the concept and I am left to make it. Last year it was a green panda bear…this year triceratops. I love the challenge, but I think it will be a lot more fun to witness his own creativity.
Awesome….those costumes are awesome! My boys are StarWars guys too. Someone gave me a darth vader body thing and mask for the little guy, and for my older one, I made LukeSkywalker. I must say, it’s alot of fun finding the materials to create the costume. And the best – is when you hear the kids say – if you ever need a great costume, go ask my mom, she’s the best! *melt*
those are so cute. can’t wait to see the other pics.
Those costumes are fantastic! R2D2 especially is amazing. I love it that your kids are going as Star Wars characters, some things are just classics.
Thanks for sharing this great photo — so perfectly 1977!
Wow! Great job on those costumes! I agree that costumes should always be made, or you should use what you already have. I spent about $20 on accessories and found most of what I wanted to be a cowgirl. It was a little unsettling that I had so much in my closet already!
So cute!!!! I’m 43 and if I would be that… in that time!!! By the way, I’m still a fan of Star Wars!!! Happy Halloween!
If those costumes were still around and ever made it to an official Star Wars auction block, no doubt they’d be the show stoppers! Absolutely amazing, I have 3 kids and can’t imagine them coming together in theme like that!
We are a homemade halloween type of family as well, a bit more stress, a lot more creativity, and more often than not, a LOT less money!
Fabuous post!
love the ‘then’ and ‘now’ shots, and the Jango Fett costume! impressive.
check out my little guy’s Ewok costume if you feel like it:
http://sweetthingdesigns.typepad.com/craftymama/2009/11/happy-halloween.html
My husband and his brother were jawas in 1977. My 2 boys were jawas this year. One picture of each era here:
http://hulacakes.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-goes-around-comes-around.html 🙂
that picture of Halloween past made me so happy–and the costumes are awesome!