Rainforest Costume

My name is Serena Bass and my costume is a rainforest. I got the idea because I love to look at plants and flowers and I decided for Halloween I wanted to wear them. I started the costume by making a chicken wire frame for the skirt. This part was the hardest and I have some battle wounds from the chicken wire. Next, I went to thrift shops to find some rainforest plants because buying these things new would have cost wayyyy too much. When I got the plants home I decided I didn't have enough plants so I got some green fabric scraps and tied them all around the chicken wire frame. This also helped to protect my body from the sharp metal. Then I started adding the plants. I decided to make a waterfall on the back of the costume with rocks and lights. I made the rocks out of paper mache and chicken wire. I attached all the rocks on the wire frame and then added a bottom layer of fabric, battery powered led lights, a top layer of translucent fabric, and some clear beads on top to get a nice water effect. I finished the waterfall and then added the rest of the plants, and then added some final details like flowers, butterflies, a lemur, and a frog. I tried on the costume for the first time and it was very painful and heavy, so I decided to make a foam padded belt to wear underneath to keep me protected. The top is made from a bra that has added sequins and I hot glued fake plants all over the straps. The headpiece is made from an old head band and my left over plants. When I finished all of that, I decided it needed a live snake, however I did not have access to a snake so I found an old stuffed animal and ripped its stuffing out (RIP Mr. Snake) and made it a sleeve for my arm. This gave the effect of a live snake, but safer. The entire costume all together cost around $120 to make. It is very fun to walk around in and I hope everyone enjoys it!