A cape doesn't have to retire when Halloween is over. In a dress-up box, it can belong to the character someone invents next, perhaps with a different hat and a completely different destination. We'd build the box around a few pieces that offer different possibilities, then leave room for the stories to change.
A cape, a hat, a whole dragon
The pink Lovelane cape-and-hat set gives you a coordinated cotton-canvas pair. It's recommended for ages three and up, with a cape listed at 19 inches long and 33 inches at its widest. A cape changes the outline of ordinary clothes without requiring a whole new garment.
The lava dragon hat-and-wing set offers another silhouette in hand-printed cotton. It's also intended for ages three and up, and the hat is listed to fit up to a 21-inch head circumference. Measure for the actual wearer as well as checking that age guidance.
If a complete character is what someone wants, the red dragon's listed full set includes a hat, tail, wings and garment. That is a different kind of addition to the box: several pieces that belong together.
Let one piece begin the story
A unicorn hat can go with clothes already owned. This listing is for the hat in the selected color and size, rather than a full costume. A maple star wand with a beeswax finish is another separate object, with its own age and use instructions to confirm.
Once you've chosen suitable pieces, offer a place for the story to begin. Where is the winged character going? What is waiting beyond the door? The answer might have little to do with the animal or hero you thought the costume suggested, which is a good reason to keep the prompt open.
Someone can also narrate, name a character or hold a book without putting anything on. The Sandra Boynton collection offers stories to share before inventing a separate adventure of your own.
Store it for another ordinary day
Choose a container that fits the shapes without crushing them, and keep each set's components together. A missing hat can make a whole outfit harder to bring out again. Check closures as you tidy and use the care directions for the specific textile and piece.
We'd add another accessory when it brings a character or use the wearer actually wants. That makes a more interesting collection than several versions of the same thing, and it gives each piece a better chance of being found when a new story begins.
Our costume-shopping guide helps check exact contents. Paint-your-own dress-up adds a making project to the process, while handmade animal dolls offer characters with adventures of their own.
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