Purple Sugar Skull Bride Horse Halloween Costume

by Rosie
(Ocala, Florida)

If you're looking for an inspiring and gorgeous horse costume for Halloween, find out how Rosie created this beautiful one:

Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the dead) Sugar skull bride inspired by the movie "Coco"

I'm wearing a black felt top hat adorned with purple and orange flowers and a long black ostrich plume feather. My hair is neatly pulled back in a bun. The mask I have on is tied behind my head with ribbon. Its painted in enamel to resemble a sugar skull and decorated with crystals and glitter. I have on a vintage wedding dress with long train decorated with sequins, dyed purple and black and accented with glitter. Underneath is a ruffled white petticoat to add fullness. Finished with white ruffle socks and black Mary Jane shoes.
My horses bridle is trimmed with purple fringe and has a purple/orange flower on each side. His breastplate also has purple fringe and orange flowers.

How did you come up with your costume idea?

I wanted to enter a costume class with my Paso Fino Mojito. I had to follow certain rules and guidelines which at the time was difficult to come up with a unique idea. As I did my research I saw that most people played it safe and just reused the same ideas year after year occasionally changing up something here and there. I wanted to be different and stand out. After watching the movie Coco, I had my idea and had to make sure it was within the rules and thankfully it was.

How did you make it?

The dress was a vintage wedding dress from a thrift store 2 sizes too small (I made it work). It was spray painted and dyed in black and purple. The mask I bought from a craft store and hand painted it myself. I found lots of flowers and accessories at yard sales and online. I also made the hat. My horses costume was mostly accessories from Party City and the Dollar Store.

How much does it cost?

The entire costume cost around $350. The dress was about $120 and the other expenses were mostly due to me adding and taking away accessories each time I used it to see what works and to keep myself and Mojito comfortable.

Where did you wear it?

The first time I wore this costume was at my first costume competition in 2017 at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, FL.

How did people react?

Everyone loved the dress and the idea. People were stopping to take pictures and asking me to pose for pictures before I could even make it into the ring. Even one of the judges was impressed and said it was a bold idea and loved the way I pulled it of.

How did your horse like it?

Mojito wasn't too impressed at the idea of a long dress flapping behind him on the ground during practice but he eventually got used to it. Now when he sees me pull out these big costumes he gets excited for all the attention.