What’s this? An easy Sally costume that you can put together for Halloween or cosplay? Skip the costume store and make a custom Sally dress with patchwork pieces of fabric. Mark the dress with black paint to look like stitches and pair your look with her iconic red hair. Sally also has recognizable pale, blue skin and black stitches along her face so have fun doing the makeup. You’re sure to make everybody scream!
Method 1: Sally’s Dress
Step 1: Pick a Sewing Pattern for a Simple Knee-Length Dress
- Find one that has a V-neck and decide if you want it to have short sleeves like Sally’s dress does in the movie. An A-line dress that’s knee-length is perfect for Sally.
- If you don’t want to sew your own dress, find a knee-length dress you don’t mind turning into a costume. You can use an old dress or check thrift stores for an inexpensive one. Then, just glue fabric patches onto the dress.
Step 2: Cut the Paper Pattern into Unique Shapes
- Cut out the paper pattern according to your size. Leave a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance.
- Cut it into unusual shapes that fit together. The pieces should fit into the original shape. Look at a picture of Sally from the movie for guidance.
Step 3: Pin the Pattern Pieces to Different Colors of Fabric and Cut Them Out
- Choose a variety of fabrics for the dress, like faded yellow, green, and pink with black polka dots.
- Lay a pattern piece on the fabric, pin it in place, and cut it out. Do this until you have one fabric piece for each of your paper pattern pieces.
Step 4: Pin the Fabric Pieces Together
- Lay your fabric pieces with the wrong side facing up and pin the edges together following your paper pattern.
- Lay the pattern pieces out and stack the fabric pieces on them so they fit correctly.
Step 5: Straight Stitch the Pieces Together
- Set your sewing machine to make standard straight stitches and leave a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance as you work.
- Turn your dress right side out when you finish sewing and try it on to make any adjustments.
Step 6: Draw Lines and Curls with Black Fabric Marker
- Draw large black circles, straight black lines, or swirls on some patches if the fabric doesn’t already have these designs.
- Use a fabric marker or a permanent marker.
Step 7: Squeeze Black Fabric Paint into X’s Along the Seams
- Use black fabric paint to make dashes and x’s along the seam lines. Make them different sizes to look handstitched.
- Let it dry for at least 4 hours before flipping the dress over to do the other side.
Method 2: Hair and Accessories
Step 1: Buy a Long Red Wig
- Choose a red wig made of synthetic hair that’s at least 18 inches (46 cm) long or a long red wig made of yarn for a rag doll style.
- Bright red is a good choice, but rust-colored red can make your Sally appear darker or moodier.
Step 2: Sew Custom Gloves Out of Light Blue Tights
- Trace your hand on cardboard and cut it out.
- Stick it inside the foot portion of a pair of tights and zigzag stitch around the cardboard to make spaces for your fingers.
- Repeat for the other side and cut a 4 in (10 cm) hole in the crotch to stick your head through.
- Slide each hand through the tights and the hole over your head and down along your shoulders.
Step 3: Wear Matching Light Blue Tights on Your Legs
- Pick the same color of tights in your dress size and wear them under your dress.
Step 4: Wear Plain Black Shoes
- Choose simple black shoes with a slight heel and closed toes, black flats, or any comfortable pair of black, closed-toed shoes.
- Try black oxford or mary jane shoes.
Method 3: Makeup
Step 1: Spread Light Blue Cream Makeup All Over Your Face and Neck
- Use light blue cream makeup or blend blue eyeshadow into a white cream-based makeup.
- Brush the makeup onto your face, covering your eyelids, ears, chin line, and neck.
Step 2: Put Dark Blue Eyeshadow Around Your Eyes
- Use an eyebrow pencil to brush dark blue eyeshadow onto your eyelid and along the length of your eyelid.
- Apply white eyeshadow along your lower lash line.
Step 3: Brush Dark Blue and White Eyeshadow Over Your Face
- Brush dark blue eyeshadow along your temples, cheeks, and the sides of your nose.
- Use white highlighter on the top of your nose, below your eyes, and along your chin.
Step 4: Apply Dark Red Lipstick
- Choose a rich, burgundy color for a dark look or a brighter shade of red for a doll look.
- Use matte lipstick since Sally’s lips aren’t glossy or shiny in the movie.
Step 5: Attach Long, Black False Eyelashes
- Buy a package of false eyelashes with extra-long lashes and attach them to your lash line.
- Brush black mascara over them or apply 2 layers of fake lashes to each eye for more noticeable lashes.
Step 6: Draw Stitch Lines on Your Face and Body
- Use black liquid eyeliner to draw long curved lines on her forehead above her right eye and lines from each end of her mouth curving up.
- Add dashes and x’s along the lines to make individual stitch marks.
- Draw lines and stitches on your legs, arms, and anywhere else you have exposed skin.
By following these steps, you’ll create a convincing and memorable Sally costume from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
