Dear readers,

We are presenting a series of Halloween- related posts in the next few weeks to share some inspiration for your own costume hunt. Today, Laura from sweeter salt shares with us her creation of a fashionable (and adorable) mammal: the mod panda.

Halloween! How to be a Mod Panda

Here are four things you should know about the costume below:

1.) I am a “mod panda.” At first I was calling it a “non-literal panda,” but I think that’s a bit difficult to explain. So, mod it is! I wanted to be something cute, but not too cute, and also kind of fashiony. After considering some other adorable animals I like (koalas, seals, and pugs) I decided a panda would be the easiest to execute. Some black, some white and a panda backpack later and I’m ready to go!

2.) This is not the final version of the costume I plan to wear to the Ghoulwill Ball. I have an amazing vintage (thrifted) white faux fur coat that I will be donning for the main event. Unfortunately, said coat is currently in storage at my mother-in-law’s house and I didn’t have time to get it before this blog post. Here is the coat – photographed a few months ago.

3.) For this little photo shoot I also didn’t have the black and white hair spray I wanted to use for my head and bun “ears.” Therefore, some photoshopping was employed to give you the idea of what I’m going for.

4.) Finally, the lighting was terrible, so it’s hard to tell exactly what is going on with my eyes. I just did a lot of dramatic black eyeliner and shadow to create “panda eyes” (which is not a look anyone should typically go for). In person, it looks pretty sweet.

The point of this costume is to be fun, creative and totally inexpensive. The coat only cost me about $10 and I plan on wearing it this winter as a jacket anyway. I bought the panda backpack at a discount store, only because I couldn’t resist. I also like the idea of doing something a little bit unexpected and abstract. Think outside the box this Halloween!

Related posts:

• (Mostly) Local Holiday Gifts
• Fashion Finds at Goodwill
• Back to School on a Budget