Halloween was a really big holiday when I was younger (much younger) and the costumes were hand made. When I was a senior in high school I was "Eve" for the Halloween parade (marching band). The costume was a skin tone bathing suit with shiny cloth leaves sewn on strategic places and a ring of flowers around my head (and an apple dangled from my clarinet). Because it's so cold up north (PA) by the end of October I had to wear three pair of nylons on my legs and my arms.
In grade school I was a Monarch Butterfly. The big wings were fashioned out of metal hangers, fabric and cloth pieces sewn to both sides and I wore black turtleneck and leggins.
My daughter has been: A tube of Crest toothpaste, and a sunflower.
I forgot to add that when I was 8 months pregnant, I dressed as the grim reaper with a big hooded (shredded) cape and painted my face like a skull ... I thought it was funny, but no one else did.
I'll add photos ... if I can find them.