Working on this Halloween costume made me nostalgic for Paris. We based this costume off Albert Lamorisse’s beautiful French film The Red Balloon. It is a short and sad (but really sweet) movie about a boy and a balloon in Paris who become best friends. Our kids actually love this film (you can stream it on Netflix) and we thought it would make a really great costume. You can throw this one together without a lot of planning. See all the details below.
Materials Needed: Grey Sweatsuit, Leather Satchel, A Large 36″ Red Balloon (you can get these from any Party City.)
This is the kind of costume that people who have seen the movie will love and everyone else will wonder why that little boy’s parents sent him out in a sweatsuit. But really, any little kid would be thrilled to keep a big red balloon company for the night.
Credits and our Talented Contributors:
All photography by Sarah Hebenstreit of Modern Kids Photography for Oh Happy Day
Art Directed by Jordan Ferney
Produced by Ashley Rose Kirschling
Styling by Milan Shimono Lee
“Homemade Halloween” Type by Angela Hardison
rachael
October 11, 2012
hah he is the cutest. a future actor in the works, perhaps?
rachael
becca
October 11, 2012
I love The Red Balloon. 🙂 I actually just threw my nephew a Red Balloon-themed birthday party, complete with Paris skyline too. How uncanny!
http://www.lavendersbluedesigns.com/elijahs-red-balloon-birthday-party/
Amy P
October 11, 2012
He looks more and more like Paul all the time!
Tara of Mad Max and Family
October 11, 2012
This is so cute! And what a simple idea. I wonder if many people would “get it” though?
I did!
-Tara
http://madmaxandfamily.blogspot.com
http://blog.chron.com/madabouttown/
elizabeth
October 11, 2012
I love your blog and all these ideas, but had not felt compelled to comment until this – I LOVED that movie as a child! It brings up such emotions for some reason – almost made me cry seeing your sweet son with that red balloon! Great costume idea – too bad so many people will not recognize it…
xoxo -e (modern24seven.blogspot.com)
Julia's Bookbag
October 11, 2012
THIS IS AWESOME!!!!! Still laughing at your comment about sending the kid out in a sweatsuit…
Now I need to introduce this movie to my daughter!! She’s 6 and hasn’t seen it. 🙂
MartaG
October 11, 2012
What a great idea! We love this movie, we have the book, too. A red balloon birthday party would be fantastic too 🙂
Robyn
October 11, 2012
LOVE THAT MOVIE!!! I introduced this movie to the chaplain at my children’s school and she is incorporating it into a series on Bullying!!! No words, BIG message!!!
magalerie
October 11, 2012
This is really amazing Jordan. I love it. So simple yet so beautiful and poetic.
I don’t know if you can say that in English but you’re really surpassed yourself here.
Wow!
Kacie
October 11, 2012
This is amazing! I’m thinking about doing something similar but doing it with the girl with the balloon from the Bansky graffiti! So great. I love Halloween!
Kacie
http://acollectionofpassions.com/
Michelle
October 11, 2012
That was the first movie my son ever saw and it’s still one of his favorites! I’m sure he’d be thrilled to have a balloon follow him around all night.
Patricia | unfounddoor
October 11, 2012
Genius! I love this film too and had the terrible idea of wanting to dress the kiddo up in grey tracksuit complete with balloon next time we are in Paris once he’s big enough…lucky for him he’s not yet a year, but I think youve inspired me for his costume this year. So sweet.
(my fail safe, super minimal Halloween go-to is the drawn on moustache – so versatile)
Leslie
October 11, 2012
So cute! Love his boots, where did you find them?
jocelyn lum
October 12, 2012
amazing, this post makes me realize that there are infinity knowledge, talent in this world. thank you!
Lashley
October 12, 2012
Cute!
Just a warning though for folks looking for big round balloons: you might not be able to find these at your local party store. The Party City here in Denver looked at me like I was a loon when I asked about them recently. I went there at the last minute for a project and was so bummed. Don’t make my mistake! Check ahead of time in case you need to order online!
Amanda
October 12, 2012
So cute!! I’m wondering where you got those great little leather boots for your guy – I’ve been looking for just that kind. Inside scoop?? Thanks!
they were from Zara. We got them about a year ago.
chandra ~ oh lovely day
October 12, 2012
this is fantastic, and your little guy is adorable! And I just learned how to do an animated gif at blogshop a few weeks ago, so now I want to make one with my son. But he’s not quite two, so probably won’t cooperate quite as well 🙂
Carly
October 25, 2012
Oh……my……..goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!