This, my friends, is a dream come true. If you saw the title of this post and thought, “What’s The Princess Bride?” then you’ve just made me feel very old and very sad for the gaping hole in your cinematic library. If you said either, “As yoooooou wiiiiiiiishhh,” or, “Inconceivable!,” or “Does anybody want a peanut?,” then I applaud your dedication to great films, and we are allowed to be friends. Anyway, when thinking of costume ideas for this Halloween, I was a bit stuck until Sarah mentioned the idea of Westley (or the Dread Pirate Roberts I should say) and Buttercup, and I knew instantly that I had to make it happen. I. Love. That. Movie.
It was easy enough to get some pirate items together for Todd’s version of Westley (and he was more than happy to shave a creepy mustache), but I knew I was going to have some work ahead of me to recreate Buttercup’s red riding dress. I ended up buying a matronly ’80s red dress (that was four sizes too big) and used the bodice and neckline as my starting point. I used matching red fabric to make new sleeves and a longer skirt for the bodice, and completed the look with a belt made of gold trim. The sleeves were only the second sleeves I’ve ever sewn in my life, so I had a lot of prototypes before making the real thing. I think they look pretty good overall, but I couldn’t lift my arms up very high, so I guess there’s still room for improvement!
I think this forest is the closest thing we have to a Fire Swamp, so it made the perfect location to test out our costumes. My friend Bethany asked if I needed her to dress as an R.O.U.S. (Rodent of Unusual Size) for the Fire Swamp bits, but as hard as the idea made me laugh, I didn’t know where in town I could get an adult-sized possum costume at the last minute. Such a good idea though. The woods we used are a bit out of the way near a trail, so we had to get there on bikes and rollerblades in full costume—we got a few interesting looks to say the least! We also tried to recreate a few of the movie stills. See if you can spot them…
Overall, I’m pretty proud of my Buttercup dress recreation, and it was a secret wish fulfilled to recreate parts of a movie that was so important to both our childhoods. I know that we will cherish these pictures for a long time to come, and I’ll definitely keep the dress around so I can throw it on next time we watch the movie and feel like an extra nerdy fan girl. What movie couple’s costume would you love to recreate for Halloween? xo. Laura
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Janae Hardy. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
Where did you get this dress?! I have been looking for a buttercup dress for years and have yet to find one that I loved as much as I loved your dress!
Would you ever be willing to sell and/or make another version of this? 🙂
This was awesome!! You both fit the parts perfectly!! ROUSes? I don’t think they exist.
Best post ever. This was amazing. You both fit the part. ‘You’re sick, I’m humor you.’ and ‘We are men of action. Lies do not become us.’ 🙂
Beautiful photos!
Soooooo much awesome in one post. *that moustache, tho* 🙂
you guys need to stoppppp! this is so awesome!
That is an awesome costume!!!! Love it. We had a reading from the Princess Bride at our wedding a couple of years ago so it would be fun (and totally appropriate) for us to steal this couple costume idea.
This is so brilliant and perfect! Definitely one of my favorite couple’s costumes!
SO GOOD!! love love love!
So cute! Great costume idea!
Your costumes are my very favorite costumes I have ever seen. I am overcome with jealousy. I hope you get some of the pictures framed. You both look amazing!
Jenni
Wonderful! It’s one of our favorite movies of all time as well, and you did a fine job with the dress and pirate garb.
Love, love, love, love, love! Is there a more quotable movie? Inconceivable. I I think I must now go as Inigo Montoya someday! And what a great idea for a group/family costume, toos – so many great characters!
Cute costume idea. I loved this book and the movie as well.
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This is perfect! Almost makes me want to dye my hair blond again to try this myself. Thanks for the great idea.
great couples costume! 🙂
xo
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LOVE this costume idea! In your stills I was looking for westley rolling down a hill – when Buttercup suddenly realizes she’s pushed her love down a giant hill and dives headlong after him. Amazing!
Thanks for the smile! Happy Halloween!!!!
THIS IS SO GOOD!
“you keep using that word… I do not think it means what you think it means.”