How to Make an Adult French Maid Costume

Adults like to dress up for Halloween too, especially if they are attending a masquerade or costume party made up completely of grown-ups. For women who don't want to go the scary route or who prefer to opt for something a bit sexy or pretty, a French maid's outfit might just be the ticket. It is simple to put together, flirty and fun. Best of all, it can be kept after Halloween for those who like to engage in a bit of adult role-playing.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Full black skirt
• White petticoat, ballerina tutu, or heavy netting
• Black bustier or corset top
• White apron
• White dancewear briefs
• Black and white ruffling and/or lace
• White fabric for hat and cuffs
• Buttons for fake cufflinks
• Black fishnet hose
• White, black or red high heels
• Elastic
• Snaps or Velcro
• Needle and thread or sewing machine
• Brooch and/or earrings
• White, black or red satin ribbon

1. Design the costume on paper to determine the pieces that will complete it.

2. Make the purchases necessary to put the costume together.

3. Shorten a full black skirt to a length no longer than mid-thigh. As much as possible, match the sheen and shading of the skirt to the bustier or corset that will make up the top part of the costume.

4. Make a white petticoat for the skirt. Alter an existing petticoat or ballerina tutu if one can be found. Otherwise, make the petticoat out of inexpensive heavy white netting. Cut a piece of waist-size elastic, minus 2 inches off the length. Sew the elastic across the top of 2 yards of heavy white netting, stretching it out as it is being attached to the fabric. This will make the petticoat gather at the waist. Finally, sew the two ends of the petticoat together. If necessary, cut the length at the bottom so that it will just peek out from underneath the black skirt, no more than 1 or 2 inches.

5. Sew a bit of the white ruffling or lace around the top of the bustier or corset.

6. Sew the same ruffling or lace around the white apron and on the back part of the white dance-wear briefs to make ruffled panties.

7. Use white fabric to cut out a 12-inch circle for the maid's hat. Edge it with white ruffling or lace. Cut a piece of elastic the size of the head minus 1 1/2 inches. Sew the piece around the maid's hat, about 3 inches in from the edge, stretching the elastic as it is being attached. Once complete, the hat will automatically gather, making it easy to apply to the hair with bobby pins.

8. Cut rectangles about 7 to 9 inches in length (depending upon individual wrist size) and three to four inches in width. Use the same white fabric that was used for the hat. Stitch the raw edges to keep them from fraying or edge with white ruffling or lace. Close the cuffs with snaps or Velcro. Sew a pretty button on the outside of the cuffs to simulate cufflinks.

9. Put the costume together with black fishnet hose and white, black or red high heels. Add a brooch to the hat and/or pretty earrings for jewelry. Tie a white, black or red satin ribbon in a bow around the neck.

Tips & Warnings

• Use luxurious fabrics for the costume such as sateen cotton, satin or taffeta.

• Choose ruffles and lace in the proper proportions for the items to be trimmed.

• If sewing elastic by hand, double-stitch to make certain everything remains in place.