It is true what they say about Halloween. It is a holiday children love because they can eat as much candy as they want, a holiday teenagers think they are too cool for, and a holiday that adults cultishly embrace. That was me. After many years of refusing to dress up for the occasion, something inside me decided that I would give the holiday a grown-up chance. But rather than buying a costume at the store, I decided I would get my DIY on and bring Gwen Stefani's Japanese-inspired Harajuku Lovers Baby to life. I'm not really sure why I decided to be her, maybe because she is so adorable or maybe because I just wanted to see if I could bring her fabulous hair to life.

During the time I was working on the costume, I carried this plastic doll everywhere I went, whipping her out in craft stores and fabric warehouses to make sure my purchases were as true to the original as possible.

I searched everywhere for a pink polka dotted dress. I came across a dress very similar in shape and silhouette to Baby's at a random boutique and decided to take it and add the dots myself as the October 31st deadline was fast approaching.

I'm seeing dots.

Once all the dotting was completed, beautiful scallop-edged lace was added to the bottom of the dress.

Smaller details like the dress's ribbon belt, bow and 'Baby' lettering and the headpiece's turquoise bows were easier completed. I would leave the most challenging but fun part for last, the headpiece.

I knew from the beginning that a curled updo would not have the same dramatic effect as Baby's Asian-inspired hair. After testing foam spheres without much success, I thought that ping pong balls would do the trick. They are light-weight but sturdy and lend themselves to be hot glue gunned and spray-painted.

Before and After

Totemo Kawaii! (Very Cute!)

The completed look. Of course, all my friends had to thoroughly inspect my hairdo. Usually, I don't let anyone touch my hair but this time I made an exception.

And of course, no Halloween celebration would be complete without some good-old pumpkin carving. I just made sure that my pumpkin perfectly coordinated with my outfit.