Copacabana Showgirl Dog Costume

Samantha is our 1 year old lab mix. I entered her last year in our local Howl o'ween parade and there were nothing but store bought costumes so I got the idea of sewing hers like my grandmother used to do for me when I was little.

I racked my brain trying to think of an idea when finally I heard the song Copacobana and I found myself singing (loudly) when the light bulb came on, Samantha was going to be a Showgirl!

It took me a total of 3 weeks to sew this costume. The initial dress was made from David Tutera's Mother of the Bride Collection material. The rest is made from tulle, ostrich feathers, flowers and beads all painstakingly sewn by hand.

The real challenge was Samantha's headpiece. I did not want to use elastic because I thought that would "cheapen" the outfit, so I went back do the fabric store and found a stretch velveteen fabric. I sewed it into a headband with a velcro closure and sewed a styrofoam circle covered with the material to the velvet. Sewed on the embellishment and my creation was completed.

When I put the outfit on her, she prances around showing it off to everyone. The normal response I get is "awww", then when I tell them what she is, they start singing... "Her name is Samantha, she is a showgirl..."