• Sara Lyle loves wearing costumes, and Halloween is her favorite holiday. • She was in her 20s when she designated a suitcase as her costume trunk. • Over the past few decades, she's filled it with accessories, wigs, and outfits, but she's learned to skip on costume makeup.

I've always loved playing dress-up. Give me a costume and a reason to wear it, and I'm in my happy place.

That's probably why Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's the one time of year when pretending to be someone or something else isn't just acceptable, it's encouraged.

One of my favorite costumes goes back to preschool: a butterfly my Aunt Cindy made from scratch with canvas fabric, sewing skills, and spray paint.

Compared with today's Pinterest-perfect DIYs, it might not qualify as the "best costume ever,"

See Full Page