As a child, choosing Halloween costumes was simple. Anything works at a young age, and kids don’t worry about looking cute because everything is cute on kids. But as you age, Halloween costumes become super complicated. Most of the time, your costume will fall into one of three categories: sexy, basic or dorky. Not only are costumes complicated, they are expensive. When we were younger, we might not have understood why our mothers took two wire hangers and twisted them together with white material draped over them for angel wings, but now we do. According to the National Retail Federation people spend $74 on average for a completed outfit. For college students who don’t have the money to splurge on a costume, Halloween seems a bit dull. But it doesn’t always have to be this way. No matter how old you get, Halloween shouldn’t be a lackluster holiday. This is when the creative juices should begin to flow.
By creative juices, I mean DIY Halloween costumes. Some people may protest, saying making their own costume is too time-consuming or that they have no ideas. But they’re overthinking it. Your Halloween costume doesn’t have to be a complex cosplay, and unless you have the skills, I’m not telling you to go out and buy a sewing machine. With items as simple as pipe cleaners and oversized t-shirts, you and your friends dress up as Teletubbies. Dress in all black with a ski mask, and you can call yourself a ninja. Grab a beige or nude skirt with a white top, put some sprinkles on top and cut out a cherry as a headband, and you’re a cute ice cream cone. Buy a scary mask to pair with a cute outfit, throw some blood on it, add a rubber knife and you’ll suddenly look like you’re straight out of a Purge movie. If you want to be more creative, get a cute raincoat with matching boots and an umbrella. Cut out some raindrops, and glue pictures of hot guys on it. Tie the raindrops to the umbrella and “It’s Raining Men!” If you don’t feel like creating a real costume, use a plain shirt and write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” in bold black marker. Plus, there are thousands of other ideas on websites like Pinterest, so fear not! No matter how old you get, celebrating Halloween is never over.
Whether you are going to a party or actually trying to trick-or-treat, make sure you’re enjoying yourself in your one-of-a-kind, do-it-yourself, creative costume!
