Halloween is the one time of year where showcasing alter egos isn’t frowned upon. Anything from ghoulish ghosts to fantasizing fairies can be seen on this spookily-creative holiday. While dressing up may be something to look forward to, the hefty prices for costumes isn’t always ideal, especially on a college budget. Luckily, with sites such as Pinterest and Etsy, inexpensive inspiration isn’t difficult to find. Here are some of the most resourceful Halloween outfits to make on a student-friendly budget.
Individual:
Standing out is easy when you’re clad in a custom-made costume. Here are a few easy DIY costumes that you can find straight out of your closet.
Scarecrow
What you’ll need:
- Brown or straw hat
- Eyeliner
- Red lipstick
- Plaid shirt
- Flowers
- Jeans
- Brown boots
Makeup:
Step 1: Using eyeliner, draw stiches around the corners of your mouth towards your ears to emulate a scarecrow-like mouth.
Step 2: Use red lipstick to draw a triangle-shaped nose.
Step 3: With the same red lipstick, draw circles on the apples of your cheeks to mirror a blushing scarecrow.
Step 4: Use eyeliner to draw enhanced eyelashes around your eyes.
Step 5: After putting on the outfit (plaid shirt, jeans, boots and hat) try sprucing it up with additional accessories.
Step 6: Sunflowers, birds and random pieces of straw can help add to the costume.
80s workout instructor
What you’ll need:
- Body suit
- Leg warmers
- Headband
- Sneakers
- Neon eyeshadow
- A bright blush
- Bright pink lipstick
- Fake eyelashes (optional)
Makeup:
Step 1: Starting from the inner corner of your eye, apply a rainbow of florescent eyeshadows. Add false lashes for a more dramatic look.
Step 2: Apply an excessive amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks.
Step 3: Top it off with a bold pink lipstick.
Step 4: Layering is really important for this costume. First, put on the leggings/stockings, then the bodysuit, then the legwarmers.
Step 5: Adding fun accessories such as headbands, wristbands and small weights can also add to the outfit.
Mary Poppins
What you’ll need:
- Black hat
- White button down
- Red bowtie
- Black pleated skirt
- Black tights
- Black heels
- Umbrella
Group:
If you’re planning on taking on the night with your crew, here are a few ideas on how to transform your posse into a distinctive clique of famous individuals.
Spice Girls
Characters: popular 90s girl group with Sporty Spice, Scary Spice, Baby Spice, Posh Spice and Ginger Spice
What you’ll need (by characters):
Sporty Spice:
- Orange sports bra
- Blue sweat pants
- Sneakers
- Temporary arm tattoo
Scary Spice:
- Leopard attire
- Curly wig
Ginger Spice:
- Attire with UK flag
- Red wig
Baby Spice:
- Pink baby doll dress
Posh Spice:
- Little black dress
Ninja Turtles
Characters: Ninja Turtle-themed costumes with individual characters including Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael
What you need:
- Green sports bra
- Green shorts
- Large foil turkey pan
- Green body paint
- Yellow body paint
- Green spray paint
- High green socks
- Red, blue, purple, orange and brown colored fabric
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
- Construction paper
- Fake knives (optional)
- Green tulle (optional)
Mask:
Step 1: Cut a moderately-thin strip of fabric.
Step 2: Tie fabric around eyes, like a blindfold.
Step 3: With a permanent marker, trace around eyes (on fabric) to ensure appropriate sized eye slots.
Step 4: Cut eye slits out.
Turtle shell:
Step 1: Spray paint the foil turkey pan green. Make sure to go over coating at least two times to ensure an even distribution.
Step 2: Use scissors to poke individual holes in the four corners of the pan.
Step 3: Take two thin strips of brown fabric, and string them each side of the shell. One piece of fabric will go through two holes.
Step 4: Tie each side with a knot to ensure the shell has a secure strap.
Step 5: The end result should look like a backpack.
Body paint
Step 1: With washable paint, cover your stomach in green paint.
Step 2: Paint six yellow rectangular abs on stomach.
Accessories
Step 1: With extra fabric, cut thin strips to make headbands, kneepads, armbands and belt.
Step 2: Cut out circles for belt logos, and draw the first letter of each character’s name and glue to fabric.
Mean Girls:
Characters: The original cast from “Mean Girls,” including Cady, Regina, Gretchen and Karen
What you’ll need (by characters):
Cady Heron:
- Oversized pink polo
- Blue jeans
- Red wig
Regina George:
- Pink cardigan
- Pink mini skirt
- White tank top
- Red heels
- Blonde wig
Gretchen Weiners:
- Pink sweater
- Tan skirt
- Black heels
- Brunette wig
Karen Smith:
- Baby pink long sleeve shirt
- Hot pink skirt
- Pink heels
- Blonde wig
Couples:
For all the love birds out there who are planning to take on Hallows’ Eve together, here are a few ways to show the world how creative a loving dynamic duo can be.
Bank Robbers:
What you’ll need:
- Striped shirts
- Black pants
- Black toboggan/beanie
- Black gloves
- Black mask
- Small green garbage bag
- Cut up papers
- Permanent marker
Garbage bag full of money
Step 1: Fill green garbage bag with cut up papers until bag is full. Then, tie bag to make sure the fake money doesn’t fall out.
Step 2: Draw dollar symbol on bags with permanent marker.
Grease:
What you’ll need (by character):
Sandy:
- Black high-waisted pants
- Black over-the-shoulder shirt
- Wide black belt
- Red heels
- Blonde curly wig (optional)
Danny:
- Black T-shirt
- Black jeans
- Black belt
- Black shoes
- Slicked back hair
Dexter:
What you’ll need (by character):
Dexter:
- Black apron
- Grey long sleeve shirt
- Khakis
Victim:
- Saran wrap
- Washable red paint
- Plastic Knife
- Two-piece strapless bathing suit
Victim’s costume:
Step 1: Wearing a two piece strapless bathing suit, completely cover top and bottom with saran wrap.
Step 2: Add additional wrap around ankles and wrist.
Step 3: Lightly paint red blood on middle of chest area, and insert knife into saran wrap.
October’s best holiday doesn’t always have to come at a steep price. With a little razzle dazzle, finessing and well-dressing, creative costumes can be fun and frugal.
