It’s that time of year again, when PF blogs sing the praises of affordable Halloween costumes. And even people without fatigue issues prefer the outfits be easy, too.
Alas, I’m terrible at coming up with my own costume ideas, but I can still throw out a few ideas that I’ve seen and loved.
1. Upside down person: My mom had me stick my legs through the sleeves of a sweatshirt. Sweatpants went on over my arms. She put socks and shoes on my hands and gloves on my feet. Now that those toe shoes are in vogue, you could probably get away with gloves on your “feet.”
2. Bubble gum machine: Another one of my mom’s ideas. Take a clear garbage bag, cutting arm and leg holes, then fill it with multicolored balloons. Tape the bag closed around the collar of your shirt.
3. Ghost of Christmas Present: Cut eyeholes in a sheet, then tape strips of wrapping paper randomly all over. Mom finally got me to do this one when I was in junior high. It fell flat, but in retrospect, it was pretty funny.
4. Bureaucratic red tape: Back in Seattle, a guy had printed out a bunch of UW forms and affixed them to his body with red tape. Love. It.
5. Victor/Victoria-esque drag queen: A female friend of mine wore a tight-fitting dress, painted on some five o’ clock shadow, went to town on falsies and eye make-up, and spoke in a husky voice. She had real commitment and stuffed her underwear with a rather large sausage. But I don’t think that’s strictly necessary for the outfit.
6. Babysitter: Tape some dolls to you, particularly one on your rear. I’ve never seen it done, but it sounds hilarious.
7. Trophy wife: A friend put on a nice dress, draped herself in gold jewelry and carried a little stuffed dog around all night.
8. Rock star(s): My friends went as an ’80s rock band. (Bonus costume: One of the guy’s girlfriend was a groupie.) They wore wigs and tight pants and mostly opted out of shirts — though not necessarily vests. Their lip-synched “Welcome to the Jungle” — complete with head banging — was very well received.
9. Politically incorrect pregnant woman: I’ll lose some of you on this, but it cracked me up. My friend stuffed her shirt to look about 8 months pregnant, painted on a black eye and the attached a “Pro-Choice” button at her navel.
Those are the best ones, but here are a few perennial favorites you can cobble together from secondhand or thrift stores:
10. Gypsy fortune teller: Peasant blouse or body suit, flowing skirt, lots of bracelets. A couple of scarves help.
11. Gangster: Hat, pinstripe suit. Bonus points if you can get a violin case.
12. Jerky businessman: A nice suit and keep your cell phone at your ear all night.
13. Harried mom/housewife: Robe, slippers, some curlers and maybe a green face mask or something. A cigarette hanging out the side of your mouth would, I think, add immensely to the getup.
14. Beauty queen: Thrift stores and secondhand shops always have some prom-esque dresses. Buy a white sheet, and cut out a strip to be your sash. Be creative with the title.
15. Catholic school girl: Man’s white shirt, a tie and a plaid skirt. Black shoes are a must, but you can use knee-high socks instead of thigh-high stockings.
Also, depending on the availability of headbands, wristbands and garishly colored spandex, ’80s jazzercise instructor would be awesome. Add a curly wig for Richard Simmons.
Obviously, this is nothing like a comprehensive list, so please please please add your own ideas in the comments.
Donna Freedman says
Linda B. had a book of amazing costumes from conferences. My favorite was The Four Housewives of the Apocalypse. This would be easy for a group of friends to do.
I believe they represented Cleaning, Cooking, Child Care and Gossip, with outfits to match. If I recall correctly, the Gossip one had TV Guide and a couple of copies of the National Enquirer, a television remote and a wig made out of popcorn.
Abigail says
Yeah I remember that one. The only issue is finding three other individuals in need a costume.
Teresa Mears says
Living on the Cheap came up with 85 cheap and easy ideas for Halloween costumes, most suitable for adults, but I must confess only one of them was mine, and it wasn't one of the good ones: http://livingonthecheap.com/cheap-easy-halloween-…
Abigail says
Cool! I’ll go check it out!
arianaauburn12 says
You forgot the slutty versions of normal costumes!
Abigail says
That’s true. If you can tart up a regular costume a bit — or if the thrift store only has the item you need in a size too small — then it’s a whole ‘nother ball game.
Crystal @ PET says
I was a "blind ref" for 2 years in a row. I wore black sweats, my husband's ref shirt and hat, a huge pair of sunglasses (I like the big ones since they block more light), and painted a dowel stick to look like a tapping stick for the blind. It got a ton of laughs and cost me $4 ($4 for the dowel stick and white spray paint).
Abigail says
Tee hee!
Kat says
Cheapest costume I've ever done was last year and it cost me 10 bucks. Wear all black clothing and shoes. Then buy white pancake makeup, and black pancake (3 dollars each), and a set of sponges (1 dollar), and a black eyeliner pencil (1 dollar). Use the black eyeliner pencil to outline the pattern of a skull on your face. Fill in the black areas first. Then fill in the white. Finally, mix a little white and black together into two or three shades of grey, and hit where the shadows would be, blending carefully. Most makeup places will try to sell you "fixing powder" for pancake makeups, but I use cornstarch- dust over the makeup very lightly. Voila, you're a skull. If you have a bright eyeshadow palette or buy one for 1 buck, you can decorate the. Look to resemble a sugar skull from the Day of the Dead.
Abigail says
Wow, cool! If I had *any* artistic talent, that seems perfect. Very innovative!