How to Make Cheap Halloween
Costumes Creating Your Own costumes
I wrote in the weekly newsletter about
how hard it is to find cool Halloween Costumes
without going into debt. I asked my fellow fashionistas for advice and
here are some of the best ideas- all for under $20 bucks.
ExtremeHalloween.com: 1000's of Costumes to Choose From.
For the Single Girl:
Queen
of the World. This is a Halloween favorite. Head to your nearest
Salvation Army or Goodwill for old prom/evening dresses, or the back of
your closet for those “forgotten” bridesmaid dresses. The puffier and
gaudier, the better. Go to Claire’s Boutique and purchase a tiara (usually
around $5 to $10), several “diamond” rings, and elbow-length, white
gloves. Throw on the rhinestone jewelry, correct that posture, and
purchase ‘Hello’ (a.k.a the British ‘People’) at your local Barnes and
Noble. 
Now, here is the piece de triumph: Have your male
spouse/friend/partner be your man–servant, “James”, for the whole night.
Total outfit cost: $20.00-$80.00, depending on the size of your kingdom.
The Halloween Handbook - most
imaginative collection of Halloween costume ideas--447 costume ideas to be
exact
Marathon Runner. Toast the Olympics and dress like you’re a marathon
runner. Purchase a tank, shorts, and tennis shoes (the Canadian Athletic
apparel store ROOTS has some great Olympic items at their online store).
Since it is the end of October, go ahead and wear tights underneath those
short shorts. Print out a race number on your computer, pin it to your
tank, and you are ready to go. Total Outfit cost: 0.00-$40.00, depending
on the medal you are seeking.
Christina Aguilera. All you need is a big blonde wig (think drag queen),
black eyeliner, a plaid mini-skirt, a cropped top, and some thigh-high
boots and you are set. It is helpful to bring a little CD player and have
“Genie in a Bottle” playing in the background. Total Outfit cost
$10.00-$50.00, depending on the size of your record contract.
For couples:
Ward & June Cleaver. The fifties look was very hot this summer, so head
out to your local department store or thrift shop and find
fifties-inspired, a-line dresses for a fraction of their normal price.
Check out post summer sales at your local department store like Macys. Add
a simple strand of pearls, pearl earrings, a waist apron, sensible pumps
and you are ready to go. Have your significant other dress as Ward. Total
Outfit cost $40.00- $80.00, depending on whether the ‘Beav’ needs braces.
Nifty Fifties Child
Game Show Host and Pretty Helper Girl. This is a perfect costume for
couples. Head out to your nearest thrift store and find the cheesiest late
70s/early 80s polyester, double knit suit ensemble for men and 80s
deranged bridesmaid dress for women. Purchase a children’s play microphone
(Target has some for super cheap prices). Buy the cheapest hair spray you
can find (All Net is good) 
Diva Microphone Headpiece
and tease your hair like you are from the
Jersey shore. Get a piece of cardboard, cut out a star about 8 inches in
diameter and glue on gold glitter. Write the word “Grand Prize” in silver.
To keep you smiling for the entire night, try this beauty pageant trick-
put Vaseline underneath your upper lip. $60.00-$100 for both costumes,
depending on whether or not your show picks-up for another season.
With A Group of Friends:
Sloth. This is the easiest and cheapest costume. Don’t wash your hair or
take a shower for two days, roll out of bed in your PJs and you are set!
This costume is particularly effective if you get six friends to go as the
other six deadly sins: greed, envy, wrath, gluttony, pride and lust. Total
Outfit cost- $0, depending on how sinful you are willing to get.
Matching PJs & Robes
1970’s Television Family. There are so many great ones to choose from: the
Partridge Family, Brady Bunch, Evan’s family from Good Times, Donny and
Marie Osmond, and the Jeffersons. The family you chose depends on the
make-up of your group of friends, but putting together the outfits is
almost as much fun as the actual Halloween event itself. Make a date and
head straight to your local thrift store or your parent’s closet. Total
Outfit Cost- $20.00 and up, depending on how “dy-no-mite” you want to be.
About the Author
Kathryn “The Budget Fashionista” Finney is the founder
and Chief Shopping Officer of TheBudgetFashionista.com (http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com),
a popular website that provides realistic fashion advice, shopping tips
and sale event information to budget conscious consumers. Known as “the
stylist to the cheap,” Kathryn has been around the world searching for the
perfect bargain on designer goods and is willing to get the bargain by any
(legal) means necessary.
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