Odds are that you never got around to actually making the elaborate costume that you’ve been planning since last Halloween. Now it’s down to the wire and you’re a little strapped for cash.
But there’s good news: You can still put together a creative costume on a budget. Here is a list of ideas ranging from one to seven on a scale of difficulty.
Honey boo boo
What you’ll need: a short, pink formal dress, a plastic crown, a bottle of Mountain Dew and a curly blond wig.
Hair and makeup: Pageant girls have really exaggerated makeup, so pile it on. Try some formal curls in your own head or buy a cheap blond wig.
Your character: For this outfit you must channel your inner Southern pageant princess. You’ve downed your first bottle of go-go juice, so it’s time to be energetic so you can wow those judges. If you’d like, throw in some prized Honey Boo Boo nuggets of wisdom like “You better redneck-ognize” or everyone’s favorite “A dollar make me holler, honey boo boo child.”
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 1
Miley Cyrus at the VMA’s
What you’ll need: nude boyshorts, nude bra/bralette, a foam finger and white sneakers. Hair and makeup: The most important parts of Miley’s hair and makeup are the pigtail buns and red lipstick.
Your character: Being Miley requires your time to be split 60/40. Sixty percent of the time your tongue needs to be out of your mouth, and the other forty percent of the time you need to be “twerking.”
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 2
Censored Sign
What you’ll need: a nude bandeau and underwear (sub: nude leotard or body suit), thick black foamboard/cardboard, white paint and Velcro with an adhesive side.
Assembly: First paint the word “censored” in all caps across both of the front two pieces of cardboard. Then, place the sticky part of the Velcro on the back of the cardboard with the Velcro on your chosen base garment on your chest and your crotch area (the areas that would be blurred when censored on television).
Your character: If you are someone being censored on television, the likelihood of you being intoxicated is almost certain. This character requires a boozy performance, so free your inhibitions and be the life of the party.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3
Wednesday Adams
What you’ll need: a black long-sleeve pencil dress with a white-collar (sub: black long-sleeve pencil dress with collared shirt underneath), black tights, black shoes and a black wig.
Hair and makeup: Wednesday Adams is extremely pale so you may want to try some cheap Halloween make up or a foundation that is too light. For the hair you need braided pigtails.
Your character: The most important trait you need to mimic to be Wednesday Addams is a general disdain for everyone around you. This means no dancing, no showing that you’re enjoying yourself and above all absolutely no smiling!
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3
Poison Ivy from Batman
What you’ll need: a black corset (sub: one-piece bandeau swimsuit, leotard, two-piece bathing suit), fake ivy or green leaves, hot glue gun and hot glue and two pairs of green opaque tights.
Hair and makeup: You will need a red wig and a cheap Halloween makeup kit to paint a few vine-like lines near your forehead and temple. For makeup you need an intense eye with green shadow and a really striking red lip.
Assembly: First, you need to hot glue the vine leaves all over your base garment like they are climbing up the garment. Let it dry for at least an hour. Then, take your second pair of green tights cut them the length of your forearm. Cut the closed end of the tights and a small hole for your thumb to go through. Finally, super glue a few of the ivy leaves around the open end that will be on your forearm. Let it dry for a few minutes.
Your character: Poison Ivy is a seductive villainess who uses toxins from plants, mind-controlling pheromones and poison kisses to aid in her criminal activities. For this character you will not only need to be sultry and sexy, but also show feminine strength (she has proven to be one of Batman’s most powerful foes)
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3
Heisenberg
What you’ll need: pork pie hat or wide-brim fedora, black sunglasses, plaid dress shirt, black jacket and khaki pants
Assembly: Throw on your outfit and be the danger. Your character: Heisenberg is the antithesis of Walter White, a high school teacher recently diagnosed with cancer. He lives for violence, making meth and having others remember his name. To be Heisenberg, you just have to be an all-around badass. That’s it.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 1
Lego block:
What you’ll need: a cardboard box, six colored plastic cups, paint of desired color, glue,black Sharpie and scissors
Assembly: Paint your box and let it dry for a few hours. Then, take your scissors and cut a hole out for your arms and head. Take your
Sharpie and write “Lego” in all caps on the bottoms of the cups. Finally, place a circle of glue the size of the cup hole, then place the cup on top of the glue and hold it for five minutes. Repeat for the rest of the cups.
Your character: This character is fairly simple. Just be the block.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 2
Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince
What you’ll need: a white button-down, khaki pants or shorts, a solid-colored sweater and dress shoes or Sperry’s.
Your character: Carlton Banks is everyone’s favorite privileged black kid from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” To be Carlton, all you need is a sense of entitlement, corny banter and some awesome dance moves.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 1
Mayhem from the Allstate commercials
What you’ll need: a black suit and tie, white button-down, sweatband, zombie makeup kit, cocoa powder and butterfly bandages.
Face: make a few small cuts with the zombie face kit. Then wipe little bit of cocoa powder all over you face to look like dirt.
Your character: Being Mayhem is all about causing chaos and confusion everywhere you go. Knock over a few things when you walk into the building and try to blend in. Mayhem is all about hiding in plain sight.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 3
Clark Kent
What you’ll need: White button-down shirt, black tie, blazer, Superman T-shirt (blue T-shirt with a Superman sticker), thick-framed glasses and briefcase (optional).
Your character: Clark Kent is Superman’s alter ego, an ordinary man. To convey Clark Kent’s character, you have to be the opposite of Superman, meaning passive, introverted, restrained and gentle. and briefcase (optional).
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: 2
