6 October 2010 --Halloween Costume on a budget

Its that time of year again!  

MY BIRTHDAY!!!!   :)

Not only that, but Halloween!    Fall is my favorite time of year for both of these reasons.  If you love Halloween as much as I do, you probably have your costume-shopping nearly completed.

On a budget this year?  No need to worry!  You can still have a unique Halloween costume that you don't have to pay hundreds for.  All it requires is a little effort, creativity, preparation, and patience!

Selecting a costume

Choosing a Halloween costume that's right for you sounds like an easy task, but in fact it can often be the source of endless worry. Most of the time, you want something that's a bit sexy as well as practical for the event that you are attending, as well as something that is original and clever. Most importantly though, you need to find something that fits well and suits you, especially if you are looking to fully enjoy your Halloween party (ezine.com article).  There are so many options to choose from!  Where do you begin?

Get ideas from:

Looking around your house

• You could be surprised at the amount of things you have around your house that can serve as a source of inspiration!  
• Don't limit the costume ideas to people or characters!  Inanimate objects can be uniquely hilarious costumes!  Why not be a spatula, or a remote control?  What about a bottle of laundry detergent or a box of kitty litter?  Have some fun!

Current movies, your own movie collection, favorite television shows, actors and celebrities

• Characters in movies and television shows are costume options.  You can dress up as the character or the actual person. 

CD collection, popular music, radio programs

• These too, can be a source of inspiration when seeking that perfect costume.  You can dress up as a member of a band, or get a group of friends together to be every member of that band (Backstreet Boys, Kiss, Pussycat Dolls, etc).  
• The particular musician/talk show host does not have to be the particular costume, however.  This can be used as a starting point to brainstorming.  For instance, you can go as a "rock band groupie" or "band-aid".

Local Commercials or Billboards

• Annoying commercials in your area can also be a source of inspiration.  Is there always a commercial that comes on that your friends and you like to make fun of?  What about that billboard you pass on your way to work every morning you hate?  
• There was one a Spanish Billboard a few years ago on I-5 in California.  It was essentially the number 222-2222, the word "Accidentes", and a guy in the background.  I had a friend basically reprint this onto a large piece of cardboard, cut out hand holes, and a hole for his head, put on a suit, and he was done with his costume.

Any job or profession.

• This can be anything from the guy at subway that made your sandwich for lunch today, to the clerk that cashes your checks at the bank.  
• Keep in mind though, if you want a unique, creative, memorable costume- the more obscure and creative you can get, the better.  For example, a pizza delivery girl from the company "Hot Boxes".  
• Or, once again, you can just get inspiration from a profession.  You can be a slice of pizza too! 

Video Games

• If you are into the world of video games, you can be any character or draw inspiration from them, the scenery, or the plot.

The Internet

• The internet is a great source of information regarding ideas, however, it can get incredibly consuming with the endless amount of links from endless amounts of merchants.
• You can go onto sites that specialize in costumes to gain ideas, but again, can be very overwhelming!

My best advice is BE CREATIVE and get inspiration from things around you!  

This will ensure that you will have a 100% unique costume!

Write out your costume ideas, but don't narrow it down to one or two if you are on a tight Halloween budget.  You might have to cut out a costume idea or save it for next year, if you are not able to put it together on a budget.  Stay flexible to a few options.

Now that you have your costume ideas:

1.  Search your closet/drawers/bathroom/garage/kitchen/house for things you already own!  

You might have a pair of pants you wore for last year's costume that would suffice, different prints, patterns, materials, or old clothes that you've outgrown.  Old belts, mismatching socks, makeup that your mother-in-law gave you that you've stored in the back of your drawer since, or clothing in the same color range you are looking for can even be used.  Depending on the costumes you've selected, look for items that could potentially work.  This could save you a lot of money in the long run, because the price of an average costume is anywhere from $30-$80 USD.

Set aside these items, and group them according to the costume.  

2.  Make a list of the things you would need to complete the look of each costume.  Looking at the items you've found that can potentially work, you can see the key pieces that are needed in order to make the costume workable.  For instance, you have the pants, but not a shirt.  You have props from your son's school play when he played a pirate, but you have no clothes to wear with the sword and eye patch.  You want to dress up like a sexy ballerina, but only have a light pink tank top.  

The more items you find that you can potentially work into a costume, the less money you have to spend.

3.  Search for the missing items!   This is another area to get creative.  You do NOT have to purchase these items either, you can just go to get a picture of what is out there, how much it costs, if you can afford it, and if it will complete your look!

If you need clothing to complete the look, you can:

• Ask friends/family to borrow certain items if they have them.
• Go to second hand stores or discount stores and search for the items needed. 
• Get the fabric needed and try to make it yourself!
• Many fabric/craft stores sell cheap fabric by the yard.  You don't need a sewing machine either!  You can do it by hand with a needle and some thread!
• Also, from my own experience, if you ask a fabric/craft store worker to help you, or give you ideas how to make what you need, they will be happy to point you in the right direction, as well as give you a fresh perspective on how to complete your task. 
• My favorite Do-It-Yourself sewing site with a lot more Halloween ideas is www.threadbanger.com  This site has video components that you can pause, play and replay over and over again, so you can learn at your own pace.

If you need props to create, or are essential to your look, you can:

• Make with household items
• Go to a fabric/craft store and search for items
• Using the ballerina example from earlier, only having a pink tank top, you would need the tutu, and the ballet shoes.  Do you have a pair of flats (shoes) in your closet?  They can be really any color, but you'd need to purchase matching ribbon at the store to wrap around your ankles and shoes as a ballet shoe facade.  What about a pair of espadrilles?  These can also mimic the ballet shoe.  All you would need then, is a few yards of tulle to make a skirt out of, a little bit of elastic, needle and thread.  Another option to cut down on money, is find a neutral color skirt to wear, and only purchase 2 yards of tulle, to wrap around your neutral colored skirt, and safety pin from underneath.
• These are all different avenues you can take for this one example!  Imagine what you can do with your other costume ideas!
• Search hardware stores for items that you can use, paint, shape, or mold
• Dollar stores!  These are great places to look for obscure items you might need.  Just don't spend money on things that you justify as "a great deal!"  You have a purpose!  No impulse buys! (I am totally guilty of this at these stores!)

Now that you made the trips to search for the missing items:  Did you find items that could complete ONE costume?

I didn't find everything I needed!  Now what?  Unfortunately, you'll have to reassess your costume ideas and compromise on what is actually doable.  Out of everything that you saw, is there another costume that you can make work, one that you wouldn't mind having?   

Try searching your house for more items.  Sometimes, after looking at other options, we realize that we have something that might actually work within our possession.  You might be able to complete the original look after all!  You might have to tweak your original concept, but remember-  you are on a budget!

4.  Putting it together.  By now, you should have narrowed your costume down to one (maybe two).  If you have more than one occasion to go to, two costumes is understandable, just mind your money! 

Assemble the props.  Sew the clothing articles.  Put the finishing touches on your costume.  Try it on!  

Still missing that pizazz?   Missing an item?  This is a dress rehearsal.   You can  visualize those things that could make it a winning outfit.  Try once again, to be creative and make the objects you have around the house work for you. 

You can do this!  Start out early so you can make adjustments before its too late.  This can also be a good source to rekindle the child in you.  It might awaken your creativity, or inspire you to make adjustments to all areas of your budget.  It can be empowering, and a great accomplishment!

Have a happy and safe Halloween!  I hope this helped!  

Anastasia

Always remember:    "A little left to the imagination is much more intriguing than everything exposed for all to see"