For most of us, celebrating Halloween requires a delicate balance of creativity and minimal effort. Unless you are one of the diehard superfans who start planning next year’s costume on Nov. 1, you are probably one of the masses who’s currently thinking, what the heck can I be that’s cheap, easy and yet establishes that I cared enough to try.
According to the National Retail Federation, more than 157 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year. But the Halloween Consumer Spending Survey estimates that people will spend a few dollars less than last year. The average person celebrating will spend only $74.34 compared with $77.52 last year. Yet total holiday spending is expected to reach $6.9 billion.
Less than half of people surveyed, 43.5 percent, said that they plan to dress for the occasion.
Spending for family costumes is coming in at a scant $27.33, so DIY costumes are alive and well. But there’s going to be a party to maneuver; is it too much to ask that the costume not be too hot, too skimpy, require a rental, impede the movement of my arms, legs or require a spotter to enter the restroom.
Fret not. There’s still plenty of time and plenty of costumes ideas that can be cobbled together with items you own or could borrow from a friend and perhaps make a single purchase (or two).
Blue Hawaiians (get it, it’s a cocktail and the color of the fabric. oh, never mind)
These awestruck tourists just landed on the Big Island, so they must be parched. She’s wearing borrowed vintage eyeglasses that belong to the stylist, some leis we pulled off a bizarre totem pole in the newsroom and a few we borrowed from used clothing store. The fake flower in her hair we pillaged from a bizarre arrangement that’s been hanging around the newsroom far too long. The authentic “Made in Hawaii” blue dress and his matching shirt (also purchased at vintage clothing store) should be easy to replicate at little cost to you. His Carlos Santana hat ($12) and khaki shorts ($16) are from Kohl’s. The imitation Foster Grants ($15) can be found at big box stores or online, and the vintage Pentax camera is borrowed.
Trump this
Model wears his own blue blazer, khakis, shirt and Republican red tie. We made the campaign buttons and extra large flag lapel pins with Google images, a color printer, a tape and some pins. The signature Make America Great Again trucker hat ($14.97) can be purchased at Amazon.com, or you can get a Donald Trump wig ($16.99) at buycostumes.com. We suggest you memorize a few of his choice insults and practice his signature scowl.
Hillary Clinton
Spoofs of the presidential hopeful will likely be plentiful. We suggest you pepper them with abstract questions on electronic privacy.
Red jacket ($40), black dress pants ($20) both came from a resale boutique. The Hillary Clinton Mask ($4.99, for ages 14 and up) at buycostumes.com very appropriately comes from a company called Politically Incorrect. You could also do this with a wig or your natural hair if you favor the presidential hopeful, adding pearls and conservative chunky costume earring. We tried to borrow a Blackberry, but they are now quite elusive, so settled on any black phone we could find. We suggest that you carry one at all times while scrolling and deleting. We made the campaign buttons and extra large flag lapel pins with some Google images, a color printer, a tape and some pins.
Want more ideas?
Easy zip-up hoodie and caped T-shirt costumes can instantly transform you into Wonder Woman, a chicken, a Minion, Batman, a hot dog, Superman or a banana among other things ($7.97 to $44.99) at buycostumes.com, search for “sweatshirt” or “costume kits.”
“Game of Thrones” addicts might enjoy (is that the right word?) portraying the public shaming of Cersei Lannister, the Queen Regent of the Seven Kingdoms. You’ll need a nude bodysuit and some black bars. We suggest a black tube top and black short shorts or skirt. Adding actual thick cardboard strips optional, but fabric glue would be your friend there.
Cookie Lyons of “Empire” requires a tight animal print dress and some colored faux fur. Pimp hat optional, but we’d suggest you go over the top with the lashes, lipstick eye shadow and heels.
Desperate for a quickie female group costume? Grab some toy microphones and tell everyone you’re the cast of “The View.” No one knows who’s on that show now anyway.
And GoBankingrates.com released an adorable collection of 11 cheap and relatively easy DIY kids costumes. We are loving the cactus and tornado.
