When planning a costume, scour your local thrift stores (before the last week of October) for ideas, and keep an open mind- check the children and men’s sections as well. You can do many things with hot glue, paper, markers, felt and staples! Remember, the outfit doesn’t have to last forever, just one ghoulish night- so stapling that hem is quite acceptable.
Also keep in mind your Halloween destination while planning your costume. If you are going to a crowded dance party, giant fairy wings are just going to get in your (and everyone else’s) way. If you will be outside all night, that Playboy Bunny outfit is going to be a little nippy, and above all else- wear comfortable shoes!
Killer Girl Scout: Combining the naughty with the nice, a Killer Girl Scout sells cookies and then stabs you in the eye! Wear a short skirt, tall socks and sneakers and make a badge-laden vest or sash with lots of emblems for “Toxic Tea Party” and “Raising the Dead.” Cheerleader costumes are also easy to convert to Girl Scout costumes! Put your hair in pigtails and paint on a scary face with blood dripping from your mouth (from your victims) and for the final touch, carry a knife and a box of “Blood Worm Cookies” that can double as your purse for the night!
Candy Raver: There’s a reason that fifteen year-old girls like to dress up in heaps of candy: it’s fun! Be sure to exaggerate your whole outfit, so everyone knows that you are joking. Make heaps of plastic beaded bracelets and wear them up to your armpits. Have an LED-lighted pacifier (or 5) around your neck along with multiple bright-colored necklaces, small stuffed animals, plastic cups, and toys from the arcade. Carry a mini Care Bears backpack, get a gang of glow sticks, and wear three pairs of different-colored neon fishnets with your booty shorts. And then rave on!
Devil in a Blue Dress: Get a cheap blue dress at a thrift store- the bigger and weirder, the better. Wear red tights and long red gloves, and paint your face red with evil black accents. Don’t forget your horns, pitchfork, and devil’s tail!
Upside-Down Person: Wear a large flannel shirt like pants, tying it around your waist, and put a pair of overalls on upside down- make sure it is a pair with a long fly, because this is what you will see out of! Put a large pair of gloves on your feet, and shoes on your hands. Finally, attach a mask of your choosing to the “neck” (which is really your crotch)- a pumpkin-style scarecrow mask works well. Now go freak people out!
Little Dead Riding Hood: Zombie-fy your typical Little Red Riding Hood Costume with evil eyes, fake wounds, bites and claw marks; drip some blood out of your mouth and from your eyes. In your basket, carry the usual: a severed head, some giant bugs, and a loaf of maggot-filled bread.
Satanic School Girl: Another mix on the sweet and the sinful, wear a schoolgirl outfit à la Britney Spears with shirt tied-up and hair up as well. On the back of your jacket or shirt paint a big pentagram, and carry a copy of the Satanic Bible. Color your hair black or wear a dark wig, and paint your face something evil and scary and appropriate for sixth period Exorcism Studies.
Annie: Be the loveable orphan! Wear a short red dress with a white belt and white accents, if possible. Get a big red Afro wig, and wear short white ankle socks with Mary Jane shoes. Don’t forget Sandy! A stuffed dog will complete your outfit.
Nerd Girl: Pull your polyester pants up high, and tuck in that striped shirt. Don’t forget your pocket protector and pens! Add white socks, penny loafers and thick black pair of glasses with tape in the middle. Suspenders will also help to pull the look together. Wear your hair in a side-tail (with a dorky hair clip) and put a backpack.
Kid Superhero: Wear Captain America Underoos (or something similar) with too-big, clomping boots. Add goggles and a blanket for a cape, and a kids’ superhero tee shirt. Zoom around and pretend like you are flying, and don’t forget to suck your thumb.
Smurfette: Wear a white dress over blue leggings and a tight, long-sleeved blue shirt- or just paint yourself blue. In either case, paint your face blue, then add red lips, a long yellow wig with a white stocking cap and a pair of chunky white heels! Even better: round up some guys to dress as Smurfs for your posse!
