Dressing up in costumes is widely accepted during one month of the year: October. While waiting for this fun season of candy and costumes can make us feel like skeletons with cobwebs on our bones, once it finally arrives we don't have to break the bank to purchase expensive costumes. In many costume contests, the person who was the most creative with what they already had wins over the person who bought the most expensive costume. Let's peruse a few options, shall we!
Classic Costumes
If you're sick of buying a pop-culture reference costume each year, like a character from your favorite TV show or movie, then try something classic! Costumes that will never be out of style during halloween are witches, vampires, zombies, ghosts, pirates, superheroes, princesses, fairies, or dressing up as animals. Scary or cute, there are many options of each that can be both. There are so many ways to make these costumes work on a limited budget. For example, if you have a sparkly dress, you can easily make a fairy costume out of it by adding sparkly make-up, wings, and maybe even a makeshift wand! Grab a random stick, glue gun, and some glitter to get crafting and wham! A fairy wand is made. If you want to be fancy, tie a ribbon around it. Get creative with what you have and you're sure to have just as much fun as if you would have purchased a fancy new costume. The main difference is you'll have more money in your pocket!
Pop Culture Icons, TV Show Characters, and Movie Characters
If you haven't seen, or at least heard of, the Barbie movie that came out recently, you must be living under a rock with no internet! Hmmm... that can't be possible because you're reading this post.... The Barbie movie is now a reference in Pop Culture (no not talking about Funko Pops here, but I do have a President Barbie Funko Pop on my desk), and people can dress up as a Barbie, Ken, Allen, or Midge as an homage to the new Barbie Movie and their childhood Barbies if they ever owned one. You don't have to spend money on a fancy new pink Barbie cowgirl costume to fit in with this years' Halloween trend. You can use what you already have! Have a cute going out dress or old Prom Dress that still fits? You can be a "Going Out Barbie"! Have lots of suits or workwear, you can be a "Workwear Barbie" or "President Barbie"! Just add a President sash if you're going for the latter. Even if you just have a workout or yoga outfit, you can be "Yoga Barbie"! I almost bought her for my daughter the other day. Perfect costume for little to no additional cost! Just make sure to say "Hi Barbie"!
Duo/Couples Costumes
Wanna match with Bae or your bestie? Here are a few options that could be tons of fun:
1. Barbie and Ken
2. Stereotypical Barbie and Weird Barbie
3. Yin and Yang
4. Princess and Prince (Beauty and the Beast is an option)
5. Zombies (One partner is missing a heart and the other is holding it)
These are a couple of fun ideas. The Yin and Yang option might confuse some folks, but can also be the cheapest costume of the bunch depending on what you have in your closet! For this idea, one partner wears all-white clothing with one dot of black somewhere and one partner where's all black clothing with one dot of white somewhere. This is like the Yin and Yang symbol, giving the illusion that you and your partner are perfect for each other. Illusion? You mean we aren't perfect for each other? Our star charts say we are...
Group/Family Costumes
Doing a group costume has been something I have loved the idea of, but never pulled the trigger on in high school... Too many moving pieces. However, as an adult with a family of my own that I get to help manage, it's a bit easier to make sure all of those pieces are in place. Some of my favorite family costumes that I have done so far have been fairy tale characters and the Minnie/Mickey Mouse Family. Some options that would be fun to try are:
1. Favorite Anime Show Characters (Sailor Moon or One Piece for example)
2. Toy Story Characters
3. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
4. Marvel or DC Characters (Dress up as the Avengers or the Justice League)
5. Barbie Midge and family (Perfect if you're pregnant!)
6. Ghost Family
Out of all of these options, the most affordable one will probably be a ghost family. Use old, white sheets that will never be used again and cut out eye holes. Done! This could be an unsafe option for a baby, so maybe think of something else if you have a family member that could easily suffocate on a sheet. We don't want any suffocation problems on our hands. Wouldn't be fun for you, me, or the baby. You could, however, dress the baby or family member in an all white outfit to blend in as much as possible with the ghost family and call it good!
Mix It Up
The last idea for today's post is to combine multiple costumes into one unique costume. This is a wacky way to make dressing up for Halloween a little more fun and to surprise everyone with a twist that they weren't expecting. You can use pieces of previous costumes or create something new! Anyone can be a generic ghost or cat, but what about a sparkly, ghost cat? Get some sturdy costume cat ears, or make some that can withstand a sheet on top of them without losing their shape, as well as a can of glitter spray, and a white sheet! Cut two holes out of the sheet for the eyes, put the ears on your head, spray the sheet with glitter, put the sheet on, and voila! The cutest, spookiest, sparkly ghost cat out there!
Hopefully, some of these ideas helped you. Remember to consider safety and age-appropriateness when planning Halloween costumes, especially for babies and family members who may need accommodations. What’s your favorite Halloween costume idea? Let us know in the comments!
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