Halloween is Wednesday—have you found a costume yet?
No? Well, Patch is here to inspire you.
Borrow one of the costume ideas below, or use them to kickstart a brainstorm and let the creativity flow. Got some great costume suggestions of your own? Share them in the comments section at the bottom of the article.
DO IT YOURSELF
Here are some picks for a variety of homemade Halloween costumes:
- God's Gift to Men/Women: This can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. Take a few cardboard boxes and used the material to make a you-sized box. Cut a head and arm holes in it. Then wrap the box in your favorite wrapping paper. Get in. Complete your outfit with a ribbon on your head and a giant gift tag that says: "To: Men, From: God." (I won a costume contest with this one in 2006.)
- A Mummy: I was a mummy the year I wanted to put about 10 minutes of time into crafting a costume. All you need? Toilet paper. Do it yourself, or have someone help, by wrapping toilet paper all around you. Then go crazy with face paint or makeup to finish the effect.
- Go Political: It's a great year to go as Mitt Romney or Barack Obama (maybe even Big Bird?) Just dress up in a suit and tie and carry props such as a binder (for Mitt) or a birth certificate (for The Prez).
- Thrift Store Threads: Thrift stores are great places to find cheap, fun costume ideas. Think '80s snowsuits, lumberjack flannels or adult onesie pajamas. I even found an Easter bunny costume at a thrift store one time for $9. Major score. Check out Out of the Closet on Fair Oaks.
- Giant Pumpkin: You know those lawn leaf bags in the shape of a pumpkin? They make a great costume. Just cut leg, arm and head holes in the bag, reinforce the holes with tape so they don't rip, and fill with you, plus leaves, tissue paper or newspaper.
- Jelly Bean Jar: Find a clear garbage bag and make it wearable following the steps in the "Giant Pumpkin" costume above. Blow up a bunch of balloons and stuff the bag. Write "Jelly Beans $.10" with a Sharpie and you're good to go.
Best Last-Minute Advice:
• Keep it simple: When I struggle with creativity, I try to think simple. What common, everyday items would make fun, easy-to-assemble costumes? One year as a kid, I used an old screen from the backdoor and became a fly swatter (my friend was a Christmas tree—needing not much more than a green shirt, brown pants and a string of lights). Another year, my sister, her husband and I went as utensils—we wore gray clothing and made knife, fork and spoon heads out of cardboard wrapped in tin foil. And in college, a friend and I dressed as salt and pepper—she in a white sweater and me in black, with tin foil hats and the letters "S" and "P" taped to our fronts. Stuck for ideas for that last-minute Halloween party? Take a look around your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom and get inspired.
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