There’s no time to fire up the sewing machine and handcraft a costume that will wow your neighbors. You don’t want to spend a ton of cash you don’t have on something you won’t wear tomorrow. Whatever should you do? I’m so glad you asked. Here are ideas for six last minute free Halloween costumes that you can more than likely find in your own home or easily borrow items to put together your special look for Halloween.
Cowgirl or Cowboy
If you have kids, they probably have everything they need to pull off this classic look. Find a handkerchief, flannel shirt, pair of jeans, hat, and boots and you’re set to go. Bonus points if you have a stick horse and a badge to round out the look.
Tourist
Granted, we’d never want to look like one when visiting a sophisticated destination, but a tourist costume is easy to pull together in a pinch. Think of those obnoxious stereotypes – shorts with knee high socks, worn with sandals of course. Dig out a Hawaiian shirt, some sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, and your camera. Bonus points if you have a selfie stick, fanny pack, guidebook or visible sunblock on your nose.
Nerd
Conjure your inner nerd this Halloween. You may not have a pocket protector at hand (bonus points if you do), but you can mismatch your clothing, find a weighty academic textbook to carry, or even rock a superhero shirt ala Sheldon. Pull your pants up high or even roll them. Pull your hair back into a studious bun and rock a pair of horn rimmed glasses with tape in the middle. Bonus points again for the pocket protector or a good pair of suspenders.
Zombie
Our cultural loves the undead right now. Pull out some old clothes and shred the edges to create a zombie look. You can purchase costume make up but in a pinch eyeliner and foundation work just as well to create the illusion that you’ve just come out of the crypt. More than anything, your zombie ensemble is enhanced by your lumbering stagger. Bonus points if you use old formal attire – suits, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses – to create a tragic backstory to go with your persona.
Ironic Costumes
Every year, I see a costume posted online that makes me groan a little and then wonder out loud: “Why didn’t I think of that?” One year, I made tails, snouts, and ears, we donned our snuggliest blankets (which was creative and warm) and we were pigs in a blanket. You could wear a plain t-shirt and plaster it with pre-filled name tags to identity theft. Or use your cereal boxes with plastic knives stuck into them to create a “cereal killer” costume. I have a friend who cut out the bottom of a laundry basket to go as dirty laundry.
Celebrities or Commercials
Think about your favorite sitcom characters or celebrities or commercials and create a costume based on what they wear. The Orbit gum lady with her white shirt, colorful scarf, and white safari hat (plus don’t forget the gum) is easy to recreate. Flo from Progressive even has a tutorial on how you can look just like her. You can buy a costume but each of the pieces are easily replicated for much, much less. Go all Hunger Games on your costume with a long braid, an army jacket, brown boots, a bow & arrow, and print off a Mockingjay emblem.
If you lack any of the above items, before you rush out to purchase them, ask your social networks if someone has an accessory to add to your cause. You might come up with the best costume yet this year. How awesome would it be to win a prize and not spend a dime?
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