Sep 04
2008Modern Halloween costumes do not have to be easy or unique. Zombies, ghosts, and witches are not the only simple costumes available. Movie character and super hero costumes can be just as much fun to wear. But, you can avoid the expenses involved in buying or renting a costume by making one yourself at home.
All you need to make a great Halloween costume yourself is some old clothing, a bit of make-up, some interesting accessories and accent pieces, and an exaggerated and original fashion concept. Consider the following possibilities.
Start with just an old white coat. If you can get hold of an old stethoscope, or make something like it up with some tubing, you are well on your way to looking like a doctor. Add a red cross to the coat with some fabric paint, and make up the face with a mustache and some face paint to look like an older man. Somebody in the family might have an old x-ray photograph revealing bones that could be carried. Add a clip board and a treat bag or pail.
The same white coat that can make you into a doctor can be used to transform you into a geeky nerd or a mad scientist. The important part is using the right accessories. A nerd needs a pocket protector and lots of pens, while the mad scientist might look great with an Einstein-esque wig. The more creative you let your imagination get, the better the costume will look.
A princess outfit can also start with a low cost basic item of clothing, in this case a dress with simple elegant lines, not necessarily full length, and dress shoes. By concentrating on adding copious quantities of sparkling “jewels” in a tiara or crown, necklace, brooch, rings and perhaps a wand, and giving close attention to make up, you will soon have a gorgeous princess look.
You can turn regular jewelry into something perfectly exaggerated by pasting on fake gems and attaching some shiny silver foil. For a treat bag, use a shopping bag from a high end retail store.
Old clothes can provide you with a truly believable hobo costume, too. You can rip some holes in and sew patches onto your costume clothing. A bottle in a paper bag, a well worn felt hat, and some face paint can make your get up quite convincing.
The hobo face paint should top things off, leaving you looking dirty and tired.
