A Classy Co-Eds DIY Guide to Fun, Easy & Affordable Halloween Costumes

The weather is finally cooling down, and the leaves are begin to change.  Fall is officially here!  With the month of October already in full swing, we only have a few short weeks left until Halloween arrives.  With Halloween approaching, I can only think of one thing… COSTUMES!  And of course lots of candy.For the past few years, I have decided to take matters into my own hands and instead of purchasing an over-priced super short, super slutty costume, I have made my own.  Yep!  Saving money, and making a statement.  Two of my favorite things.  So this year, I am putting my skills and creativity here, on College Lifestyles, to help you save money $$ and to have a unique costume.

Most of these costumes won’t require you to go out and purchase everything.  You might already have a pair of denim shorts, or specific makeup that I’ve included.  So keep that in mind while reading these ideas.  Having a lot of the materials will save you the BIG bucks!

Popular Culture Costumes

This category includes: television shows, movies, presidents, and celebrities.

Celebrities

Who doesn’t want to be a celebrity for a day/night?  I know I would!  A celebrity-for-a-day costume is super easy to pull together.  Last year, I dressed up like Amy Winehouse (before she was a druggie and anorexic musician).  Thanks to the help of my sister, I learned a new way to rock the beehive hairstyle without having to buy a cheap wig.

Wanna dress-up like Amy Winehouse this year?  Here is what you will need:

• Temporary Tattoos (at least 6, these can be purchased at your local Halloween Superstore for $6.99 each)
• White Tank-top
• Denim shorts or jeans that have lots of frays and holes
• Black liquid liner ($7.99 at CVS Pharmacy or any drugstore)
• Hair Net ($1.50 at Sally’s Beauty Supply)
• Hair Extensions ($0.99 to $7.99 each at Sally’s Beauty Supply)
• Fake or real pack of cigarettes
• Hairspray

The way my sister taught me to rock the beehive that Amy does, she told me to make a hair rat.  Check out this video by one of my favorite FORD artists, Johnny Lavoy for step-by-step directions Amy Winehouse Hair

Television Characters/Stars

Amy Winehouse isn’t the only one popular celebrity you can dress like.  With the popularity of Jersey Shore increasing, you can easily pick-up some pieces to dress like a cast member.  Take Snooki for example.

Snooki from Jersey Shore.  Here is what you’ll need:

• Hair clip (for the infamous poof)
• Black liquid liner
• Black eye shadow
• Ed Hardy T-Shirt or hat
• Bejeweled sunglasses (watch video below for tips)
• Short shorts
• High heels
• False lases
• Fake Tan!
• HUGE hoop earrings (you can pick these up at Claire’s or the Icing)

Check out this video to learn how to get the Snooki makeup, and the rhinestone glasses she previously bought this season in South Beach Miami.  Snooki Halloween Tutorial

Dressing up like a celebrity or television star is super easy, and can be super cheap.  If you look like a certain celebrity, it makes the costume that much more believable.

Make People Laugh Costumes

This category is pretty simple because it includes costumes that make others laugh!

Cliche Costumes

Two years ago, a group of friends and I caravaned up to Ohio University to celebrate Halloween OU style.  Before leaving, my best friend and I had to help her boyfriend at the time create his costume.  It was super fun, and really funny once you realized what he was.

Here is what you’ll need to be a One Night Stand:

• A long cardboard box
• 2 dresser drawer pulls (you can pick these up at a second-hand shop)
• A lamp shade
• Paint (one color for the outline of the drawers, and another for the lamp shade)
• Empty carton of cigarettes
• Cheap hotel brochures

The goal is to paint drawer shapes on the cardboard box, attach the drawer pulls, then glue the empty cigarette box and other miscellanious things on the top of the “dresser.”  Then decorate the lamp shade with whatever pattern you want, we chose leopard print as our design.

Group Costumes

This halloween costume I actually got from my Mom.  So kudos to Lisa C. on this one!  What costume is it?

The Blue Man Group and their Groupie!

Obviously you will need the blue man group (3 guys), and the groupie (a female).

What you’ll need for the Blue Man Group:

• Blue body paint (Liquid Latex has the exact blue of the group and it is only $14.99 for a gallon)
• Long sleeve black t-shirt
• Black pants
• Black shoes
• Bald Cap (you can pick one up at your Halloween Superstore for around $11)

What you’ll need for the Blue Man Groupie:

• White t-shirt or tank-top
• Denim short shorts

For the groupie costume, you will need to have one of the blue man group members paint their hand and immediately put prints on both pockets of the shorts, two prints on the front of the t-shirt, then on your arms and legs.  Then with the liquid latex, paint kiss marks on neck, arms, and legs.  I wish I had a photo to put with this costume idea.  Hopefully you can paint the picture in your head.

Super Sexy

If you’re like me, and you have a long torso, then the “adult” costumes at the Halloween Stores are probably so short they show too much of your goods downstairs.  To avoid that kind of “situation” here are a few ideas for creating your own sexy costumes.

Chef Bon Appetti

What you’ll need to be a sexy Chef:

• Super cute, short apron
• Black tank-top
• Black spandex short shorts ($26.00 at American Apparel)
• Chefs hat (you should be able to find one at a Halloween Superstore)

Hope you got some inspiration from these costumes, if you want anymore ideas tweet me @Crottylove.  Or leave me a comment here!  Have a fun and safe Halloween this year!

Samantha Crotty is an intern with College Lifestyles and Flights of Fancy.  She is a last semester senior at Western Carolina University where she is majoring in Communications Print Media and Art.  With Halloween just around the corner, she is super excited to rock out another one of her home-made costumes… this year it will be the one and only Snooki!