Don’t let financial issues ruin your Halloween
Today, Thursday, begins the three-day long celebration of Halloween. Are you one of the many people who wait until the last minute to purchase or put together a costume? Maybe you just haven’t had time. Maybe your creativity has run dry. Or your wallet.
Let’s face it, Halloween costumes are far too expensive, especially for women. Come on, it seems you are forced to spend top dollar for junky material probably you will wear max three times. Ever.
Walk into iParty, for example, and check down the aisles. A woman’s costume – let’s say a typical sexy nurse – costs an outrageous $49.99 ($59.99 if you opt for the even sexier nurse uniform).
But what actually comes in that little plastic bag with the ridiculous price tag branded in the lower righthand corner? A one-piece, flimsy “nurse” uniform, and maybe, MAYBE, a little felt hat with a red cross on it. This costume is clearly incomplete, and you’re already down $50+.
You still need the right shoes; chances are, you do not already have high-heel white knee-high boots. Shoes - the right shoes – will set you back anywhere from $30-80, and that’s being cheap. Most good quality boots for women are sold lowest at $80. You still need knee-high white or red stockings. Then you need to accessorize, because what costume is complete without accessories? And maybe you need some new makeup to truly get into character – which is ultimately what you love to do for Halloween.
And, of course, the sizes of Halloween pre-made costumes are very limited. If you’re looking for an XS, they make a very low quantity of suits in that size. And the size of XS is not truly made to fit an XS body. I saw a costume that said S: sizes 4-8. First of all, 4-8 is a wide range. Second of all, what about those 0-2 people? Oh, that’s right, we have to fight to find the one remaining XS costume – probably in something unappealing – and it’ll still fit loosely, widely and awkardly. And then plus sizes are oppressed as well. There are limited plus size costumes, and they are rarely sexy ones. Typically, if you’re a plus, you can be a witch dressed in a not-so-flattering plain back, long dress. How fun!
This example is no exception – just about all Halloween costumes todays will empty your wallet too quickly; they’ll dishearten your soul when you go to try them on to find they do not fit. And you still need to buy that inevitable candy, and – if you’re 21+ – booze. At the end of the night, your costume will probably have ripped, gotten stained, or overall it’ll be uncomfortable. And probably someone else will be wearing the same costume, especially if you bought it at iParty or Spencers.
So. What do you do? Get cheap and/or get creative. Have a black dress already and black high heels? Grab some cat ears, a tail to pin on and use black eyeliner to make whiskers. Red can work for a devil. Pitchfork and horns! Green can work for a fairy, or even blue. Wings! Or get bunny ears and a bunny tail – Playboy Bunny. Creative, no. Inexpensive, yes!
Have a small black or maroon blanket? Throw it over your shoulders. Purchase those famous round glasses. Maybe get a nice gold and maroon tie. And then draw a lightning bolt on your forehead. Harry Potter!
Bathing suits can always turn into surfer dudes, Hawaiin girls, etc. Honestly, I was a Hawaiin girl for the past three years. Wore my bikini with one of those bathing suit wraps for a skirt. Threw on a few leis, and put a flower in my hair. Done. Cost: under $10, having already had the bikini and wrap.
Just devour your closet and clothing bins. Look around your room. You can make a costume out of things you already have – easily. It may just take some thinking if your goal is to be creative. If your goal is to just go out, dressed up, for cheap, you can do it!
Happy Halloween!!! Love, Shara Marie