var json_comments = new Array("
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OldElvis
October 19, 2009 7:50 PM
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I wore my College cap and gown for a couple of years after I graduated at Halloween.

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4 replies
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RandomHookup
October 19, 2009 9:15 PM
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@OldElvis: I took my gown and added a thick black moustache (electrical tape) and voila, Groucho. I dug a cigar somewhere out of the collection of things I have, but don't need, and completed the costume and fed my oral fixations all in one fell swoop.

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Spaceman Bill Leah
October 19, 2009 8:54 PM
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@OldElvis: @Slave For Turtles: My siblings and I wore our mother's college gown as witch costume on a rotating basis.

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CupcakeKarate
October 19, 2009 9:06 PM
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@Spaceman Bill Leah: My brother's highschool gown was red. It was a devil costume for several years after.

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Slave For Turtles
October 19, 2009 8:33 PM
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@OldElvis: I use my graduation gown for a Hermione costume every other year. I have a maroon and yellow scarf, and I wave around a chopstick to complete the look. Very cheap and easy (the costume, not me).

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Parapraxis
October 19, 2009 7:55 PM
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Be a ninja: black sweatpants, black tank top, and black t-shirt:

[photos1.blogger.com]

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5 replies
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ktetch
October 20, 2009 1:15 PM
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@Parapraxis: If you find some blue facepaint, and a set of drumsticks, you can be a 'blue man', better yet if there's more of you. Probably need either a razor, or a skullcap as well though

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tinky XIII
October 20, 2009 3:56 AM
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@Parapraxis: I'm going one farther: This year I'm wearing my trusty goggles (below, hopefully), painting the Cobra logo on a bandana over my face or wearing a medallion, and going as the last ninja Cobra could afford.

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katstermonster
October 19, 2009 9:44 PM
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@Parapraxis: My oldest brother insisted on being a ninja for halloween for (no exaggeration) TWELVE YEARS. It worked for my mom, though...she just made sure a set of black sweats was clean, and he used the same accessories (mask, weapons, etc) for multiple years.

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speedwell (!)
October 19, 2009 8:37 PM
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@Parapraxis: And for God's sake don't get caught with a flashlight sneaking around anyone's back yard around here. Houston police have no sense of humor.

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ExtraCelestial
October 19, 2009 9:19 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: Rofl! I think you just laid out the synopsis to my boyfriend's night this Halloween. Now I'll know exactly what I'm getting into when I answer that 3am call from a blocked number.


SOOO something he'd get caught up in.

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pb5000
October 19, 2009 7:57 PM
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My favorite standby was always to wear nice pants and a dress shirt mostly unbuttoned and a superman t-shirt underneath. Then I'd wear some glasses (usually old sunglasses with the frames popped out) and grease my hair with the wavy line in the middle and I'm done.

If you didn't already have the superman shirt that was the biggest expense, sunglasses can be bought at the dollar store and if you already wear glasses you don't need them.

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3 replies
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Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!)
October 20, 2009 3:07 AM
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@pb5000: I would wear a men's dress shirt (borrowed or picked up at goodwill), a pair of boxer shorts, and a black bra, with the shirt partly unbuttoned. High heels, smeared lipstick, and touseled hair, and I was \"The Morning After.\"

My husband asked me on our first date when I was wearing this getup at the law students Halloween party. True story!

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heyitsme
October 20, 2009 12:42 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): You are a genius! I think I'm stealing your idea for this year. I was planning on going as a black cat...yawn. Thanks!

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pb5000
October 20, 2009 12:16 PM
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@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): Nice, but being a guy, I would have a harder time pulling that off.

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InsertPithyNicknameHere
October 19, 2009 8:00 PM
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If you live someplace warm, or if you will be indoors at a party, you can make a hula-girl costume for cheap. Wear your own swimsuit, get a lei from the dollar / party store, and make a \"grass\" skirt out of one or two draw-string garbage bags (green or black lawn-type bags).
To do this, cut the bottoms open on the bags. Lay them out flat. On the end that doesn't have the drawstrings, cut the bag into strips until about 6-8 inches from the top (or longer, if you want to be modest). Once you've got your swimsuit on, put this on like a skirt, with the drawstring at the waist. Use the drawstring to tighten the waist, tie it to hold it in place, and roll it once or twice to hide the drawstring. You can layer two bags for a fuller look.
I dressed this way a couple of years when I was younger (nowadays I'm usually at home for halloween to give out candy to the kids, and wine to the adults).

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InsertPithyNicknameHere
October 19, 2009 8:01 PM
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Darn lack of edit button - one other suggestion, via MST3K - dress all in black, tape candy wrappers to yourself, and spray some pink silly string on yourself. Tah-dah, you're the floor of a movie theater.

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4 replies
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PrincessOfPower
October 20, 2009 1:58 AM
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@InsertPithyNicknameHere: don't forget the condom wrappers.

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Toffeecake
October 20, 2009 12:34 PM
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@PrincessOfPower: And the chewed up sunflower seed shells, and the chicken bones..... I used to work at a movie theater...

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GuinevereRucker
October 19, 2009 8:32 PM
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@InsertPithyNicknameHere: What episode is that??? We watch MST3k all the time!

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InsertPithyNicknameHere
October 19, 2009 8:55 PM
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@GuinevereRucker: It was the Invention Exchange on Godzilla Vs. Megalon (Season 2, episode 12). Probably one of my favorite episodes in the series.

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dohtem
October 19, 2009 8:10 PM
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If you have white sheets, you could go in a toga or as casper the friendly ghost. Of course these look just as cheap as they sound.

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2 replies
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nbs2
October 20, 2009 2:34 PM
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@dohtem: Why not cut a bunch of holes into an old sheet and be Charlie Brown? That's what I do every year (and for some reason, people think it's creative, every year).

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Smashville
October 19, 2009 8:22 PM
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@dohtem: Just don't go as a Klansman. \"From the office of bad costume ideas...\"

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Riptide
October 19, 2009 8:15 PM
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This Rollercoaster costume is made out of a single box and a piece of conduit. [www.flickr.com]

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2 replies
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col1999
October 19, 2009 9:06 PM
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@Riptide: That is an awesome costume! I e-mailed the link to my husband; I would love to do that for this Halloween.

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
October 19, 2009 8:22 PM
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My easy fall back was always zombie. Find some old clothes, rip them up. Use eyeshadow to make bruises all over your body - can really be any color you want, green, purple.
Use an eyeliner pencil to draw stitches and what not all over as well. Easy!

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7 replies
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Jabberkaty
October 20, 2009 3:22 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: For a recently \"run over\" look, take an old tire painted or dipped in black paint. Roll it over your old ripped up clothes. Tah-dah. Living dead that's been run over by a car.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:09 AM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: my friend in high school made zombies out of some friends by starting with clothes soaked in milk and then buried in the backyard for a week - zombie james dean and natalie wood.
you will smell dead, this will not be good for your social life.
but it's an awesome effect if you are up for it.

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Goodnightbabytron
October 20, 2009 3:19 AM
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@catastrophegirl: I made a simple \"Shawn\" nametag, wore a white shirt flecked with red ink, khaki pants and a loose tie, carried a baseball bat (only because I didn't have a cricket bat, but no one was troubled). Shawn of the Dead. Also carried a pint glass around and drank as much beer as I could.

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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes
October 20, 2009 11:42 AM
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@Goodnightbabytron: I am desperate to get my fiance to dress up as Shaun. He'd be perfect for it but he refuses to. :(

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taylorb
October 19, 2009 9:57 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: I've been a zombie the past few years, and I like to douse myself in fake blood. A good recipe for fake blood is corn syrup, water, hot chocolate mix, red food coloring and a drop of blue. If you want a gory zombie, I highly suggest it.

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Coralvillain
October 19, 2009 8:26 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: Add a gray hoodie and some duct tape on your pants and you can be a Hunter zombie from Left 4 Dead. It's what my kid is going as this year :)

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 9:50 PM
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@Coralvillain: An Army jacket, combat boots, beret, gray beard, a cigarette, and an M16 and you've got Bill. Zoe's even easier, if you're a girl. Louis is probably the simplest, though, if you're the right ethnicity. Francis... may be a bit tricky. The Witch would probably be pretty easy to do, too. I've seen a few of those running around conventions. And at least one Smoker.

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 10:05 PM
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@RecordStoreToughGuy_IsBeing(pur)SuedByAMonster: Actually, if you take spray foam, like you use to seal around exterior pipes, and cover a plastic mask with it, then spray paint it green and black, you have a Smoker mask. Just wear a dark colored suit (I think: I forget exactly what they wear), and use a pink necktie for the tongue. Shouldn't be too hard to do at all.

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CupcakeKarate
October 19, 2009 9:08 PM
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@Coralvillain: You can also buy some liquid latex pretty cheaply. Spread a little on the skin, apply torn up kleenex while it's wet. Then, apply more latex to cover. Voila- lumpy zombie flesh.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:08 AM
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@LindsayC: doctoral hilarity ensues: cheaper than latex is tacky glue thinned with water, painted on the kleenex while it's on your skin and then when it's dry pick at it.

note: when being a zombie do not apply latex, spirit gum or tissue/glue over eyebrows unless you vaseline them first.

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rocketbear79
October 19, 2009 8:26 PM
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Back in high school I won a work contest for my burn victim costume. I went to goodwill and got about $3 worth of clothes, came home and lit the on fire in various places. Makeup is easy, water flour, food coloring if you don't want to spend for the actual stuff. Red for blood, green for bile, no color for rigor paleness. My hair was long so I teased it up and then threw actual soot from the fireplace in it. Then I got some heat resistant material and made pockets in the shirt and pants which at various points during the night I would fill with lit smoke bombs from the dollar store. Total cost was less than $12. Got me $250 worth of gift certs to the local ski resort though.

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1 replies
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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes
October 20, 2009 11:43 AM
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@rocketbear79: They let you light smoke bombs and carry them around at work? Curious.

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MostlyHarmless
October 19, 2009 8:27 PM
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@Chris:

Actually, if you use [image src=\"whatever-goes-here\"], (subst the [ with the html tag brackets) you can make the image show up even after closing the html tags.

Like this:

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pecan 3.14159265
October 19, 2009 8:28 PM
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A guy I knew went to a Halloween party dressed as a Sweet N' Low packet. He taped together two big pieces of pink cardboard, drew the logo, attached some arm straps, and voila. Scared the party host's dog half to death when he walked in. Priceless.

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1 replies
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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
October 19, 2009 8:29 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy:

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Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh
October 19, 2009 8:29 PM
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Last year I thought if you got a cheap business suit from a thrift store, then shred it/abuse the crap out of it, then make a cardboard sign that says, \"WILL TRADE STOCK FOR FOOD\" them boom, you'd be a homeless investment broker.

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MostlyHarmless
October 19, 2009 8:30 PM
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Also, cheap Halloween Costume? Do as I do... put on that suit you bought, thinking it will help you get a job.. and get some blue latex gloves. I got mine from Target for 90-odd cents. Just be yourself, (read: creepy) and voila! Instant Hands of Blue!

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5 replies
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Ubik2501
October 20, 2009 2:44 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: I may, in fact, do this for my friend's Halloween party, since pretty much everybody I know there is a huge nerd and Firefly fan. And I'm always cheap/lazy about costumes.

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Saites
October 20, 2009 2:47 AM
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@MostlyHarmless: You'd have to get someone else to dress up like it with you: \"Two by two, hands of blue.\"

Alternatively, you could use the same costume and claim you're a TSA agent.

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subtlefrog
October 19, 2009 11:44 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: So if we have our Firefly party, you're welcome to be Hands of Blue, but can you leave the creepy at home? Or at least try?

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
October 19, 2009 8:43 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: I'd wager a guess most people wouldn't get that. Without the link I wouldnt' have gotten it.

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MostlyHarmless
October 19, 2009 8:47 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: Well, most people are lame as it is. And you'd have gotten it if a creepy guy with blue gloves tried to chat you up...

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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 9:52 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: There was someone at Dragon Con dressed up as a giant blue hand. That was it. Just a gigantic blue hand, like the hamburger helper glove suffering hypothermia. It was as stupid as it sounds. >_<

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nstonep
October 19, 2009 8:31 PM
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Douchebags need only dress normally and they have a costume...but they really should go to spencer's and grab one of those condom hats (if they still sell them) to complete the \"costume\".

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4 replies
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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 9:54 PM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese wants it to be winter already: Don't forget the orange spray tan and ridiculously spiked hair like those dudes in the pictures that float around on the internet. You know the ones I mean. The ones that look like they're at a mafia-themed prom for douches.

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ptkdude
October 19, 2009 8:35 PM
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@nstonep: Ha! I went as a douchebag last year! My favorite part was calling everyone \"dollface\"

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JulesNoctambule
October 19, 2009 8:31 PM
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I knew a girl who went as a Barbie doll in the box -- she got a large piece of cardboard (from a cardboard recycling bin, no less), spray-painted it and attached herself, a skirt and a blouse to it. I thought it was rather clever.

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Skipweasel
October 19, 2009 8:32 PM
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Smart suit and iPhone - go as Banker of Doom!

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bhr
October 19, 2009 8:32 PM
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Workplace Friendly Costumes


Office Pirate - Either buy a cheap eye patch or make one. Wander the office yelling ARRRRGHHH!! and capsizing peoples paperwork. (This is my favorite)


Office Space- Red Swingline Stapler and mumble alot


Cubicle Commando - tie around the forehead. a little toner on the cheeks, and toss wadded up paper grenades as people who walk by.


\"Company X employee\" - Have any shirts/uniforms from a former employers? Especially a competitor? Wear it and act overly obnoxious/moronic/aggressive to fit that company's rep


Cowboy - Jeans and flannel, tucked in. Cowboy hat/boots are a plus, otherwise cut out a sherriffs star and pin it to your shirt.


Undercover Cop - No costume required, Make/buy a cheap badge to break out every once in a while.

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speedwell (!)
October 19, 2009 8:33 PM
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Buy several packages of cheesecloth, draw heavy black eyeliner, powder yourself with cornstarch, dirty the cheesecloth up with a handful of ground cinnamon from it around yourself (underpants first please), and go as a mummy.

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2 replies
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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:15 AM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: dyeing the cheesecloth with tea first gives it a lovely antique look for the wrappings

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speedwell (!)
October 19, 2009 8:34 PM
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@speedwell, avatar of snark: The cinnamon, according to my Antiquities teacher, was supposed to give the idea of the spices the Egyptians buried their dead in.

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GitEmSteveDave_Hates #DoucheDad
October 19, 2009 8:34 PM
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And old Adam Sandler bit, from when he was funny.

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2 replies
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dfens42
October 19, 2009 8:55 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_Hates #DoucheDad:


I'm crazy newspaper unicorn man, give me some candy!

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Toffeecake
October 20, 2009 12:43 PM
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@TruthHog: Yeah, surprisingly enough, so was Will Ferrell. Then someone got the bright idea to let them write their own stuff...

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DefineStatutory
October 19, 2009 8:34 PM
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cheapie couples costume...she wear a (insert big box retailer here) pumpkin costume, he wears a \"Hi my name is...Peter Peter\" name tag. Dirty, simple and cheap. Plus, it hurts dumb people's brains trying to figure it out.

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2 replies
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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 9:56 PM
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@DefineStatutory: Nah, man, forget the costume; she just needs to wear a nametag that says \"Pumpkin.\"

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CubeRat
October 19, 2009 9:15 PM
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@DefineStatutory:


It took me a minute to get the connection. That was after I realized that you said \"Peter Peter\" and not \"Peter Pan\".
After that realization, it clicked instantly and I may need to use that for my wife's Halloween work party.

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DaWezl
October 19, 2009 8:35 PM
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One year I wore all black and then put white tape along my sides. When people asked me what I was, I'd lie down and become a chalk body outline!

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1 replies
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The Porkchop Express
October 19, 2009 8:35 PM
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@Smashville_now with Monster Energy: Chef sure is afraid of ghosts.

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GitEmSteveDave_Hates #DoucheDad
October 19, 2009 8:36 PM
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Also, here's my usual Halloween costume. i actually save money since I don't need to use denture cream that day!

And yes, the watermark is needed as someone has been using this pict on Craigslist, facebook, and MySpace.

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3 replies
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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
October 19, 2009 8:47 PM
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@GitEmSteveDave_Hates #DoucheDad: Might I ask what happened to remove your 2 front teeth? Did Santa forsake you? :(

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speedwell (!)
October 19, 2009 8:38 PM
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Two friends went one year as Adam and Eve. They glued silk ivy leaves to the briefest possible bikini bottoms, and she wrapped a huge toy snake strategically around her, um, top. He carried an apple and munched on it.

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TCama
October 19, 2009 8:41 PM
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I'm buying a helium-filled balloon, covering it with aluminum foil and carrying it around. I'll write \"WE DID IT FOR THE SHOW\" on my shirt, and carry around a trash can to vomit in. Twice.

My other idea was Kanye at the VMAs.

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tgrwillki
October 19, 2009 8:43 PM
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I'm throwing on my red wings jersey, and going as cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day off. Cheap, simple, and with two friends, you've got a good group photo op.

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SagarikaLumos
October 19, 2009 8:46 PM
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I used a cardboard box and paint to make a mask of the guy from Dire Straits' \"Money for Nothing\" video. I wore overalls and a work shirt and bingo!

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Kishi
October 19, 2009 8:52 PM
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For the gentlemen- grow a goatee, and go as your own evil twin!

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3 replies
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kexline
October 19, 2009 9:44 PM
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@Kishi: That's so full of win. I'd pass it on, but practically every guy I know already has facial hair, which ... hm. You've given me something to think about.

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Difdi
October 20, 2009 10:35 PM
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@kexline: So they could shave, and be the good twin? Heheh...

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Kishi
October 20, 2009 3:19 AM
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@kexline: I did it a few years ago after our store manager said no costumes. I almost convinced the front office to give me a nametag that said \"Evil Kishi\", but no luck.

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AreYouConfusedYet?HowAboutNow?
October 19, 2009 8:57 PM
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I make my own Halloween costumes at home.

Why didn't anyone say that? =)

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1 replies
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ConsumerKat
October 19, 2009 9:03 PM
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I'm grabbing a short blonde curly wig, throwing on a blue polo shirt and carrying around a Shamwow, as Vince! Hubby is going as Billy Mays, complete with an OxyClean beer coozy. Khakis and a long sleeve blue shirt. Easy Peezy.

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2 replies
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RecordStoreToughGuy_starcommandseries.com
October 19, 2009 9:58 PM
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@ConsumerKat: If you don't care about crossing the line, he could go as Zombie Billy Mays.

^_^

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clementine
October 19, 2009 9:07 PM
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I saw a great costume on America's Funniest Home Videos. People dressed all in black and did stick figure outlines with glow sticks. They filmed them outdoors at night. It looked GREAT! Plus, I bet they were one of the safest costumes around to go out in the neighborhoods in.

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stanner
October 19, 2009 9:07 PM
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I just always go as that annoying drunk guy that futilely tries to chat up women I'm not married to. And by always, I mean every Saturday. Maybe I'll do something different for Halloween.

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semanticantics
October 19, 2009 9:13 PM
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I am going as Keyboard Cat this year. Blue shirt over orange long sleeve shirt, some cheap orange makeup, and a super-loud keyboard to play people off with.

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kexline
October 19, 2009 9:13 PM
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I went as a pinata once -- i glued tissue paper fronds to a grocery bag in magenta, yellow and blue stripes. Then I stapled the bag to a tank top and cut it to shape. (The shirt survived, btw.) I wore plaid pajama pants because they were bright and cheery enough to go with the top, and I wouldn't have to deal with the stiff paper on my legs. Stuck some candy and cheap party favors in the pockets and threw them at anyone who got the joke.

I guess I coulda made some paper donkey ears or something, but it went just fine without them.

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2 replies
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magic8ball
October 19, 2009 9:33 PM
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@kexline: Sounds like a great idea, but I'd be afraid people would start whacking me with sticks.

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kexline
October 19, 2009 9:37 PM
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@magic8ball: Yikes! Get better friends!

Actually, I forgot that part -- I did take a Nerf bat, just in case anyone was tempted.

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Traveshamockery
October 19, 2009 9:18 PM
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Wear all black plus white earbuds = iPod commercial

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SJActress
October 19, 2009 9:19 PM
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If you're good at crossing your eyes like me, angry Helen Keller can be a winner:

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2 replies
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SJActress
October 19, 2009 9:19 PM
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@SJActress: And of course, the img src thing didn't actually work. I miss the days of BBc.

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bornonbord
October 19, 2009 10:15 PM
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@SJActress: Don't close the tag, it'll work. Also - there's a \"preview comment\" option at the bottom left of where you're typing your comment.

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SJActress
October 20, 2009 7:44 PM
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@bornonbord: I didn't close the tag. It still didn't work.

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farcedude
October 19, 2009 9:28 PM
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I'm doing Rene Magritte's \"The Son of Man\" (if you haven't seen it, see The Thomas Crown Affair for the idea). Basically a dark suit, a dark bowler hat ($10 at a costume store, and either paint an apple on a mask, or print an appropriate apple on a piece of paper, cut it out, and string it up over your face.

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bornonbord
October 19, 2009 9:29 PM
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Don Draper is pretty easy to pull off. And the best part is you get smashed drinking scotch all day/night.

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dollywould
October 19, 2009 9:29 PM
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I was Ugly Betty last year. I got a frizzy black witch wig from a costume store and purple tights, then I basically wore clothes I had with contrasting colors and patterns. I already have the glasses. I didn't commit to the braces, because I shudder at the thought of aluminum foil on my teeth. Ugggghhhhhh...

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kexline
October 19, 2009 9:42 PM
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@dollywould: Glad you didn't go with the foil -- I can't stand the metallic taste of my actual braces, and I suspect the galvanism would be heinous with a mouthful of foil.

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dollywould
October 19, 2009 9:31 PM
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@dollywould: I'd like to reuse the wig this year, but I'm not sure what to do. Wear a beach ball under a T-shirt and be Octomom? Any thoughts?

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:21 AM
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@dollywould: hang it upside down and hairspray it stiff, white streaks on the sides of it, pin two sheets together, wrap gauze bandages up your arms.. bride of frankenstein

except i also make scars out of gel latex [you can draw them on easily with eyeliner and stuff]
and that's my real hair, dyed black

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lalaland13
October 19, 2009 9:30 PM
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Buy a $1 witch hat at Target. Go as the person who won't stop quoting Monty Python and/or Wicked.

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Outrun1986
October 19, 2009 9:32 PM
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I was usually a cat or dog as a kid, which was great, I loved animals and my mom loved that it was a cheap and easy costume that could be worn all day in school. The store bought costumes then were bad and they still are bad today.

Some easy ones that never go out of style:

Hippie - broomstick skirt, shirt and sandals, and lots of costume jewelry. You probably have all this stuff lying around except for a broomstick skirt but if you have one of those lying around that would be great.

70's disco - wide leg jeans, any shirt really and platform shoes. Platform shoes are still around if you don't already have a pair. My mom is doing this one, she found super wide leg pants at kmart for 2$.

Student of Hogwarts (harry potter) - black robe, white dress shirt and tie. You could also be harry by wearing a torn sweatshirt and those big round glasses. This would be easy if you had a black graduation robe lying around.

You can make a lot of things with just cardboard, paint or markers too.

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kexline
October 19, 2009 9:40 PM
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O also, I saw some excellent cheap costumes at DragonCon -- the Comedian from the first scene of the Watchmen (white bathrobe, happy face button, hair gel), and the Landlady from Kung Fu Hustle (bathrobe, ultracheap flipflops, curlers, cigarette spirit-glued to lower lip).

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Bunnies_Attack!
October 19, 2009 9:51 PM
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That photo would have been more effective if he drew a line down the center of the paper bag ;)

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SunnyLea
October 19, 2009 10:11 PM
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I went as a bag of Jelly Bellys once, like these folks:

[www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com]

Requires:
Clear leaf bag
Balloons
A printer (for logo)

I looked cuter, though, b/c I was 10.

Along the same lines is \"bag of trash.\" Similar concept, but with a black trash bag. Stuff with newspaper and let some poke out at the neck and armholes. Stick stuff in your hair. Bonus points for wearing a garbage can lid as a hat.

Finally, a graduation gown makes for a great witch's robe, especially if you are a silly fangirl like me and already own the Hogwarts scarf. (Ravenclaw for me!) You can get an El Cheapo witch hat anywhere.

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Digitizer
October 19, 2009 10:24 PM
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I always thought the cheapest \"ghost\" costume was just not showing up to the party at all.

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Eels
October 19, 2009 10:38 PM
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Last year I was \"baberaham lincoln.\" I bought a top hat and an amish beard. Was like 8 bucks. Everything else I owned. (Black jacket, vest, skirt, white button up, fishnets)


This year I am going as Colonel Sanders. I am apparently into cross dressing for halloween.

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Jabberkaty
October 20, 2009 7:07 PM
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@Eels: Reminds me of my friend who dressed up as Whorey Potter (fake round glasses, miniskirt and knee socks with Griffindor colors, griffindor scarft, etc...). What a knockout.

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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes
October 20, 2009 11:48 AM
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@Eels: You're not my friend Liz, are you? Because that would be weird.

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kmw2
October 19, 2009 10:39 PM
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Waldo. Knit cap, blue jeans, sneakers and a red and white striped tshirt will do, and you have the added fun of posing in other people's pictures.

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InsertPithyNicknameHere
October 19, 2009 10:47 PM
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@kmw2: If you're unable to get the striped t-shirt, I think you could get a plain white one and some fabric spray paint from your local craft store.

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limbikity
October 20, 2009 12:47 AM
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@InsertPithyNicknameHere: or do what i did and get a red shirt, red hat, and some white duct tape. done.

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Foneguy
October 19, 2009 10:42 PM
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The article photo gave me the best laugh I've had all day. Thanks, I needed that!

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InsertPithyNicknameHere
October 19, 2009 10:53 PM
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One other costume on the cheap - a Mouseketeer. You'd need a turtleneck or mock turtleneck from the local thrift store, light colored skirt or pants (depending on gender) from same, iron-on letters from the craft store, and a pair of Mouse ears from the dreaded Disney congolmorate.
Arrange the letters to spell a name (doesn't have to be yours), and iron them on the shirt. Put it all together with nylons or socks and some shoes, and voila, instant Mouseketeer.


I'm actually planning on dressing as Mouseketeer Lizzie this year. I'll splash some fake blood on the clothes and carry a hatchet. And extra candy to whomever gets the reference.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:25 AM
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@InsertPithyNicknameHere: if you're super broke you can fake the letters with cutouts of masking tape and iron it on for greater security through the night.

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StanTheManDean
October 19, 2009 10:54 PM
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Robot.


Aluminum Foil.


Two boxes. One for the body, one for the head.


Holes for the arms.


Legs hanging out the bottom of the big box.


Window screen mounted in the head box for the eye and mouth holes.


battery operated blinking lights mounted in the big box controlled by a side mounted toggle switch.


Not bad for 1960's.

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Laura Northrup
October 19, 2009 11:34 PM
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If I can find the right (read: awful) vintage dress in time, I'm going to go as Tracy Turnblad. I may be able to pull off the hair without a wig, too.

I'm hoping his will be the last year I'm fat enough to pull it off, but if not: woohoo, next year's costume too!

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:27 AM
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@Laura Northrup: i hear those bump-its things really work for the pumped up hair thing

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unbitetheapple
October 20, 2009 12:31 AM
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Last year a friend showed up to my party as a \"Dust Bunny.\" She wrapped herself in pillow stuffing (the kind that comes in long continuous sheets), and tore bits of it out gently for a fuller, messier effect. She then added little bits of junk to the stuffing (the fake spiders from the walls, beer bottle caps from the counters) as the evening progressed. By the end of the night, both she and my fellow guests has succeded in making hers the funniest costume by far. The pillow stuffing cost her around $10. Very creative!

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yevarechecha
October 20, 2009 1:14 AM
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I saw a cheap Halloween costume once that I have yet to figure out. The guy wore a mattress pad over his head with a bunch of CPSC warnings he had printed off the internet stuck all over it with masking tape. I think it was meant to be a ghost outfit. The looming spectre of melamine-tainted, lead-painted Chinese imports full of bisphenol A? Who knows. But it sure was cheap.

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pinecone99
October 20, 2009 1:20 AM
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I went as a bag of garbage once. Get a transparent bag. Cut arm & leg holes. Fill with trash and tie around your neck.

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Jaydub2000
October 20, 2009 1:21 AM
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This year I'm shaving my entire body and going as alopecia universalis. Coming at the low, low cost of my dignity.

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H3ion
October 20, 2009 1:23 AM
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The one I always liked was to drop my pants, bend over, and tell the homeowner I was a Parker House roll.

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morganlh85
October 20, 2009 1:34 AM
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WhenI was little my mom took a box, painted it like a box of Ivory soap, and tied blue and white balloons to me to look like bubbles. It was pretty darn cute.

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cheerbearsmiles
October 20, 2009 1:36 AM
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I went as \"cloudy with a chance of showers\" one year. I went to Wal-Mart and bought cotton balls, a pair of blue scrubs, and umbrella, and a squirt gun. I glued the cotton balls to the scrubs to make them look like clouds, and then walked around carrying the umbrella and randomly squirting people with the squirt gun.

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ninjatoddler
October 20, 2009 2:02 AM
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MissPeacock
October 20, 2009 2:11 AM
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In high school, I wore mismatched clothing and went as A Person Who Got Dressed In the Dark.

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Darkneuro
October 20, 2009 2:16 AM
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Wear your street clothes. Go as \"Perfectly Ordinary Man/Woman\"... Wear a trench coat, you're 'Incognito'.
A friend took a white sweatsuit, covered his face in petroleum jelly, stuck a few tissues on and called himself a used kleenex. He won $500 at the bar that night.
An uncle of mine made himself a 'horn' out of some cardboard and tied yarn around his belt: Unicorn!
The same uncle wore a pair of red sweatpants, blue sweatshirt and painted his face blue... Papa Smurf!

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Mp3dog
October 20, 2009 2:34 AM
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A good and easy costume made with things that I already had in the house... Black pants, black t-shirt, black gloves, a black knit ski cap, and some black makeup to draw a mask around my eyes. INSTANT BURGLAR.

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Schizohedron
October 20, 2009 3:27 AM
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Floppy white beach hat + tinted/mirrored sunglasses + bummed cigarette in holder (CVS sells filters that work perfectly as holders) + Hawaiian shirt + semi-coherent speech patterns = quickie Hunter S. Thompson. Choice of alcohol in free hand optional.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:54 AM
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you HAD to post this one while i was away from the internet for 12 hours?
[www.catastrophegirl.com]

if you don't have to wear the makeup too long [more than about 5 hours] you can even make your own gelatin latex at home for edible zombie body parts and skin.
knox unflavored gelatin [made at half the water of the instructions on the box unless you want melty flesh during the night - also cool] mixed with oil free non toxic liquid makeup base.

it needs to be applied warm although you can make sheets of skin in advance on a sheet of saran wrap taped securely to something that you can put in the fridge overnight.

there's nothing like pulling pieces of skin off your face in the middle of the party and nibbling on them. it doesn't taste very good but it's ok as long as you don't do more than nibble on it. you CAN add sugar to make it taste better. don't add an oil based flavoring though.

blood choices: light corn syrup and food coloring with just a bit of milk to make it opaque - this stains

black cherry jello for blood clots [make like the jello jigglers recipe]

food coloring and powdered sugar can be used to paint white gumballs to be eyeballs to eat also

fabric can be made to look old by dyeing it with tea.

my favorite cheap costume - thrift store or other disposable clothing [i have been a bridesmaid a LOT and have a dress surplus] in the genre of what you want to be: prom queen, bride, princess, fairy tale character, your choice of athlete...

then make it a dead version - i've been a dead catholic schoolgirl, zombie snow white, dead hooker...

hit and run dead: put a little motor oil on your tires and drive over the clothes and then make corresponding marks on your face with black eyeliner pencil which is about $1 at the drugstore.

drowning dead: blue/green lips and skin, make your hair slick and stringy with conditioner or gel, wet your clothes [only appropriate for places where the furniture doesn't matter]

slasher victim dead: choose your scar locations and apply wounds, apply blood to wounds.

- make scars - paint a few layers of liquid or gel latex on saran wrap that's securely taped down [so you can peel it off later] let dry. draw on it with lipstick or lipliner pencil in a bloodish color and stick down dental floss where you want the gaping wound to be. pain latex stuff over it, in a few layers, let dry between each. rip the string out to make gaping flesh edges.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 4:11 PM
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@catastrophegirl: oh i forgot last night that these aren't up on my website

and my very first makeup job ever was this with nose on my mom:

[i'm the bat!]

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CFinWV
October 20, 2009 1:41 PM
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@catastrophegirl: I like the bride of frankenstein pics. I wonder why....

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:58 PM
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@CFinWV: love your icon!
that's the easiest costume i ever do, because i am usually in a hurry after doing everyone else's makeup.
if i dye my hair black in advance it only takes ten minutes to make it stand up, i actually have a nicer costume than the one shown that was still packed up when i last went as the bride. but this was about cheap costumes, like $2 sheets from walmart [who still shops at walmart? I do!]
of course the 'nicer' one is made of $3 curtains from goodwill. but the fabric is heavier and drapes better and doesn't show as much when i spill the dog's water dish on myself like in those pics.
i actually used the arm wrappings so many years that i sewed a seam down one side of each so that i can just pull them on.

my sister did something similar with a mummy costume by making sheets of fabric out of strips of fabric and then cutting out a pajamas like outfit. much better than hours of wrapping and we reuse it every year for trick or treating.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:57 AM
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@catastrophegirl: oh and if you have leftover liquid latex from last year that's dried up and gone gunky, add a little ammonia to it, let sit overnight, shake it up and glob it on as zombie flesh.

[www.flickr.com]

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 3:49 PM
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@Con Seannery: it's a hobby!
i love the month of hallowe'en. those zombies were actually for a movie theatre for the opening of zombieland. they went and chased people around the mall in front of the theatre to give them promo flyers. fortunately zombies don't chase very fast because some people were really frightened [adults even!]

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Smorgasbord
October 20, 2009 4:21 AM
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I like Halloween because it is the only time of the year I look like everybody else. It is the only time of the year I fit in with the others.

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savagedamsel
October 20, 2009 4:56 AM
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For those of a more sci-fi persuasion, an Arthur Dent costume can be achieved in approximately fifteen seconds and at no expense whatsoever. Put on your bathrobe over a pair of pajamas with slippers. Don't forget to carry a towel and look suitably confused.

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piratealice
October 25, 2009 5:19 PM
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@savagedamsel: FABULOUS! Totally FREE I love it! Thank you! (perhaps carry a teacup in your pocket too?)

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 4:12 PM
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@savagedamsel: yes, it's very very important to know where your towel is.
if you happen to own some sort of electronic device that could pass, you could also put a cover on it that says \"don't panic!\"

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lotswife
October 20, 2009 9:32 AM
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Chairman Mao. Olive shirt and pants. Appropriate hat (available at old navy). Add a red armband with the \"solider\" character, a red star on the hat, and carry around a little red book. For authenticity it should be chairman mao quotes. Or you could use one of those little red gospel book that people are always giving away for free.

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veg-o-matic
October 20, 2009 12:52 PM
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A friend/colleague of mine showed up to our Halloween bar crawl in cheap orange sweats, orange plastic gloves, orange shoes, and an orange knit balaclava.

He was \"Homeland Security Terror Level Orange.\" I thought it was pretty great.

For the past 4 years, I've just been going as a grad student. I can actually get alot of work done and people just think I'm really committed to the costume.

Also cheap: Have an older sister who can give you her hand-me-down homemade Jaws shark costume for Halloween like 10 years after the movie came out.

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catastrophegirl chooses not to fly
October 20, 2009 4:14 PM
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@veg-o-matic: reminds me of someone i know who covered themselves in a cloud of cotton batting sprayed yellow and a caution tape - he went as a local event - a chemical explosion that had happened near his house.
abstract and semi abstract costumes are fun

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JanetCarol
October 20, 2009 12:57 PM
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my mom would take a cardboard box and use string so it hung on my shoulders. Once she wrapped it with wrapping paper and attached a bow to a head band and I was a present. Another time painted puppies for sale - painted me up like a puppy and duct taped stuffed dogs in it.
I once painted one to look like the mystery machine from scooby doo. There are a million possibilities with this one.

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mariospants
October 20, 2009 1:34 PM
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Aside from the link to the bat costume, Moolanomy's page is pretty darn useless. I was expecting some modern, funny or genius alternatives to \"ghost: white sheet with holes cut out for eyes\".


Some of my faves include:


\"funk brother\" - hit the used clothing/salvation army stores and get the widest lapels and biggest flares. Open the shirt as far as you dare, throw on some fake gold necklaces, sunglasses and - of course - the afro wig and you're Super Gold™.


\"funky martial artist\" - same as above except instead of sourcing a disco-era suit, throw on a karate uniform (you may already have something like this in your closet), the afro and sunglasses and you're done.

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h3llc4t, breaker of office dress codes
October 20, 2009 2:04 PM
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A former coworker stenciled \"HI BOB!\" on a cheap shirt from a thrift store and went as the next contestant on The Price Is Right.

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AshleyKeen
October 20, 2009 2:06 PM
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When a friend of mine quit his job at starbucks two years ago, he gave me one of his aprons since I'm such a coffee nerd. A pair of khaki pants, a black dress shirt, some old glasses frames, touseled hair and a mug later and I was a pretty convincing Starbucks barista for halloween last year.


... nearly too convincing. Some people assumed that I'd just gotten off work and showed up at the party!

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jmurphy42
October 20, 2009 2:11 PM
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My husband's usual costume is to dress entirely normally, but in black... black jeans/slacks, black shirt, black leather jacket... and a pair of cheap vampire fangs. He's fairly good at speaking normally while they're in, and it usually takes people a few minutes to realize what's going on. He's gotten some very freaked-out reactions over the years. :)

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johnfrombrooklyn
October 20, 2009 2:13 PM
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Take off all your clothes. Put on roller skates. Go as a pull toy. (This only works if you're a man.)

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Ubik2501
October 20, 2009 2:49 PM
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A few years back I got some kind of cheap \"cyberpunk\" eyepatch on a lark from a vendor. Turns out it's basically just the head of a spoon on a black vinyl buckled strap. But that, combined with a tuxedo, black leather gloves and a cane, makes for the perfect James Bond villain costume.

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thehouserules
October 20, 2009 2:52 PM
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A guy at my Halloween party last year got a magnetic strip and cut it into pieces, and fastened the pieces of magnet to different parts of his shirt and pants. I don't remember exactly how he fastened the magnet to his clothes, but I think the magnetic strip may have been sticky on one side, or he used glue.

Then, he printed out pictures of baby chickens (chicks), and pictures of his girlfriend, cut them out, put a paperclip through them, and stuck the paperclips to the magnets on his clothes.

He was a chick magnet.

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profmonster
October 20, 2009 2:54 PM
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Green tights, green tunic, felt leaves pinned (or sewn) on, green face paint, and painted hands, red scarf optional, you are the jolly green giant! Helps if you're tall. Problem is, if you're a woman, you'll be mistaken for a wood sprite, which is not all bad.

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piratealice
October 25, 2009 5:24 PM
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@profmonster: If you're short you can say you're Little Sprout. A couple at my HS went to the Halloween party like that. He was crazy tall, she was very short. I think they won best couple.

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ohayou_kun
October 20, 2009 2:55 PM
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God, simple as that.

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chrialg6 is a happy effing cupcake
October 20, 2009 3:35 PM
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I.. am going to be a flenser, with shiny gold boots.

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Boo
October 20, 2009 4:26 PM
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I have gone as a tampon (unused) - just get some white material, quilt filler is best because it is puffy, and wrap it around yourself. Add a white rope and voila!


A positive pregnancy test is also a good one (I can't think of anything more frightening). Get two pieces of white cardboard and cut out the shape then just draw the two lines with blue marker. Attach over your shoulders like a sandwich board.

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hoi-polloi
October 20, 2009 4:55 PM
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Some cheap costumes I've done:

The Crocodile Hunter and his wife - Cheap tan knock-off Dickie shirt, tan shorts, and hiking boots. My wife made a crocodile costume for our dog out of cheap fabric.

Sheet ghost - I bought a really cheap white sheet, a small length of chain to rattle, and a white t-shirt. (I ironed on \"Boo!\" for times when I wanted to take the sheet off.) I wore black jeans and boots underneath.

Math gangster - I worn tan pants, a white t-shirt, a flannel shirt with the top button buttoned, and a bandana. To make it a little funnier, I had a pocket protector, taped glasses, and a calculator so I could determine the odds of me kicking your ass. I also had a folding ruler that I used as a weapon.

8-year-old at bed time - Really cheap. I worn a pair of pajamas I already owned, paired it with Scooby Doo slippers, and carried a stuffed animal with me. I slapped a big Band-Aid on my cheek, and put a matching smaller Band-Aid on the stuffed lion.

Undercover cop - I felt guilty for this one. My normal clothes, fake badge, and a cap gun. I was young, poor, and short on time, but it worked.

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cash_da_pibble
October 20, 2009 5:15 PM
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My boyfriend has an extensive collection of Luciador masks. One year he pulled on his Blue Demon one, and bought a loud 70's suit from the goodwill.
This year he's going as El Santo- but wearing a loud silver tracksuit.

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Jabberkaty
October 20, 2009 6:55 PM
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You and a buddy. Two bathrobes, two used wigs, borrow some lipstick and if you can get your hands on an airsoft gun and a calculator you can go as the Sizzler Sisters from Kids in the Hall.

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mike
October 20, 2009 8:04 PM
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Some of mine:
* Power ranger who hasn't morphed
* Harry Potter student home for holiday
* Scientist at home watching tv
* Casual Friday office worker


Oddly enough, all of these are the same costume.

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zzxx
October 21, 2009 4:15 AM
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Halloween is very popular in my neighborhood. My neighbor is a 5' 3\" Asian guy who is overweight. He puts on his best suit, sunglasses, his Rolex, and poofs up his hair. Voila...he is a dead ringer for Kim Jung Il.

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BadBadKitty
October 21, 2009 1:34 PM
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3 simple ones ive used are :

Bag Of Jelly Beans - Large clear bag (dry cleaners) and a 99 cent bag of small party baloons , cut arm / head hole staple bottom , fill with balloons and write JELLY BEANS across front

Hot Air Balloon - round laundry basket (dollar tree has for $1 or use an old one , large helium balloon (bigger the better) weave party streamers in basket to make it colorful , cut out bottom , attach balloon with fishing wire/ dental floss .

Lego Block - this one is great for toddlers , u need 1 box that the person will fit in , cutting out arm and head holes , and 6-8 cans , wire the cans to the box , spray paint the entire thing red / or blue and wrire lego on end of each can .

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duffman13
October 21, 2009 6:26 PM
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My wife and I are being homer and marge this year. We're making the marge hair out of a posterboard and some batting plus blue spray hair dye so about $10 total. She's making the dress from $4 of green fabric and the necklace from $1 of red fuzzy balls.


As far as homer goes, I have blue jeans, shoes that look like his, and I bought a white collared shirt for $3 at goodwill. I'm stuffing a pillow under it to make the gut. For his hair, I'm shaving my head with a #3, and then re-shaving it with a #0 leaving his trademark har pattern at the #3 length.


Add some yellow body paint if you want and some cheap costume make-up for the 5 o'clock shadow and you're all set. I don't think we'll be painting ourselves yellow though.

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duffman13
October 21, 2009 6:32 PM
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@duffman13: Just thought of another cheap one i was a few years back: Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. I have ray-ban wayfarers and bough a fake butcher knife at the costume store and a bunch of fake blood. Combine with a cheap suit from a thrift store and some hair gel and your'e in business. This one went over really great because I was out with my brother's busines school friends in Manhattan who for the most part idolize that movie.

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superflippy
October 21, 2009 9:20 PM
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Back in college, my husband always went as a serial killer because, \"they look just like everybody else.\"

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heliheidi
October 15, 2010 11:50 AM
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Highway: Wear all black. Use electrical tape to make double yellow lines down the middle of your chest & inside of your legs, then one or two lanes of dashed white lines on either side. Duct-tape toy cars here and there (I've usually borrowed them from a friend with kids). If you want, you can print out highway signs - local highway numbers, exit signs, construction warnings, etc. - and tape them on, too. To go all-out, wear a traffic cone for a hat.

Wizard: Old graduation robe, pointy hat made of paper, wand made from a stick.

Freudian slip: Print photos of Freud that you find online. Tape them to a slip. Carry a cigar, if you want.

Tourist: Bikini top & a sarong, or shorts, Hawaiian shirt and sandals (with socks, perhaps). Hang as many cameras as you can scrounge up around your neck. Wear ugly sunglasses. The finishing touch is to get the most hideously pink cheap blush you can buy and apply it liberally all over your face, neck and arms - instant sunburn!

Mr. Smarty-pants: Get Smarties (the candy). Hot-glue them to old pants. Done.

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