Easy Costume Ideas for Halloween This Year
As the spookiest holiday of the year approaches, it’s time to start thinking about costumes. Sure, the kids may have ideas of their own—but what about you? Do you know what you’re going to wear? Are you worried that you might not have a thing? Whether you’re attending a party, going trick-or-treating with the littles, or hosting an unforgettable virtual party, you want to wear something incredible.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a small fortune to wear an extraordinary costume. In fact, some of the best items of all may be hanging in your closet or just a couple of clicks away. Can you really make a pair of women’s jeans an integral part of your Halloween costume? It turns out you definitely can—and without a ton of effort, either. Here are a few easy and fun ideas to get you started.
Go as an ’80s Icon
The so-called “me decade” was all about living in excess. Everything was over the top: the hair, the eye shadow, the colors, the clothes. It was an era when girls layered multiple pairs of socks at a time and staged contests to see who could spray their bangs higher. It was definitely a unique time, and now that several decades have passed, it’s easy to look back on it and recognize that it was also, in fact, fodder for some seriously good costuming ideas.
Going as an icon of the 1980s is pretty straightforward. You can make it happen in a pair of faded denim shorts, a T-shirt knotted at the waist, and a pair of colorful high-top sneakers. Prefer something dressier? Slip-on a fit and flare dress, belt the waist, layer on several bold statement necklaces, pull on a pair of neon leggings and step into a pair of your most fabulous heels. Tease your hair, accent it with a bold scarf, and hit the town. You’ll be the picture of ’80s perfection.
Unleash Your Inner Bat
Dressing up as a bat is one of those things you must do at least once—if for no other reason than to take advantage of the sheer simplicity of the outfit. How to make it a reality? It all begins with all-black-everything. You’ll need a pair of your most stretchy and comfortable black leggings, a baggy women’s sweater in black, and a pair of black sneakers.
Then, the most important detail of all: a black umbrella. Nope, you aren’t going to carry it—you’re going to wear it. Use scissors to slash the umbrella in half. Attach one side to the sweater with safety pins, then repeat on the other side. You can use duct tape to cover the metal hinges, then move your arms up and down to “fly” around. Don’t forget the ears! You can make your own, or you can slip into a playful bat-ear headband instead.
Turn Into a Detective
Now’s the time to show how much your favorite cop shows have influenced your fashion sense. If you’ve long admired the way your favorite private investigators handle the job and look flawless while doing it, why not grab your finest corporate apparel and get going? It’s easy with the right pieces in your grasp.
Start with something simple, like a women’s white blouse with a crisp, starchy finish. Throw on a tailored blazer, step into a pair of matching pants, and wear a pair of boots that encourage easy walking. Want to elevate the look just a touch? Throw on a sleek tie. You can even wear sunglasses and a faux badge to round out the look.
Be the Queen of Hearts
You’re destined to dazzle in this creative costume! Make the most of your favorite red special occasion dress by incorporating it into your look. Who would have thought you’d wear it on Halloween? You’ll wow everyone as the famed Alice in Wonderland character in this eye-catching costume.
Create a collar fashioned with playing cards by stapling the cards in a layered fashion onto a piece of paper that’s shaped into a collar. Make sure you get the size just right before you cut; wrap the paper around, then cut so that you can be sure it won’t feel awkward while you’re walking around. After stapling the cards, place your new “collar” on your neck. The black and red accents on the cards will instantly compliment the bold shade of your fiery dress.
Why not have some serious fun on Halloween? No matter what you have planned, you can bet it will be a holiday to remember, thanks to the easy costume you put together in no time at all. What better way to make good use of what’s in your closet?