postheadericon Great Halloween Costumes That Cost Less



by Adriana Noton


Dressing up for Halloween is fun for all ages. But unfortunately, purchasing Halloween costumes has just gotten more and more expensive over the years. Now, the options seem to be a poorly made costume that doesn't look like you want it to, or an incredibly expensive one. Luckily, there are some ways to lessen the cost.

Getting together a sketch or photograph of the costume you want to imitate is the first thing you need to do. For dressing up as an object or animal, you'll also need to consider what to make your costume out of. Depending on the weather, your personal preferences, and more, a perfectly satisfactory dog costume can be made out of fake fur, a sweat suit, or even a leotard and tights. Other costumes are similarly flexible.

After raiding your closet and those of your friends and family, the next stop should be a thrift store. Clothing obtained from a thrift store for cheap can be altered by cutting, sewing, patching and more without having to worry about ruining an expensive item. Many outfits worn by characters can be emulated, at least in part, with thrift store clothes.

Consider the parts of the outfit that you can make. If you intend to be a dog, cutting out felt pieces for ears and pinning them to your hair should be well within most people's skills. If you are an accomplished seamstress, making an entire costume is a possibility. Shop for materials in the bargain bin to keep costs down.

If there is a signature part of your costume that you cannot imitate easily, look for it online. Start looking early so that all the cheapest options aren't sold out. This is usually the best way to find character-specific items such as insignia, false weapons, and more, without paying the exorbitant prices of local shops.

Pick up shoes at the thrift store, too, or buy or make shoe covers for ones that you already have. Shoes can be an expensive part of any outfit, costume or not, and buying new ones can easily make them the most expensive part of your costume. If you are going to thrift stores, go early and often in order to find something you like. Shoe covers are a great alternative though, especially for costumes with colorful boots.

If you are going to be wearing a significant amount of makeup, buy stage makeup or face paint. This is generally cheaper than Halloween face painting kits, and works just as well. Face painting kits are sold at craft stores, art supply shops, and also online. Characters in less makeup can get away with cheap drugstore options.

Using materials that will only barely survive the night is fine, since sexy halloween costumes are typically worn only once. If some part of your costume is easier to make with paper, cardboard or other less than sturdy materials, just assume it will be thrown out after the big night. However, if you choose to make a stronger, more long-lasting costume, it can be worn again in subsequent years.




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