Could Your Halloween Costume Already Be In Your Closet?

So I recently was interviewed for a Halloween Costume Segment on ABC’s “Beauty on a Budget.” My challenge was to present predictions for hot costumes for Halloween 2009 and educate viewers on how to put together a Halloween costume for little to no money. This was a fun and educational assignment.

The most important thing I find in a costume is, that people can recognize who or what you are impersonating. With enough money and costume designers you can create a costume with elements so realistic being recognized is a no-brainer. However for the purpose of this segment my goal was to educate people on how to create a costume for little to no money, a trend that will be very popular this year.

I recommend if you are trying to impersonate a specific person “a la Kim Kardashian,” rather than a general idea like a cowgirl, that you pick someone you at least look somewhat similar to rather than go to the expense of having to buy a wig to mimic their natural look. And if you have a great wig lying around see what you can create to go with it.

I drew on past experience for my inspiration as to date I have only bought a few pieces to wear as a “costume.” When I was young we didn’t have a lot of extra money to spend on an outfit for one night so I learned to create something out of nothing. have never purchased a store-bought costume and have not only saved money that way but also have created more realistic looks. In college many of my friends came to me to get an outfit for Halloween. My college closet was not more than 3.5ft wide so how I pulled this many “costumes” out of it, who knows. Check out these pics to see some of the looks.

Amanda as Baby Spice & Valerie Elizabeth as a Flapper (1998)

Flapper: I had an actual flapper dress that I had picked up for $20 at a resale shop but if you add a headband and a boa to any black dress it will be easy to identify you as a flapper. Bright red lipstick and pin-curled hair are other inexpensive touches to create this look.

Pepperdine Girls 1998

Marilyn Monroe: wearing a pair of my silver dress shoes, a white dress I had worn in a production and my (worn many times) Marilyn Monroe wig. I was Marilyn in a previous year and let a number of friends borrow this costume over the years.

Tennis player: wearing my Ralph Lauren tennis outfit. Easy comfortable, great for a kids party.

Victoria’s Secret Model: Wearing my feather trimmed robe and stiletto sandals. A very conservative version of the always popular costume.

Biker-chick: Wearing a zip-up nylon vest and a black bandana with her own black shorts and boots. A cute, fun look that is easy to replicate from your own wardrobe.

Angel: Throw on a white outfit and whip up a gold halo out of 4 cents worth of pipe cleaner, if you can’t find wings not to worry people will know what you are from the halo.

Cat: In like manner wear a black outfit and add some cat ears, it won’t take a brain surgeon to identify your costume.

School-girl: This one is always popular and since most girls have a cardigan, a white button down and they can round up a plaid skirt, another easy one to pull from your wardrobe. Add tights if it’s cold and be sure to pull your hair back in two barrettes or braids to add to the look.

Beauty Queen: An evening gown paired with a tiara and a banner makes an easy costume. Not a former beauty queen? Ask around I bet you’ll find someone who was.

Toga girl: I didn’t create these outfits but they are always easy and if you don’t want to go as a ghost just wrap your sheet around you instead of putting it over your head to create the look. Take some greenery from your yard tie it in a circle to create a wreath. Take tie back off your draperies to add the cord around your waist and you’ve got a costume.

Bachelorette: A pink boa, a bachelorette banner (Pick one up at Dollar Tree for just a dollar) and your favorite little black dress and you’ll not only have an easy outfit but you’ll get a lot of attention and likely score some free drinks as well.

Jennie as Rose Dawson from Titanic (1998)

Rose from Titanic: In my navy blue prom dress and my already owned “heart of the ocean” necklace (maybe I went overboard when I bought the necklace but I was a big fan of the movie) my red headed friend made Jennie made a great Rose Dawson.

Other costume ideas I have created in the past…

Monkey: One year I went as a monkey, by wearing all black, carrying a banana and creating a pair of ears and a tail. I bought a small piece of faux fur and covered a coat hanger for the tail. I created a pair of monkey ears from a headband and a few crackers eaten down to size to create the ear shape I wanted and covered with faux fur. For some reason this humored the children I nannied to no end.

Cowgirl: Western style shirt and or skirt paired with some boots. Wear a cowboy hat or if you don’t have one put your hair in braids. Jeans are an easy alternative to the western skirt and who doesn’t own a pair of those.

Team fan: Everyone has a team jersey or t-shirt, throw it on and go as a fan.

Poker Player: Buy a clear green poker visor at a novelty store and pair it with jeans, sunglasses and a popped-collar polo to create your look.

Snow Bunny: Jeans, a down vest, Ugg boots, a scarf and some bunny ears will create this fun look/play on words.

Audrey Hepburn: I paired a vintage evening gown with a little tiara, piled my hair into a bouffant and added dramatic make-up to mimic this decades old favorite.

Bunch of Grapes: Great for children and easy to put together at the last minute. Black hefty bag, purple balloons, tape and a piece of green felt. Blow up the balloons and tape them to the hefty bag. Cut the green felt to create a leaf-like collar. Cut a slit in the top of the bag to slip it over your head, add the green leaf around your neck and there you go, a costume for less than two dollars.

HOT TRENDS FOR 2009

Everything I researched predicts that the hottest costumes of the year will center around, icons who’ve passed this year (Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Ed McMahon, Billy Mays and Heath Ledger,) reality stars (Jon and Kate Gosselin, Octomom, and the Kardashian sisters,) and of course the hottest trend in television, video and literature— vampires.

Here are some easy ideas to mimic their looks:

Michael Jackson: Black pants, a cropped black jacket and “the glove.”

Farah Fawcett: Tight blue jeans, a billowy top and platform heels. A great look if you’re a blonde and can feather your hair.

Billy Mays: Khaki pants, bright blue button down. Make a copy of the Oxi Clean logo on iron-on paper, iron it on your blue shirt. Dark hair with a real or fake dark beard and you’ve got a great costume.

Ed McMahon: A classic blue suit, his signature square wire rim glasses and stop by your friends at Kinko’s to have them print up a big check from American Family Publishers. Maybe add  a bunch of balloons as well.

Lady Gaga: Something tight and patent leather looking, possibly a metallic swimsuit with a fitted blazer. You definitely need the heavy eye makeup and blond hair so either pick up one of her classic wigs with the crisp cut bangs across the front or if you are blonde add a bit of flair in your hair with one of her floral/hat creations.

Valerie Elizabeth and Lady Gaga at Fashion at The Park

Octomom: T-shirt, blue jeans, flip flops, long dark hair, oversized black glasses, swollen red lips and eight baby dolls. To make it really realistic bring along your own camera crew. –My personal favorite

Vampires: Black cape, white popped-collar button down shirt, black pants, clicked down hair, face paint and

some dollar store fangs.

Looking for Couples Costume Ideas…

Patrick Swayze: Black jeans, a black fitted t-shirt, a wave in your hair and a few good dance moves.

Jennifer Grey: Light pink knit dress, strappy heels and a little bit of insecurity.

Khloe Kardashian: Long dark hair, wedding gown or Juicy sweatsuit and a signed prenup.

Lamar Odom: Lamar’s Lakers Jersey and a little bling.

President Obama: Navy suit, white shirt, red tie and add a flag pin on your lapel

Michelle Obama: Short dark bob, brightly patterned dress, maybe a fitted cardigan, some kitten heels and a friendly smile.

Good for feuding couples…

Jon Gosselin: Dark haired, love the spotlight? Pair some jeans and an Ed Hardy tee shirt, Ed Hardy hat worm backwards, plastic Ray bans and some silver cross jewelry.

Kate Gosselin: Short blonde hair? Add a bit of gel, a can of aqua fresh, a semi-fitted/sleeveless  v-neck tee, a snug cropped blazer, understated chandelier earrings and a knee length skirt with mules.

Khortney Kardashian: Pregnant and dark haired? Throw on some fitted maternity wear (remember to add a 7 month bulge) and some sky-high heels.

Scott Disick: Something overtly preppy. Popped collar polo shirt, colored chino pants, slicked black hair, loafers and add a sweater around your shoulders.

Whatever your costume, we’d love to post your pic in our Halloween costume idea gallery. Send them in to assistant@societystylist.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 6:45 PM and is filed under Home of The Little Black Dress Experiment, In The News, Style Sermons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.