Freshman Findings: Creating cheap, crafty costumes

Halloween is right around the corner and I’m sure most of us are scrambling around trying to figure out what to be. The question is: How can you stand out this Halloween? Better yet, how can you stand out without spending an astronomical amount of money for one night? For college students, we want to dress to impress in the least expensive way possible. The classic fallbacks are the pumpkin, ghost, witch or vampire, but you are bound to run into duplicates. With so many things happening in the media and the world today, there is a plethora of options to choose from.
If anyone is a child at heart, there is huge inspiration from Disney’s hit movie “Frozen.” Throw a blue dress on and pull your hair up in a nice side braid and be Elsa, or wear all white, put some creative face makeup on and be the friendly snowman Olaf that everyone loves. It is even easier to dress up as Mickey or Minnie Mouse with a red pair of pants or skirt, a black top, and some black mouse ears.
Popular in the ’80s and ’90s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in the spotlight. Find an old Ninja Turtle T-Shirt, or wear all green with a colored bandana for your face and a belt. You are good to go.
With so many events and scandals happening in pop culture, you can dress up as your favorite celebrity. Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” music video was a huge controversy for comedians and reporters all over the world. It can be super-simple to recreate this controversial topic in a costume. The big blockbuster Wolf of Wall Street was a raunchy comedy that may have rubbed some the wrong way but also won others over. Dress up as a well-off stockbroker in New York City this Halloween.
Old famous icons are always a classic option such as Rosie the Riveter, who represented women working in factories during World War II. With a white top hat, blue jacket, red bow tie, and that famous finger pointing, anyone can play the role of America’s Uncle Sam.
Then there are always the fallback options that everyone knows and loves. Popping the lenses out of glasses with a piece of tape, a collared shirt and suspenders always makes a great nerd. Dress up as a “big kid” and throw on a onesie or kid-looking pajamas with a ribbon in your hair. A little bit of white face paint can go a long way to create a mime or a spooky ghoul.
Halloween can still be that fun and exciting holiday you were jumping up and down for as a kid. No one is ever too old to dress up for Halloween. Any costume is possible even without spending a lot of money. Who knows, maybe you can dress up as the Rider Bronc this year.

-Hayley Fahey
Freshman journalism major

Printed in the 10/29/14 issue.