12 Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

I love Halloween. As a kid, I would plot and spend hours drawing mysterious costumes while anticipating the ultimate spooky night of the year. This idea carried on into adulthood with promises of parties, and yes, still, candy.

This year, with a busy schedule and new projects galore, the holiday snuck up on me. It’s that magic time and I’ve got nothing to show for it! Are you in a costume rut like me? Don’t have time to work on your Ziggy Stardust-turned-Werewolf mask? I didn’t think so. Here’s some ideas to try out this Friday.

1. Cat, bear, rabbit, or some other woodland creature. Ladies (and gents!), do you have some drugstore liquid eyeliner on hand? A simple flick of the pen will turn you quick. See Babble’s Bear idea, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, make some fox ears!

2. Old school ghost. Buy a cheap sheet from Big D’s and cut out two eye holes. Presto.

3. Wednesday Adams. All you need for this is a long sleeve black dress, a white button down shirt, two braids, knee high socks, and some serious attitude.

4. Think square. Repurpose a cardboard box.

5. Wonder Woman. All you really need is the crown, which you can paint! Remember, the Halloween dollar bin at CVS is your friend.

6. Vintage babe. Make some mermaid waves, add a stretchy headband, and a flowy dress and you’re either a flapper or a hippie. Long and flowy maxi dresses will certainly bring on flower child status.

7. Burglar. Black and white striped shirt, a cheap black sleep mask (cut out some eye holes), and a white pillow case. You’ll be ready to break into any Sims house or rob a bank in no time.

8. Gym Rat. Wear all of your brightly colored athletic gear at once. Sweat bands required along with animal face paint from #1. Or, have yourself a throwback and pull a 1980s Jane Fonda workout. (Olivia Newton-John is cool, too).

9. Beatnik. Black beret, black turtleneck, black jeans, sunglasses. Don’t forget to snap when someone says anything vaguely poetic.

10. Rosie the Riveter. Red bandana and lipstick, chambray shirt and denim jeans. Don’t forget to cuff the sleeve to show off your guns.

11. Sleeveface. Just be the record.

12. Eleven. The mysterious Stranger Things character is a big hit this year. Pick up some Eggo’s at C Town or Associated and snag a pink jersey dress from Dusty Rose Vintage.

P.S. These neighborhood haunts give your costume a little more oomph:

• Cato’s Army and Navy (654 Manhattan Ave) for anything military inspired, or just be invisible in all camoflauge.
• Big D’s (777 Manhattan Ave) for low level craft supplies (fabric and sheets) and cheap costume add-ons.
• CVS, Rite Aid, and Duane Reade are an easy go-to for all of your cheap makeup and false eyelash dreams.
• Salvation Army (981 Manhattan Ave). Give yourself a low budget ($5, perhaps?) and see what your can dig up! If you are a couple and give yourself a bigger budget, you could be a zombie couple, or just the ghostly John & Barbara from Beetlejuice.

Artist credit: Bella Harris Etsy shop.