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In the event you couldn’t tell, Halloween is almost upon us—the candy corn-lined supermarket aisles or carved pumpkins on every doorstep may have been a giveaway. And if you don’t have your Halloween costume just yet, don’t panic. Just because you’re (almost) down to the wire doesn’t mean you have to settle for whatever store-bought duds are still left on the shelf. This year, consider doing it yourself. We promise it’s easier and much less costly than you may think.
All you need are a few simple supplies (many of which you probably already have at home) to create a killer costume that’s sure to impress, whether you’re taking the kids trick-or-treating or attending a grown-up party. Scroll on for the off-the-cuff creations you can execute last minute.
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1. Morton Salt Girl
- Paper towel roll
- Yellow dress
- Umbrella
- Morton Salt label
A quick Google image search will produce the Morton Salt Label in various sizes to various degrees of accuracy—it all depends on how authentic you’re looking to go. Once you have that, affix it to the outside of a paper towel roll by taping it onto the plastic wrap. Don your favorite yellow dress, grab an umbrella, and you’re good to go. Not to mention, prepped for any last-minute rainy weather that may befall you on Halloween night.
2. Millennial Pink
- An assortment of millennial pink apparel and accessories
- Your phone
- A healthy sense of self-deprecating humor
Raid your closet and those of your friends to come up with enough articles of clothing in the trendy hue to put together a head-to-toe costume. Bonus points for including a tee with an eye-roll-inducing “millennial” catchphrase—which you can iron onto a plain, pink t-shirt if you don’t want to buy something that says “I Can’t Even,” and have it live in your closet forever. The final touch is carrying around your phone all night and sporadically breaking out into a selfie stance. Let’s hit all those generational stereotypes at once.
Get the how-to on Oh Happy Day.
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3. Damian from Mean Girls
- Blue hoodie
- Aviator sunglasses
- Piece of paper with “She doesn’t even go here” written on it
Pay homage to one of the true cinematic masterpieces of the 21st century by dressing up as the irrefutably best character. This super low lift costume is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to display visible enthusiasm for Halloween, as a perpetual sense of indifference is literally built into the character. You can say you’re going full method. All you have to do is carry around a paper sign with Damian’s most iconic line… which you don’t even have to do if you don’t want to commit to toting around a sign all night. In that case, just intermittently yell out “She doesn’t even go here!” and keep people on their toes.
4. Citrus Slices
- Yellow, orange, and green dresses
- Yellow, orange, and green fruit hats
- One yard of white felt (per costume)
- Citrus wedge templates
- Scissors
- Temporary Hem Tape
Fresh and fruity citrus slices make a great group getup for you and your pals! Enliven a pre-made dress with some felt and top it off with a produce-inspired chapeau.
Get the how-to on Studio DIY.
5. #ButFirstCoffee
- 2′ x 4′ piece of foam core (check out your local art shop)
- Hot pink acrylic paint
- Black acrylic paint
- Pencil
- X-Acto knife
- Paintbrush
- Ribbon long enough to fit around your neck
- Glue or packing tape to hold on the ribbon
Turn your coffee addiction into art. This caffeinated creation (a replica of that famous Ban.do travel mug) comes together with foam core and acrylic paint.
Get the how-to on A Kailo Chic Life.
6. Banana
- Yellow Clothing
- A bunch of bananas
- Embroidery floss or string
Looking for a low maintenance idea? It’s more than likely than not that you have some sort of yellow clothes in your closet. Which means the only thing you actually need to buy is a bunch of bananas.
Get the how-to on Say Yes.
7. Pocky Box Holy Pocky!
- Large cardboard box
- Red spray paint (you might need 2 cans)
- “Pocky” letters free printable (download it here)
- Scissors
- Knife
- Xact-o knife
- Brown packaging wrapping paper
- Acrylic paint—brown, tan, and white
- Hot glue gun + hot glue
- Packing tape
It only takes a cardboard box and some spray paint to turn your snack food addiction into a sweet ensemble.
Get the how-to on The Glitter in My Tea.
8. Troll Doll
- Tan dress
- Large craft gem
- Temporary hem tape
- Temporary purple-color hairspray
This life-sized Troll Doll costume has all the kitschy charm of the iconic ‘90s toy—including up-combed purple hair and a bejeweled belly button.
Get the how-to on Studio DIY.
9. Plants on Pink
- 5 wired faux banana leaves
- Hot glue gun
- Safety pin
- Pink or coral dress
Everyone loves a good Instagram-based costume. The only things you need for this #PlantsOnPink ensemble are a rosy-hued outfit and a few big palm leaves—super easy, super topical.
Get the how-to on A Kailo Chic Life.
This story was originally published on October 26, 2017. It has been updated with new information.
Get more Halloween inspo: How to Host a Halloween Party That’s Grown-Up, Not Gross 13 DIY Ideas for Throwing an Epic Halloween Bash How to Wear Your Candy on Halloween