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Got Costume? 5 Last-Minute Halloween Getups

Posted Mon, Oct 27, 2008, 2:01 pm PDT
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If you're not one of those people who spend months planning and preparing elaborate Halloween costumes for the big boo-fest, then you may find yourself -- or your kids! --coming up on October 31st with nothing to wear. That can be a scary thought! No worries -- here are five fun getups you can pull together using stuff you have laying around the house. Get creative with cardboard boxes, hangers, and other household finds...
  • Dinner For Two  Start with a square cardboard box big enough to fit over your body. Cover it with an old tablecloth and cut a hole for your head to poke through. Secure the tablecloth with doublestick tape or some glue. Then, it's time to accessorize! Glue paper plates, napkins, and utensils to create "dinner for two." You can even add a few accents such as salt and pepper shakers or a small loaf of bread. A few flowers tucked behind your ear or in a headband create the idea "centerpiece." So romantic!
  • Fun & Games  Once again, start with a square cardboard box (we never run out of uses for these things). Cut a hole for your head and paint the box white or cover it with white paper. Then use black marker, paint, or construction paper to cover each side alternately with one dot, two dots, and so on. Dress all in black or white to complete the look. Find a friend or significant other and you can dress as a pair. Voila -- you're ready to roll!
  • Fashion Forward  Retrieve a long plastic bag from your stash of dry cleaning and you've got the beginnings of an insta-costume. Slip on a crisp, long-sleeved collared shirt and pants -- cut a whole in the plastic bag and slip it over your head -- staple on a receipt (use an old dry cleaning receipt or dummy one up). The authentic finishing touch is a hanger hat. Pin a paper-covered metal hanger to your hair using bobby pins or glue a wire hanger to a plastic headband.
  • Tasty Dish  Toss on a red shirt and skirt combo (or red dress) and summon your inner Rachael Ray. You're about to transform into a garlic-laden pasta goddess -- so much tastier than all those witches and wood nymphs traipsing about. Glue some fresh basil to a headband, or tuck a few sprigs behind your ear as a playful hair "garnish." Crush up some brown craft paper or brown grocery bags to make "meatballs" and string them onto fishing wire for a yummy necklace (or do the same using a head of garlic). Complete the look with a belt made of dried pasta (rigatoni, ziti or penne strung onto yarn or a thin scarf). You'll look so delectable, someone may get the urge to take a nibble!
  • Trick, Treat, or Tunes?  Show your hip side on Halloween. With white paper*, cover a box you can fit into. On the front panel of the box, cut out the "screen" on your iPod. The screen will frame your face when the costume is worn. Cut out a dial (use a plate to make a perfect circle) from aluminum foil and use permanent black marker to draw the forward, reverse, and play buttons. Dress in head-to-toe white or black, and you're done. The screen will feature your spooky mug all night long as you go door-to-door thrilling the crowds with your groovy getup.

    *If you have access to a craft shop, look for pearlized craft paper that you can tape together to form a box. This will give your iPod a more authentic look. For more iPod-inspired costumes, click here.)

For more stylish living ideas, check out our Foxy website.

10 Comments

  • 1. Posted by bubble_bobble_girl@att.net on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 4:01 pm PDT

    lame and asides from the *gag* rachel ray wannabe, none of which I can wear to work.

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  • 2. Posted by Karen Y on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 4:33 pm PDT

    I think these are great. I especially like the "fun & games" as I play Bunco with 3 different groups of people. How fun!!

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  • 3. Posted by dubbz on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 5:59 pm PDT

    I found these costumes very unique.I just might might have to use a few of these.Thanks girls.We will have a blast.Happy Halloween!

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  • 4. Posted by Junebug on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 8:23 pm PDT

    darn I forgot an important factor..the gloves for Edna...I got some Batman (kids gloves). some silver, shinny materal and some plastic like you do the yarn crafts with. Cut out the blade looking fingers. Make the materal accordinly and attached them crisscross to look like blades. Sewed them . Then attached them to the gloves. You don't have to do the thumbs and little fingers.

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  • 5. Posted by Junebug on Tue, Oct 28, 2008, 9:34 pm PDT

    well for some reason or another is is not posting my first( and 3rd, same as the 1st) post. Telling you about the costume I made up this yr . It goes with the 4th post on her(my first and 3rd). Anyway. I went as Edna Scissor Hands. Edwards sister.I went on line and looked to see what he looked like then did my makeup like his. I had a black wig and some big hooped earrings with scissors in them. Wore my biker gear. Chaps, and Vest. /with black blouse/shirt and black pants. Black boots. I also explained my other costume that I won 1st place with. Guess that is the one being blocked. But it was GREAT. Being Aunt Jam. You figure it out, it won't let me explain it to you.

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  • 6. Posted by pegjdavid on Wed, Oct 29, 2008, 12:55 am PDT

    I can't wait to be the Italian Pasta Delight and go to a couple parties at Italian Restaurants w/ entertainment on Oct. 31st.........thanks so much for this am on KTLA. So cute and original !!! Peg from Lake Forest, Orange County

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  • 7. Posted by Robby on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 8:01 pm PST

    These are actually great tips. Ignorant people should just shut up when they don't have anything good to say. Very nice job girls. Keep it up. I'm looking forward to each article you make to help us live easier and better.

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  • 8. Posted by Paal T on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 9:30 pm PST

    Awesome! Wait- where were you last month, when a quick costume idea would've been useful?

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  • 9. Posted by designerstef on Mon, Oct 05, 2009, 6:14 pm PDT

    Really easy and hilarious idea- layer on all the clothes you can and carry a sign that says "nudist on strike". it is best to layer shorts over pants and tanks over long sleeves so people can see all the layers!

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  • 10. Posted by mommy_to_isis on Sun, Oct 11, 2009, 5:59 am PDT

    Can't say I'm really impressed by this, seems more like boredom then actual suggestions.

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