Creepin’ Costumes: Costume Alternatives

October 13, 2009

Alex Hencken, Assistant A&E Editor  

Filed under Features

Every Halloween, parties, the halls of Pres, and the streets of your neighborhood are filled with the usual witches, angels and devils, and provocative nurses, maids, waitresses, etc. For this year’s Halloween, take a look at some of these ideas to help create your best costume yet! Extra originality might pay off in extra candy.

Instead of the premade nurse’s costume ubiquitous in Halloween stores, try something a little less bare-legged and grab some scrubs, gloves, a surgical mask and a clipboard from a medical supply store. Add a clever name tag such as “Dr. Cutter” for some extra creativity points. You could also try to get the uniform from a store or restaurant (i.e. Starbucks or In-n-out) and dress up as an employee. If you can’t get one, you could always try to make your own! Red polo plus khaki pants equals Target!

Although we love them, let’s be honest, the Disney princesses and mainstream superheroes are a bit overdone. Think of a different character from a book, movie or your favorite TV show. For example, Ugly Betty-glasses, braces and all! Or maybe use a character from one of our childhood shows, such as Wilma Flintstone, Wednesday Addams or Arthur the aardvark! However, choose a character that would be recognizable from the costume. In other words don’t just wear your normal clothes and say you’re Bella from Twilight.

Even without all of the excitement from last year’s elections, there are still a lot of current events that could inspire your costume. You could be one of the many political figures, such as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama or Sarah Palin. You could also pull from local news and dress up as the California fires, or you could use celebrity news and be someone like Kate Gosselin with a crazy haircut and eight baby dolls.

Plays on words also make very funny and clever costumes. Just think of a phrase or character and find a different way to interpret it. Wear a black cape and carry a broom and you’re “the Grim Sweeper.” Or be an “iron chef” by dressing up in an apron and chef hat and wearing the letters Fe, the chemical symbol for iron.

Going trick-or-treating with a group? You and your friends could be a famous group, such as the Brady Bunch, complete with totally awesome 70s-gear, the American Idol Judges, the Clue board game characters, or Santa and his elves. Or you could make your own group, such as a sports team, members of a band, street signs or the four seasons. So for this year, use some of these ideas, or let them inspire your own, but make sure to start thinking soon because Halloween’s just around the corner!

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Tags: costumes, halloween