Last-Minute Tips for Hunting Down a Halloween Costume

Most of us have already decided on our Halloween costume and put it together, anxiously awaiting the moment we get to unveil their costumed creativity—here in NYC, we at PeaceKeeper are already seeing witches, goddesses and ghosties patrolling the streets!  However, some of us (or a lot of us) have lost track of time and are now scrambling for costumes.

It is easy to go into the numerous Halloween stores that have popped up all over the place; however, the idea of spending so much money on cheap material that you will only wear once before discarding is distasteful to a lot of us. If you do find yourself having to purchase a last-minute costume, though, why not give it to charity or lend it to another person for next year?  It’ll probably still be in great condition!

If you’re strapped for cash, though, the cheapest thing to do is take a look at your closet and use what you have—a whole world of costumes could exist in your home!  Why not cut that orange muumuu to knee-length?  With a strand of pearls and a little sass, it’s an instant flapper costume!  If you’ve got some serious sewing skills, you could take in that old sheath dress so that it hugs your gorgeous curves; voila!  A seductive retro look a la Joan Holloway—just add red lipstick and a beehive hairdo!

You don’t have to limit yourself to just your clothing, either!  Old sheets and curtains might provide the perfect drape for a Grecian goddess, a sweeping floor-length skirt for a medieval queen, or a flirty asymmetrical dress for a gypsy costume!  Another possibility is purchasing cloth from a fabric store and making your own costume from scratch, but this can be time-consuming and hard to finish without spot-on sewing skills and a super-fast sewing machine.

Of course, if you have a little cash to burn and your sewing skills are a little lacking, you can try my Halloween costume approach:  thrift store shopping!Since my apartment lacks a lot of older-looking items, I raided every thrift shop in the city (and every friend’s closet) until I pieced together my costume.  Not only was this easier on my wallet than buying new, but it felt like a great accomplishment every time I picked out a new perfect piece; now, two days from the big day,  I’m all ready to dress to impress!

What are your costume ideas?  Leave a comment below!

With Love,

The PeaceKeeper Team

(Writer: Renee Estey.  Editor:  Jessica Smith.  Picture courtesy Dezign Wizard.)