Costume Quest Leads to Innovative Scavenging

Author: Jen LaRosa Staff Writer

Oftentimes students will find themselves waiting until the last minute to plan their Halloween attire and, as a result, costumes end up lacking in creativity and being of the same old generic genre as last year's disguise. However, here is a last minute guide to planning an original, yet inexpensive Halloween costume that is sure to find you dressed to kill come Halloween night.

As your brain begins to overload with worries about what to be for Halloween and where to find the perfect costume, you can start by searching the Internet for both ideas and costumes. Simply use your favorite search engine and type in "halloween costumes." Over 100 sites will come up with general ideas, cheap stores, makeup hints and make-your-own costume suggestions. You can find everything from spandex-wear to Disney costumes to sexy nun attire. Obviously, if you have waited until today to buy a costume, there's no point in ordering one online, but you can use the Internet as a resource for costume ideas.

If Internet shopping isn't your favorite pastime or that perfect "Johnny Luv Pimp" outfit is out of stock, then just make your way down College Street into town to find equally affordable and snazzy costumes.

Ben Franklin is a great store to find the necessities for a little homemade Halloween fun. From sheets of fabric to already-made accessories, the possibilities are endless. The store also has a costume selection downstairs that offers some eye-catching outfits. Although the pre-packaged costumes are pretty generic and labeled "one size fits all," they may contain some acceptable pieces that can be put to good use.

There is also a great thrift shop called Neat Repeats Resale Shop on Bakery Lane that serves a more daring shopper. If you're looking for a unique costume, one that expresses your true individuality, then a thrift shop may be just the place for you. Not only will you find clothes from all different decades, but you will also find clothes that fit sufficiently well for practically nothing. Currently, the store is offering a 20 percent sale on anything orange in order to celebrate the Halloween spirit.

"The thrift shop is a very creative and cheap alternative for dressing for Halloween. Having trouble coming up with a traditional costume, I was able to be inventive and come up with the idea of becoming a southern homeboy. I found a pair of overalls, a wig, a corncob pipe, a flannel shirt and a straw hat for just $22," said Andrew Feinberg '04.

There is also a vintage store called BeJewelled on Frog Hollow Alley that has several racks of vintage costumes all for $10 or less. The store also offers a plethora of accessories, including hats, belts and scarves.

For the truly ecomically thrifty, creative minds can be put to use to invent costumes from within your own wardrobe and with the help of your roommate's closet. Piece together the most offensively colored articles of clothing you own, and if possible a little splatter-painted denim, match them with an '80s hairstyle and you have yourself a Madonna-inspired '80s costume. Or model yourself after a famous celebrity or rock star simply by mimicing his or her style.

Once you've found the outfit of your choice and patted yourself on the back for your excellent quick-thinking skills, it's time to turn to decorations and candy. Granted you can be lazy and have your mom send you cheezy Halloween decorations from home, but how about a little individuality?

Ames and Shaw's are stocked with candy corn, bags of assorted chocolates and pumpkin lights. The Rainbow Room on Main Street is also having a 50 percent off sale on all Halloween decorations.

Now you have the costume, the candy, the decorations and the occasion. You're confident in your choices, and you are ready to go out in style. Now just try to forget about that 8 a.m. class tomorrow morning.