After an extra-long summer, the leaves in Menomonie are finally starting to turn orange and crunch beneath our steps. As the weather gets chillier, the excitement for Halloween at the end of the month is vibrant within the school. Every day, it feels almost impossible to dodge the question: “What are you being for Halloween?” I sent out a survey to fellow students to learn where everyone’s head is at for the holiday this year, and here’s what I learned:
92.3% of students plan on dressing up for Halloween.
41.5% of students plan on having two or more Halloween costumes.
89.1% of students plan on spending money on their Halloween costumes.
60.9% of students plan on spending over $25 on Halloween costumes this year.
After seeing these results, it’s clear that money tends to burn a hole in college students’ pockets this time of year. There is definitely pressure across social media to have the most unique costume that’s also flattering and clever; it can quickly become overwhelming! In this survey, I also gathered what costumes people are thinking of dressing in. The top 3 most popular costume categories were “Video Game References,” “Celebrity/Pop Culture,” and “Characters.” Since many of these costume categories can rack up a bill quickly, I have made a list of alternative pieces to purchase that will allow your costume to be relevant and recognizable while also staying within your budget.
1. Sims Character
Starting off with the most budget-friendly option, a Sims Character is incredibly relevant this year due to the popularity of video game-themed costumes. All this costume requires is wearing any outfit you’d like with a Sims diamond, called a Plumbob above your head. While there are plenty of headband options to buy, there are also downloadable Plumbob templates that you can cut from green construction paper and tape to a headband yourself. Buying green, sparkly pipe cleaner and shaping the diamond with that is an elevated version of making it yourself!
2. Mario
Dressing as Mario has been a classic choice for years! It’s easily recognizable and still incredibly relevant throughout the years. If you already own a red shirt, denim bottoms (preferably overalls), and a red hat, most of your costume is already complete! On your red hat, take white tape to make an “M,” or tape an “M” logo onto the hat! To elevate the costume, wearing a fake (or real) mustache and white gloves will allow the character to be even more recognizable.
3. Sabrina Carpenter
Calling all blondes!(or anyone really interested in wearing a blonde wig.) While pop stars as a whole were popular costume ideas this year, Sabrina Carpenter has so many looks to copy and be recognized as. For a cheaper option, her “Manchild” music video costume was incredibly simple, as her big, blonde hair was more of the outfit! To accomplish her “Manchild” look, wear a long-sleeved, white button-up shirt and tie it to create a cropped style. For bottoms, Sabrina wears denim shorts in the video, but any denim bottoms will do in our Wisconsin weather! For shoes, Sabrina wears platform heels, but any silver shoe will do! Remember, the bigger your hair, the better your costume.
4. Superman
Superman has always been a recognizable character, but his relevance will be strong this year following the movie that came out this summer. While buying an entire Superman suit may not be financially achievable, purchasing a Superman logo shirt is! Pair this shirt with a white button-up dress top and black dress pants to achieve the iconic off-duty Superman look. A pair of glasses isn’t necessary; however, it’ll elevate your costume to look a little less last-minute.
5. Men In Black
Another classic costume! While the full-out costume would require a whole suit, the most important part is the black blazer. Any other suit items you have will enhance your look, but a black blazer will be recognizable enough! The most important detail is all black sunglasses, which can be bought from any convenience store at a low price, since the quality doesn’t need to be great. A fun prop to include with this costume is a toy weapon, such as a water gun or a foam-bullet gun!
At the end of the day, animal ears or a witch’s hat can make any outfit a costume, but the creativity from taking a few extra steps will allow you to stand out this Halloween. I hope this list was able to relieve some of your costume budget anxieties, cause the scariest thing this fall should be Halloween.
Happy Halloween!
