Look, I get it. You’ve been holed up in Main for the last two weeks, head swimming with visions of scantrons and “your instructor has released your score” Canvas messages. Halloween was but a distant thought on your ten-week horizon, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you weren’t sure if the general population would celebrate the weekend before or after Halloween.
But now that your last midterm is done, you’ve finally taken your phone off of Do Not Disturb, only to be bombarded with a backlog of Partiful links, Indigo Social tickets and “wtm?” texts. A Halloween costume wasn’t even on your mind, but now Amazon is saying delivery by Nov. 1, and you have nothing but the clothes in your closet and maybe a stray pair of cat ears from last year. Panic starts to set in as you realize it’s the 31st, and every Spirit Halloween within a ten-mile radius has been picked over. Your options are limited, your creativity is drained and your bank account is buckling under the weight of that last ticket to TAO you just purchased.
Enter the concept costume, a contested piece of Halloween sartorial ingenuity, but one that has grown all too popular in more recent years. A concept costume is exactly what it sounds like – concepts of a costume. Instead of purchasing a 48-piece Ghostbusters costume (all accessories sold separately), make things a little more abstract. The goal is to dress up as far as possible from the idea you represent while still being recognizable. Everything from a phrase to a beverage is fair game. And the best part? You already have everything you need – or one of your housemates certainly does. Here are a few frighteningly easy concept costumes to pull from the depths of your closet.
1 - Nudist on Strike
This one is for the real last-minute procrastinators – who had their orgo, engineering and data structures and algorithms exams all in one week and are still reeling. It’s so easy.
The Look: Wear a simple outfit. Jeans, a T-shirt or even pajamas will work.
Accessories: A sign that says, “Nudist on Strike.” Binder paper or a dismantled cereal box will serve your purpose just fine.
2 - Party Animals
Don’t pretend you didn’t fall victim to the leopard print trend at the beginning of this year. We know you have some barrel-leg animal print jeans tucked in your closet. This fun, cheeky costume is ultra-easy to pull off – perfect for the wild at heart.
The Look: Choose any animal print in your closet – zebra, leopard, cheetah, giraffe – whatever you have works! A fur coat is also a valid option here as well. If you don’t have animal print or mink in your closet, a plain brown or black base outfit will do the trick, too, but you might need to splurge on a set of cat ears or dig through your roommate's costume bin to drive the look home.
Accessories: Remember when you and your roomies bought that pack of party hats for your other roomie's surprise birthday party? Now is the time to free them from their kitchen drawer prison and give them new life. Pair with playful touches, like animal ears (if you have them) or a headband. Bring along a party blower for a festive twist.
Makeup Tips: Go “wild” with a dark cat eye or draw on some whiskers and a nose to go full “party animal!”
3 - Cocktail Hour
You’re probably not the only one who was blindsided by midterms and is now looking for a last-minute Halloween costume. This costume can be done solo or as a group. Channel the chic, spirited vibe of your favorite drinks with these easy cocktail-inspired costumes.
Espresso Martini
The Look: Wear a sleek brown outfit and add white accessories (a scarf or jewelry) for the “froth.
Accessories: Carry a coffee cup or martini glass and bedazzle your clothes with a few coffee beans for authenticity. If you’re getting crafty, a little bit of glue, a plastic martini glass and a headband will make a great headpiece.
Makeup Tips: Use brown eye shadow and smoky eyeliner to match the espresso vibe. Add a touch of highlighter for a "shaken, not stirred" glow, and finish with a deep, mocha-colored lip.
Classic Martini
The Look: Go for a silver or metallic outfit with green accents.
Accessories: A red hat or a cocktail toothpick hairpiece will go far with this “boo”-zy look.
Makeup Tips: Blend green metallic eye shadow with silver for an extra shimmer. Add sharp winged eyeliner for a sleek, martini-glass effect, and finish with a glossy red lip to represent the classic pimento garnish.
Aperol Spritz
The Look: Anything orange will do – an oversized sweater, a dress, pants or skirt and top.
Accessories: If you have one, a wide-brimmed sun hat will give the perfect European vacation vibe. Hit Main again and print out the classic Aperol logo to attach to your clothes or carry around an orange for major authenticity points.
Makeup Tips: Go for a warm, sun-kissed look with bronzer and peachy blush. Add a soft orange or coral lip to match the outfit, and finish with a bit of highlighter for that “just back from vacation” glow.
4 - The Devils You Know
Okay, I’ll admit it. You might need to hunt for a pair of devil ears to make these costumes work. But, once you get a pair, the world is your pitchfork.
The Jersey Devil
The Look: I know you’re out there, Northwestern New Jerseyans, and boy, do I have a costume for you. A classic New Jersey folktale that even this California girl knows all too well comes to life in this devilish costume. Dress as Snooki or DJ Pauly D – leopard print, big or ultra-gelled hair and maybe add a Hazel Boutique sweatshirt.
Accessories: Carry around a few bagels and stack them on your pitchfork. Devil ears are a must, but don’t worry if you didn’t get a chance to buy a pair – remember the party hats from your party animal costume? Two red ones on your head are easily recognizable as devil ears too.
Makeup Tips: Google Snooki.
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
The Look: Go for a Southern vibe – think sports jerseys (if you’re a Georgia fan up in ole Illinois, this is the one for you), a bandanna, cowboy boots and some denim.
Accessories: If your Bienen friends are feeling generous, a fiddle would complement this look well. If you aren’t a Georgia fan, a simple trip to the library to print out the words “Georgia” will complete this outfit.
The Devil Wears Prada
The Look: No, you don’t have to own that nylon Prada going-out bag all the girlies have to make this one work. Don your most fashionable Miranda Priestly outfit.
Accessories: Look, if you have a Prada bag or sunglasses, by all means, wear them. But, if not, writing Prada on your shirt or printing out the logo is A-OK too.
5 - Marry, Kiss, Kill
This classic sleepover game is now a wearable costume!
Marry
The Look: Wear something white – a dress, pantsuit or plain white tee will do. Or wear a white shirt and tie or tuxedo for a sharp, sophisticated look. Add lace details, satin gloves or pearl accents to evoke classic wedding vibes for extra flair (if you’re so lucky to have these lying around).
Accessories: A veil made from a scarf and some flowers to stick in your lapel or carry as a bouquet are perfect to nuptial-ize this look. Add a "Just Married" sash or a ring prop for extra commitment to the theme.
Kiss
The Look: Something bold and romantic (A.K.A. red) will do. A red dress or red tee is the easiest option here.
Accessories: Carry around a tube of lipstick for reapplication throughout the night.
Makeup Tips: Rock a statement red or pink lipstick and, as a special someone to add a few kiss marks to your face.
Kill
The Look: An edgy dark aesthetic with black clothing – a black leather jacket, ripped jeans or a black dress.
Accessories: A knife? A fork? You name it – anything can be deadly. Did you know that pillows can be fatal too?
Makeup Tips: If your friends got their Halloween acts together before you did, ask to borrow some of their fake blood. It’ll look great in your digital camera pictures.
Whether you're heading out to a house party or a bar crawl this Halloween, ditch Jeff Bezos and his empty promises of Halloween delivery. You already have everything you need.
Thumbnail image by Conner Dejecacion / North by Northwestern