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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Texas chapter.

The days surrounding Halloween make up a huge party weekend for Longhorns, and it’s sneaking up on us!  If you don’t have a lot of extra cash, buying expensive costumes to last all weekend can be a bummer. Try this instead: make costumes out of clothes and accessories you already own, and add a few cheap pieces to complete your spooky attire!
Here are four weekend-worthy costume ideas that are both inexpensive and easily accessible to college students. Happy Halloween, and party hard!
 
Airy Fairy
 
Last summer’s maxi dress is perfect for creating a sweet, floaty costume. Pastel, metallic or earth tones work best, but patterns and bright colors can be just as fun. Dig out your embellished sandals and paint your fingernails and toenails a metallic shade. Use bright purple eyeshadow to make your eyes pop, line them with glittery eyeliner and glue feathery falsies to your lash line. Use extra eyelash glue to attach small rhinestones to the corners of your eyes, then brighten your cheeks with pink blush. Bat your eyelashes, put on your lightest, girliest voice, and work your magic!

DIY Kitty Cat
 
Every collegiette™ should own a LBD! Pair your classic dress with a pair of patterned, solid or black tights, or add a splash of color for a twist. Grab your black headband, cut out two triangles of black paper or felt and attach them to the band with tape or glue. Use liquid eyeliner to draw whiskers and a nose on your face. If you are worried about sweat smudging your kitty face, you can simply use the liner to create winged liner on your lash line, giving your eyes a cat-like look. Add red lipstick, red or black heels and strut your stuff!


The Hangover

 
Channel your inner Ke$ha with sequined hot pants or cutoff denim shorts. Grab an old, faded t-shirt and distress it with ripped sleeves and a beaded fringe hem. Break out your best smoky eye skills and don an oversized, super-dark pair of sunglasses. For your feet, lace up a pair of ratty Chucks, knee-high suede boots or combats. Carry a bottle of water, muss up your hair and groan whenever people talk too loudly, and enjoy reminding people of what they’ll be like after a weekend of spooky shenanigans!

One Night Stand
 
If you are into clever costumes, step into a neutral colored dress, preferably in brown or beige. Swipe on metallic copper or gold eyeshadow, then layer on gold necklaces to mimic accents on a night table. A trip to Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart is necessary for a miniature lamp shade. Since your costume is mostly neutral, pick a fun animal print, color or texture. Glue the mini shade to a wide headband, slip into a pair of heels and voila! One nightstand.

Photo Credits:
All clothes, accessories and shoes shoes: Forever21.com
All makeup: Ulta.com
Lampshade: HobbyLobby.com

Bernice Chuang is a fourth year double majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Communication Studies-Human Relations and doing the Business Foundations Program (aka business minor) at the University of Texas at Austin. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Bernice is a fan of good country music and yummy barbeque! At UT, Bernice is a resident assistant at an all-female residence hall and currently serves as a senator representing her residence hall, Kinsolving, on the Resident Assistant Association. She also leads a small group bible study for Asian American Campus Ministries and sings with her campus ministries’ a cappella group. When she’s not juggling her various roles and commitments, Bernice enjoys exploring downtown Austin, shopping with her fellow RA staff members, reading books on faith and spirituality, learning how to cook and tackling various dessert recipes, and spending quality time with friends.