Between Homecoming and the height of midterm season, late October is a busy time at Amherst College. But don’t forget that Halloween is just around the corner – and that means a full weekend of costume parties! Don’t worry, though – a bunch of midterms doesn’t mean that you can’t create an awesome last-minute Halloween costume that’s also cheap and convenient. Here are five costumes that every Collegiette™ can find the materials for in her own dorm room closet.
Snooki
For better or worse, Jersey Shore’s smallest, loudest cast member has become something of a fashion icon in recent years. Snooki’s look is distinctive, and also easy to replicate. All you need is a short black dress or a long shirt with leggings. Any sort of animal print helps, too. Straighten your hair and style it in Snooki’s distinctive “poof” style, and don’t be afraid to go crazy with the black eyeliner pencil. There you have it – instant Halloween costume. (Gaudy jewelry Italian flags, and duck phones earn you bonus points.)
Mummy
This one requires a little more prep time, but the end result is totally worth it. First, find a white shirt and shorts/leggings. Then, cut an old white t-shirt or sheet into strips. Tie the strips around your arms, legs, and neck, using tape to keep them in place if needed. Use one tie as a headband. If you want, use makeup to give your eyes a sunken look, or use a red (washable!) marker to give yourself fake scars.
Thing 1 and Thing 2
This is a fun and easy costume to do with a friend. Simply find red shirts and shorts/leggings. Make two circles out of white construction paper (or a cut-up white tee, if you have one around) and write “THING 1” and “THING 2” on them in sharpie. Use safety pins to fix them to the shirts. If you have the time and cash, blue wash-out hairspray can be found at Target, Wal-Mart, Michael’s, or many other PVTA-accessible stores in the area.
Tom Cruise in Risky Business
This is probably the most low-maintenance, low-prep costume on this list. All you need to channel your inner Tom Cruise is a white button-down shirt (borrow one from a male friend if you don’t have one that’s long enough), a pair of (appropriate!) underwear, and tube socks. If anyone asks what you are, just slide across a floor or start singing “Old Time Rock ‘N Roll” – they’ll get it.
Superheroes
With the right color spandex and a little creativity, you could conceivably dress up as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Green Lantern or any other comic book hero. But for a creative twist, why not get a bunch of friends together and make up your own superheroes? For a fun midterm study break, you and your friends can design t-shirts with your own superhero name and emblem. Use under armor or leggings in wacky colors along with a belt and paper mask to create the rest of the costume, and tie a sheet around your neck for a makeshift cape.
So even if you don’t have time to make it to the Hampshire Mall by next weekend, don’t fret – there are tons of awesome Halloween costumes waiting right in your closet.