If you are anything like me (slightly vain and don’t want to post the same costume on social media multiple times or want to celebrate Halloween, the way your sixteen-year-old emo self-wished for); you will understand the desire to be wearing a different Halloween costume every time you leave the house.
So, as someone in their third year of university here’s my guide to doing Halloween costumes with a conscience and on the cheap, because let’s be honest we all know the real point of Halloween is to scare… your liver.
Last year I did five different costumes; four of which were on consecutive nights and for under twenty pound in total.
Here’s how:
Night One: Bongo’s Bingo at Home.
Now I’m sure it is common knowledge that every nineteen-year-old girl wishes to dress up as Lord Farquaad and even more so, wishes to be told by her friends that you actually look like him, so it won’t be hard for you to do the costume.
Unfortunately, my friends were right, and it wasn’t hard for me to do this costume well. I decided to go without the cloak and hat, whilst they are both important parts of his look it is not something you wouldn’t recognise him without; and I could not figure when I would ever again need to own a cape or THAT hat, and I am on a student budget over here!
Next, we reach hair- fortunately, or unfortunately for me, I did happen to have a very similar haircut and therefore actually had to do nothing to my hair but wash it because look at that sheen on his (Lord Farquaad tell me your ways). The eyebrows and stubble were drawn on with eyeliner (no I did not grow them myself don’t be rude!) and the raising of one eyebrow was something I practiced for many months on the run up to the day (I didn’t know I could do it either but after 6 VKs, 8 beers, and more shots than I can count it turns out I can do anything).
Regarding his dress? (I’m honestly not sure that’s what to call it) I didn’t have a red dress so decided on a red jumper which I borrowed from a friend and a black skirt which I used to wear to work.
I then used a belt that was my mums from the 2000s as well the pair of black leather gloves she leant me for the night.
Now you can’t see the bottom part of my outfit, but I wore black tights and knee-high boots, copying his look (what can I say, him other than Aoife O’Farrell is my main fashion inspo).
Whilst my outfit for this may have been far from perfect, I was easily recognisable whilst spending no money on the costume; allowing me to not only make sure I didn’t line the wallets of fast fashion companies but also be protecting my own.
Night Two: Wednesday Social.
Whilst I’m not suggesting everyone dresses up as Spock this year, this was my favourite; and unfortunately, my most expensive.
I knew I wanted to do a Spock costume as I had recently rewatched Star Trek Next Gen and was inspired by Emily Muir (@emily.j.muir on Tiktok) when I realised I could do Spock in a dress because guess what- your Halloween costume does not need to be 100% accurate.
I also knew I really wanted to do at least one costume wearing these boots as I did not (and do not) wear them as much as I should do due to them not being that comfortable (just ask my boyfriend who has had to walk home in them after multiple nights out- he’s an expert now).
For the dress, I purchased it off Vinted and then went onto wear it for my brothers birthday and a couple of nights out before selling it on Vinted myself (and actually making a profit).
Next we’ll come to my badge- in an ideal world I would have also had a communicator but could not find one second hand and did not wish to spend money on something I would never use again. The badge was just made with cardboard (approximately five minutes before leaving the house) and an earring.
Regarding the blue eyeshadow, I exaggerated this an arguably totally unnecessarily amount, and I did this for one reason and one reason only- I wanted to. Whilst Halloween is about dressing up as others you also need to remember to have fun with it and you are allowed to make the costumes feel more like you.
Last but not least we reach the ears- the only part of the costume that I bought new because and now this may surprise some of you, it’s hard to buy second hand elf style ears. I had to buy a pack off amazon but expect to wear them again this Halloween for a fairy costume, or who knows maybe just to roam the streets of Hull.
P.S It was a rough night.
Night Three: Welly (club).
Now for anyone who is or has been a student at the University of Hull you will understand how hard it is to get into Welly for Halloween, the year before we had been turned away on the door so this year we planned, all tickets were bought early and the only thing holding me back was my hangover from what I can only presume was a good night the night before.
Whilst I be may lacking in photos, and undoubtedly was lacking in straight up just being well, I was certainly not lacking in spirit and in true Mia Wallace style (that’s who I’m supposed to be in this picture) I danced the night away.
Now this was my easiest costume of all as once again I already had a very key part of her look nailed- the hair, and luckily in her film she did not have the same level of sheen as Lord Farquaad.
The white shirt, I already owned as I own a weird number of shirts for someone who has never once had a job where you are required to wear one.
I wore black jeans as the capri epidemic had not quite started last October (although I did own a denim pair so look at me being a trendsetter) and then I chose to just wear my Dr Martens- I thought Mia Wallace would approve and seen as I couldn’t go barefoot to dance (honestly would love to but bare feet in the club sounds like an even worse idea than an ashtray on a motorbike) I decided Dr Martens were my best option.
Finally, I just used a red lipstick for my lips and to replicate the blood from the nosebleed; if you’re trying to achieve a more natural look I would suggest to just be really annoying and someone will probably punch you and give you one.
Night Four: Random Party I Wasn’t Invited To.
Now next up we have another traditional costume- lasagne.
Now this was never supposed to be my costume but my much more talented; much much more patient; and much much much better friend than I am (he still talks to me after I was sick whilst wearing it) made it for his Halloween costume but wasn’t wearing it that night.
I cannot tell you much about this costume over than I did, in my opinion, an incredible job of not getting any sick on it after downing three pints back-to-back-to-back before 9pm.
Night Five: Town (Clubs).
My final costume was a leopard, I had lost all my creativity by this point (I’m fairly sure it came up with the beer the night before) and was not originally planning on going out this night but I never say no to the opportunity of looking a little like Kat Slater. I love leopard print which is why I chose to be a leopard and my friend who owned a lot of black decided on being a cat, so we did not have to buy anything.
All the clothes I’m wearing in this picture were from my wardrobe and I even had a pair of leopard print earrings I chose to wear. To make it clear I was a leopard, and not just Kat Slater in a lot of leopard print. I used eyeshadow to draw leopard print spots all over my face and chest and arms, which honestly worked a treat to cover any preexisting spots or acne scars.
I chose to do two spikey buns on my head to resemble ears as well as giving a sort of Y2K vibe I felt the rest of the outfit was giving (and it meant I didn’t have wash my hair).
So, that’s it from me, I need to go source a second hand purple skirt for a halloween costume this year but thanks for reading and happy halloween!
Maria x