Halloween Costumes | Making Easy Costumes

When you think of easy Halloween costumes for your kids to wear you do not always have to think of the traditional themes of goblins, zombies, vampires or witches. Today's children are less concerned about any traditions and more concerned about having fun. You can always buy or rent the costumes that resemble super heroes or movie characters. But it is also possible to create your own unique and imaginative Halloween costumes without incurring the expense of a rental or buying one. A few old or beat up clothes, an imaginative choice of accessories, some make up, some exaggeration and time, and you are ready. Old clothes can be bought at thrift stores pretty cheaply if you don't have any at home. Let's see what ideas we can come up with.

Old and worn dark clothes, such as an old suit, combined with face paint, can be used to create a hobo costume. Sew or stick on some patches, create a few rips and fraying edges, and add an old felt hat, possibly even a Charley Chaplin cane (or perhaps a bottle wrapped in a paper bag in the jacket pocket). You can use face paint to portray this tired, dirty and weather beaten character even more realistically.

Here is another idea. Start with just an old white coat. If you can get hold of an old stethoscope, or make something like it up with some tubing, you are well on your way to looking like a doctor. Add a red cross to the coat with some fabric paint, and make up the face with a mustache and some face paint to look like an older man. Somebody in the family might have an old x-ray photograph revealing bones that could be carried. Add a clip board and a treat bag or pail.

You could start with another old white coat, and turn your character into a mad scientist or a geeky nerd using the same approach, with relevant accessories like a stack of pens in the pocket and some make up. The mad scientist could wear a wig to resemble Einstein and the geek could wear a propeller hat. Let your imagination run wild. Use items that have been stored away and you forgot you had.

A princess outfit can also start with a low cost basic item of clothing, in this case a dress with simple elegant lines, not necessarily full length, and dress shoes. Then concentrating on adding large quantities of sparkling fake jewels in the way of a tiara or crown, necklace, brooch, rings and perhaps a wand, and giving close attention to make up. You will soon have a gorgeous princess look. Silver foil and stick-on shiny artificial gemstones and beads are low cost ways of creating exaggerated jewelry. A brand name shopping bag would make an appropriate treat bag.

Clothes from an earlier generation found in a family wardrobe or thrift shop can be used to create old man or old lady characters. Most of the effort would go into making up the faces and hair to create the aged look. A walking stick for the old man and an old-style handbag for the lady are appropriate accessories.

Starting with simple old clothes you can come up with a variety of Halloween costumes. Combine, or work in, some make up and accessories and you can create a look of an earlier decade, such as the hippie era. You may even want to try to recreate a pop star from the past, such as Elvis. Let your imagination be your inspiration.

Want to know how to hunt ghosts? The definitive guide here: I Want To Be a Ghost Hunter

Want to make your kid's costumes or throw a kid's party? I Want To Throw a Party