When you were a little girl, Halloween was about going out at dusk with the neighborhood parents and seeing who could score the most candy in their pillowcase before ten o’clock. Then when you hit 7th grade, you were obviously “too cool” to go trick or treating and instead elected to stay home and secretly eat your kid brother’s loot when he returned. Fortunately for you, Halloween is – well, the bomb – for collegiettes everywhere. Lindsay Lohan a la Mean Girls couldn’t have said it any truer, “Halloween is the one day of the year when girls can dress like sl*ts and no other girls can say anything about it.” But really, who wants to be called  out as Party City’s sexy referee, bumblebee, or policewoman for the third year in a row? HerCampus is here with some ideas for flirty, fun costumes that you can make yourself – go on, save some money and be the life of the party!
1.    For the little kid in all of us…
We all want to go back to the days of fairytales and constantlyÂ
dress up as princesses. Why not go as other characters reminiscent of childhood? Go for a My Little Pony costume with a brightly colored tube dress. You can make this out of an ordinary t-shirt, paint some cute symbols like hearts or rainbows on it, and create a tail with brightly colored hair extensions from Claire’s! You can add tinsel and sparkles all over your hair and skin, compliment with some crazy makeup and you’re suddenly you’re magical.
If you’re going out as a group, why not dress up as the brightest crayon in the box? Yes, I’m serious. Grab a couple of different colored T-shirts, create your own crayola logo and hats, and accessorize with anything and everything of your chosen color! Â
2.    If you’re a pop culture junkie…
Skip out on Lady Gaga or Ke$ha this year and instead opt for emulating
Nicki Minaj or Taylor Swift. Purchase a crazycolored or flowing blonde wig, respectively, and dress it up with fabulous rock star attire. If you’re going for Nicki’s look, slip into your highest heels and brightest fabrics and accessories for an outlandish statement that will definitely get you noticed. As Taylor, you’ll take country cutie to a whole new level. Wear your cutest sundress, carry around a mini guitar, and rock your favorite cowboy boots. If you’re not into dressing up as a singer,take a look around at any
crazy celebrity and use your creativity!
But please – no more Snookie poofs.Â
3.    Obsessed with television? We’ve got you covered…
If you’d rather catch up on one of your seven religiously watched television programs than worry about buying a costume, HerCampus has a costume idea for you. Dress up as Sookie or Jessica from the wildly popular True Blood series. You can easily make your own – or just as easily purchase – a “Merlotte’s” T-shirt and apron. Pair with your shortest black or denim shorts, cute sneakers, and a bottle of true blood. If you’re looking for something a little sexier, vamp up the make up and add a set of classic party fangs. You’ll be your favorite character in no time! Not into vampires? Choose a character from the Mad Men series, or even Glee. Taking an idea from a popular TV show gives you so many options. Remember, you don’t have to literally become their doppelganger for others to know who you are. Emulate their style or a type of clothing (Hello, Mad Men 50’s fashion anyone?!) and your fellow partygoers will get the picture.
4. If you’re always the life of the party…
Own it and be proud! Grab a group of your craziest party girlsÂ
and literally become the party (If you’re over twenty-one that is.)
logos on them. In a college environment, it won’t be hard at all to find enough for you and your friends!
Now if you’re not twenty-one, you can just as easily do this with your soft drink of choice.Â
5.    Have a sweet tooth? Let it out!
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Create a costume based around your favorite candy and be a sweet treat for everyone at the party! Get creative and write flirty sayings on colorful t-shirts, dress or other outfits. If you decided to be a blow pop for example, your chosen slogan would be obvious. Be a gummy bear and wear neon colored cat ears to match your outfits, or a Hershey “Kiss”! If you’re feeling really daring, choose to wear the candy bikinis you can find at your local novelty shops. You’ll look almost good enough to eat – literally.
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The key here is to pick an idea that you haven’t seen hundreds of times before. The more part of day-to-day life your costume is, the more you will wow the crowds when it comes time to debut your Halloween alter ego. Put a different spin on a well-known costume, and don’t be afraid to try something totally out of your comfort zone. With a little thought and effort, you can have a “spook”tacular costume this Halloween – grab your friends, get pumped, and get costuming!Â