You swore you weren’t dressing up for Halloween this year. Who needs to do that? Not you, the campus rebel. But the night before all the celebrations, you got sucked in. Now, you’re left with the burning desire to party — and zero costume inspiration (or money saved up).
Relax. I got you covered. Or, more specifically, TikTok does.Â
TikTok’s more than a place to watch people do crazy dances and challenges. It also offers dress-up motivation. Don’t have 30 minutes to check out all the #Halloween hashtags? No problem. I’ve done the heavy lifting on your behalf.
So if you’re looking for cheap last-minute Halloween costumes that fit your ramen noodle budget, check out these ideas.
- Go for the gore and guts.
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Not gonna lie: Adding a little blood to the most mundane outfit turns it sexier, wilder, and perfect for dorm trick-or-treats. Seriously. If you want to fit right in with the rest of the ghouls, drizzle some inexpensive fake blood (or make your own) on your face, hands, and clothes.Â
Dead cheerleader? Check. Serial killer athlete? You’re golden. No matter what’s in your closet, you can have a complete costume in an instant. Bonus points if you can adopt a cold, lifeless stare.
- Join a team theme.
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Maybe some of your friends decided that twinning was winning for Halloween. As long as their get-ups are simple, ask to turn their twins into triplets. The point here is to ride the coattails of other people’s imaginations.
Of course, you aren’t made of money. Look for themes that are easy and affordable to pull off, like everyone dressing in beach attire or as dolls. All you have to do is look like you fit in.
- Dress like a friend.
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Okay, I love this because it is absolutely one of the most economical and silly costume suggestions. First, ask your friend’s roommate to grab a few outfit pieces your friend normally wears. This should be done when your friend isn’t around. Then, wear those clothes as your costume.
As long as your friend is as laidback as you, this can turn into a great experience. Don’t be surprised if your friend decides to return the favor. It’s all good. Just be sure to take lots of pics of the two of you in each other’s normal duds.
- Think retro.
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Every generation has its calling cards. The ’60s were hippie culture, the ’70s were disco… you get the picture. Chances are strong you can find something in your room to embrace a retro look.
A super-simple one is to toss on a bunch of neon outfits, add a dash of huge hoop earrings, tease your hair sky-high, and say you’re in the 1980s. Oh, and put on plenty of thick blue eye shadow followed by too much blush on your cheeks.Â
- Strip your bed.
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You say it’s 8 p.m. and everyone’s heading out in half an hour? Don’t panic. Instead, challenge yourself to make the most of whatever’s on your bed: pillowcases, blankets, maybe a stuffed animal.
Your twin XL microfiber sheets can be twisted and turned into a Roman toga fast. (Wear shorts and a crop top underneath, even if you think you’re totally covered. Trust me.) Alternately, you could toss them over your head, cut holes for eyes, and go full-blown ghost. If you have a backup pair of sheets you’ll never use, you can cut them into strips and turn yourself into a tomb-ready mummy.
- Go wild with makeup.
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I always have tons of makeup that I never, ever use. You might, too. Halloween can be the excuse you need to pull out all those eyeliners, eyeshadows, lipsticks, and tubes of glitter gel. Sit in front of your mirror and see what happens next.
Even if you’re not exactly an artist, you may be pleased by what you come up with. I’ve seen people decorate their faces with designs as well as just glam everything up. And if you get 100% stuck? Paint cat whiskers on your cheeks with an eyebrow pencil and wear something tight and black. Works every time. (Just don’t forget to take care of your skin afterwards!)
- Serve up some upcycled creativity.
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Let’s say you have a little time and want to do something completely unique for your costume. Rather than head to town and hit up Target, poke around your campus. Look for discarded items, like otherwise clean cardboard boxes or fabric that the theater department was going to toss. Evaluate everything you have and construct a homemade (and sustainable!) costume.
For example, you could turn a box into the “body” of a robot. Attach some wires, mirrors, etc., and use shoulder straps to support the box around your torso. Make your face look silvery and you’ve just made technology cool again.
Point is, you shouldn’t stay in on Halloween. You shouldn’t have to beg your parents to Venmo you, either. With some clever and cheap costuming tricks, you can treat yourself to tons of campus fun.