As the spooky season approaches, students rush to put together their Halloween costumes. Retail costume stores can get pricey, so students may need to get creative when assembling their ensembles. Here are some options for UT San Antonio students to fashion their Halloween getups on a budget.
Goodwill
Popular thrift chain Goodwill is the go-to option for Halloween accessories; there is a location only 10 minutes away from Main Campus at 12332 IH-10 W. With a seasonal aisle full of Halloween paraphernalia, the second-hand store is the perfect choice for a custom costume. Themed tights, with patterns like ladybug dots and paw prints go for just $5. For the same price, cheetah print elbow-length gloves with claw nails make the perfect accent to an animal costume.
Goodwill’s options go beyond just decoration for appendages. A $2 pointed hat makes the perfect topping to a witch costume. If a hat is not stylish enough, the variety of $7 wigs, from mullets to 70s afros, makes up for it. Temporary hair dye for $4 can give anyone’s hair that pop of color needed to complete a costume.
As for facial decor, $2 strip lashes and vampire makeup kits can be the perfect finishing touch for an alluring or creepy getup. For those who prefer to hide their face entirely, $7 goblin and Frankenstein masks are the ideal choice for a low-effort costume.
Walmart
Walmart, sitting in the shopping center right by Goodwill, has some cheaper options if one knows where to look. $5 headband ears are a great addition to any animal costume. For just $4 more, sets come with animal print bowties and tails as well.
Facial accessory sets come in many varieties, with one for each type of costume. A $5 clown kit comes with stickers and white paint, and a $9 monster makeup kit is perfect for any scary getup. For flexibility, a $4 horror palette comes with many colors to choose from if one is undecided on their costume. Facial crayons and creams for $1 can aid in doing those smaller details that will bring an entire outfit together.
Do not be intimidated by the pricier costumes that Walmart’s aisles carry. A deeper scan of all the options will reveal some perfect for a tight budget, with $12 capes, robes and ponchos that prove terrific options for eerie ensembles. The same price will buy a wig, which can be adorned with the $2 wig caps. For $20, one can purchase an entire ghost bride, vampire or pirate costume in one bag.
Do-It-Yourself
Some closet staples already owned by many can be used to fashion an ensemble. A simple black skirt or pants paired with a black top and eyeliner whiskers make the perfect cat costume. Printed patterns, like leopard print or zebra stripes, can be taped on to turn it into any animal imaginable. Printers can be found in the John Peace Library on Main Campus, where UT San Antonio students have an allotted $12 print credit per semester.
With so many fictional princesses, one can surely be found to fit any color dress found in a closet. Printed accessories can customize it for accuracy, such as for Princess Peach’s blue pendant on the chest or Snow White’s red sleeve accents. A tiara can be fashioned with a paper crown hot-glued to a headband. Matching prince outfits can be made out of white button-up shirts adorned with a belt around the waist and a pair of slacks.
Props for any character can be made with cardboard and a little creativity. Simply sketch and cut out a shape for hand-held accessories, like weapons or a facial mask. Paint markers and printed designs can be used to detail the final touches for any Halloween costume.
