10 Awesome Homemade Halloween Costumes

I love Halloween. Now more so than I used to. Maybe because the act of preparing and thinking about my costume (and that of the family) is half the fun, or maybe because the candy I indulge in now is so much better, who knows?

I found this witty little article funny, for those of you who aren't big planners and prefer preparing your costume last minute:


Every year we say the same thing, “Nope, not spending money on a Halloween costume, just going to stay in, not a chance, harrumph, bah humbug” and all that. And every year, we inevitably end up at some Halloween party, looking like the one asshole who’s too cheap or too morose to wear a damn costume. So, this year, we’re cutting it off at the pass (and helping you out, if you’re anything like us) with ideas for 25 last minute homemade Halloween costumes, all assembled from stuff you probably have in your closet. You don’t even need a very interesting closet, either.

Let’s begin.

1. Daria and Jane

It’s simple, really. Have you got a green jacket, a black pleated skirt and glasses? That’s it for Daria. Combat boots and an orange under shirt are icing on the cake.

Alternatively, if you have a red jacket and dark denim shorts, plus opaque black tights, you’re done for Jane. But you knew that.

2. Jane Goodall

Khaki shorts, khaki button down, ponytail. Bare feet are ideal, astounding natural good looks will also help. And bring a banana!


3. Mia Wallace

Uma Thurman‘s iconic Pulp Fiction heroine Mia Wallace is in the cheap costume hall of fame. You need cropped black pants and a white button down; that’s it. Anything you can do to make your hair resemble hers is a plus, but you can do just as much with a matte lip and a cigarette. And some great dance moves, obviously.

You can also go way dark and tape a syringe to your chest. Or add a trickle of fake blood from your nose.


4. Marilyn Monroe in The Misfits

Want to be Mia Wallace but you’re a blonde? Take that white button down, add jeans, pigtails and cowboy boots and you have Marilyn at her saddest.


5. A Meme

With a tiny bit of effort, you can become your own meme. Make a cardboard sign in the style of any meme and fit it around your head (or do anything else).

6. Alfred E Newman




You didn’t think this was going to be all girls, did you? Quick: think of something more charming than a girl dressed up as Alfred E Newman. …You can’t.

All you need is a black suit (or even just a black jacket), a white shirt and a red ribbon tie. Then, dab on some freckles with eyeliner, and black out one tooth. Or, go the extra lazy route and press a raisin between your teeth.


7. Pris

This was our go-to last minute Halloween costume in college. You get to have a bunch of fun doing crazy eye makeup (you’re never going to use all of that electric blue or hyper-pigmented red Urban Decay pot, so now’s your chance), then you just grab whatever black goth-y stuff you’ve got laying around. Cut out the crotch of an old pair of tights and poke your head through, add a black duster or a leather jacket. You can do garters, too, but we tend to shy away from anything especially SEXY on Halloween.

Also, 7.5: If you take the exact same outfit and do wildly different makeup, you end up with Siouxsie Sioux.


8. Grace Slick

Got anything paisley? Or fringed? Perfect. Whatever flower child-looking boho crap you’ve kept from Sienna Miller‘s reign of relevance will work. Long brown hair is a plus.


9. Quailman

Another budget costume hall of famer. Pull tightie whities on over some shorts, add a towel cape and a belt around your head. No one remembers any other details.


10. Sporty Spice

The cheapest Spice Girl to imitate. Got sneakers, a sports bra and some running pants? Doodle on some tattoos if you’re feeling really ambitious. Or you could just…

For the full article, check out the rest of the costumes here.