Hey grown-ups, Halloween is for you, too. And it’s frightfully easy and affordable to jazz up a store-bought costume with these accessorizing tips.
Take the Princess to the ’80s
Add some ’80s-inspired accessories to an ordinary princess costume for a totally tubular retro vibe. Crimp your hair, then pull it into a side ponytail. A coordinating scrunchie can secure it in place. Add retro makeup, too. Think light-pink lipstick, lots of mascara and dark-pink blush.
A Superhero Becomes Super Scary
Vampire teeth and an “axe-to-the-head” accessory sure change a regular superhero costume. Want to go from heroic to freaky? Glue plastic bugs on your costume’s tights.
Turn a Mermaid Into a Jellyfish
Glue various color streamers inside a large pastel or white umbrella. Let the streamers cascade around you; they’ll look like tentacles! Your revamped mermaid costume will shimmer and shine.
Be a Web Page
Create a large cardboard frame and decorate it to look like a computer screen. Then, position the frame so that your head is the picture inside. Wear an old, white T-shirt and bring markers. Your friends can write “online” comments!
Be a Modern-Day Vampire
Today’s vampires are much less obvious than yesteryear’s. Go to parties in your most stylish suit or jeans outfit — and keep your fangs well-hidden. Dark eyeliner and gray eye shadow help create sunken, dead-looking eyes. A wine-goblet accessory filled with tomato juice complete the vampire look.
Have a Food Fright
Be a ghoulish chef — wear a chef’s coat, hat and black pants. Want a ghostly hue? Spread white powder on your face and hands. Glue plastic food to a tray and carry it with you.
Be Green
This costume requires three people. Cut holes out of three 55-gallon garbage bags — you’ll place your head and arms in there later. Use craft paint to write one word on each bag: “garbage,” “recycling” or “composting.” Then, glue empty bottles and cans to the recycling bag, plastic wrap to the garbage bag, and faux fruits and vegetables to the compost bag.
Go From Cat Woman to Zombie
Got a Cat Woman costume? Remove the tail and paint your fingernails black. Apply pale face powder, wear a long, black wig and carry a dried-flower bouquet.