By Kiki Johanson
Oct. 15, Volume 47 Issue 1
If you’re sick of wasting your money on those big box halloween store costumes then here’s some cheap and easy ideas for you.
Some local cosplayers are gearing up for the halloween season where their talents can be applied. It’s not hard to get creative and fun on a shoestring budget, all you’ll really need to buy is some makeup and accessories.
One continuously cool costume idea is a good ol’ fashioned zombie.
“When assembling a zombie costume, you want to start out with some clothing you don’t care about,” said Daisy Lang, a local costume maker. “Jeans and a T-shirt are classic. You can create it while wearing the costume by adding a few tears and grass stains.
Makeup is crucial to getting that true undead look.
“Use foundation and baby powder to add paleness to the skin, earth tone eyeshadows to add sunken features, blue tones under the skin around the lips and under the eyes to show a lack of oxygen. Don’t be afraid to look dirty,” Lang said. “You’re the disheveled, ravenous undead. Add some wounds if you can.”
Prepare to get dirty and crazy, as this costume is a perfect low key option that can usually be created with household things.
“Fake blood can be simulated using corn syrup and red food coloring, but it will stain clothing and skin,” Lang said. “Finally is character. Get into it and have some fun.”
Another easy costume you could use everyday clothing for is a kitty or any other tailed animal with this tail craft.
“While more time-consuming than some projects, it’s not hard to make your own tail and ear accessories for a cat, wolf, or fox costume, and it only costs about $15,” said Oliver Finn, a local cosplayer
Assembly of the tails seems complicated, but all you really need is some patience and maybe a wikihow.
“First you need yarn. For the tail, make a base using a four-strand braid(tied at the bottom end with a rubber band),” Finn said. “This should leave a space at the top where you can put a way to attach it where you need it. After that, cut strands of yarn of the desired “fur” length, knotted in the middle of each group of 3-4.”
“Brush these with a dog brush until fluffy, straighten with a hair straightener, and brush some more,” Finn said. “After that, all you need to do is sew them onto the base you made earlier(When you get to the end you’ll need to sew them on to the knots of the ones you already attached).
“It’s easy to get creative, and you can make super fluffy tails for all sorts of costumes,” said Finn. “If you like, you can even make a matching set of ears by sewing the fluffy yarn onto fabric and attaching that to craft foam of the desired shape. Then, attach to a headband and ta-dah!”