2008 Woodie Awards
Halloween on the fly: Making last minute costumes
Aaron Stein-Chester
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Halloween
Typically, I start thinking about my Halloween costume about a half an hour before attending holiday functions. This year, I decided to get a little more organized. My first party was at 9 p.m., so I started calling costume shops at 6:50 the same evening.
"Hi, how late are you open?" I asked, politely desperate. "7 p.m., sir." No deal. Since I happened to be driving to Los Angeles, I made the same call to a few shops in West L.A. "8 p.m., more or less," said one. And so, I decided to do what I normally do: rummage around the house.
What I've learned when faced with a last minute costume quandary is not to panic. Not showing up in some ornate, expensive outfit won't make you a target of ridicule. Sure, you can go out and spend $50 on a hot dog outfit and get some cheap laughs at a party. That's easy.
"Woah-ho, look at that wild guy in the hot dog costume," they'll say. "I bet he's funny." Then, they'll forget about it in five minutes because they've seen 20 other poor saps in the same, store-bought outfit. But a costume that's totally original: unforgettable.
Making a costume, you can decide your level of involvement. Costume shops all place varying dollar amounts on the same ten-minute drive to the store. When you're pulling a costume out of nowhere, it accurately shows how much time and effort you put into it. This can work in your favor, though it's a gamble.
If your costume falls flat, you break even because time is equal to investment. But just think: if you spend no time at all putting a costume together that's a hit, it's that much more impressive. Looking good without trying: fashion rule number one. Fifteen minutes and next to nothing spent on your costume, and Mr. Hot Dog Suit is $50 in the hole and put to shame.
There are the tried and true household items that can always make a simple costume: flour, sheets, and pillows, but try to expand on them. They can always be used in a pinch, but incorporate them into more original creations.
"Hi, how late are you open?" I asked, politely desperate. "7 p.m., sir." No deal. Since I happened to be driving to Los Angeles, I made the same call to a few shops in West L.A. "8 p.m., more or less," said one. And so, I decided to do what I normally do: rummage around the house.
What I've learned when faced with a last minute costume quandary is not to panic. Not showing up in some ornate, expensive outfit won't make you a target of ridicule. Sure, you can go out and spend $50 on a hot dog outfit and get some cheap laughs at a party. That's easy.
"Woah-ho, look at that wild guy in the hot dog costume," they'll say. "I bet he's funny." Then, they'll forget about it in five minutes because they've seen 20 other poor saps in the same, store-bought outfit. But a costume that's totally original: unforgettable.
Making a costume, you can decide your level of involvement. Costume shops all place varying dollar amounts on the same ten-minute drive to the store. When you're pulling a costume out of nowhere, it accurately shows how much time and effort you put into it. This can work in your favor, though it's a gamble.
If your costume falls flat, you break even because time is equal to investment. But just think: if you spend no time at all putting a costume together that's a hit, it's that much more impressive. Looking good without trying: fashion rule number one. Fifteen minutes and next to nothing spent on your costume, and Mr. Hot Dog Suit is $50 in the hole and put to shame.
There are the tried and true household items that can always make a simple costume: flour, sheets, and pillows, but try to expand on them. They can always be used in a pinch, but incorporate them into more original creations.
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