The fall season is finally upon us, bringing with it Starbucks holiday drinks, pumpkin patches and, of course, Halloween costume planning. Whether you are trick-or-treating or attending a party, a good costume is undeniably the most important part of the Halloween experience. As the end of October approaches, the time for concocting costume ideas is running out. However, planning a Halloween costume does not have to be frightening. The opportunities for impressing all of the witches and ghouls on Halloween are truly endless.

When browsing Pinterest for interesting costumes, it is inevitable that you’ll see DIY costumes that may become very elaborate. While these homemade costumes are bound to draw in many compliments, they are also very time intensive. However, making your own costume does not have to be all that difficult. An easy way to do this is to grab some fabric paint and a solid-colored t-shirt to create a myriad of simple yet spooky costumes. One popular example is dressing as various fruits. Often a group costume, this idea involves simply painting a t-shirt to resemble a favorite fruit, and pairing that shirt with a simple pair of leggings or sweatpants. This simple DIY idea can also be used to create simple ensembles such as The Incredibles, Alvin and the Chipmunks, M&Ms and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

If crafting isn’t your strong suit, another easy way to utilize pieces of clothing that you most likely have at home is to dress as pop culture characters. In many cases, characters from popular TV shows and movies have at least one outfit that is simple to recreate. Take, for example, the recently popular Netflix series “Outer Banks.” The teens of this show are just that – teens. Their outfits feature an island style, meaning that they wear exclusively casual clothing. Simply add a bandanna into the mix, and you’ll be transformed into John B or Sarah in no time. This idea of using casual clothing to convey iconic styles can be applied to other shows and movies such as “Friends,” “The Office,” “Legally Blonde” or “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

A popular trend in recent years has been named “Disney Bounding.” This idea stems from the fact that visitors of the Disney theme parks are not permitted to wear full-on costumes in the parks to avoid young children confusing them with cast members. Many Disney Bounders simply wear the iconic colors of Disney princesses or villains to convey a general idea of who they are dressed as. This method of costuming also gives the wearer unlimited freedom in the silhouette, shades and textures of the costume. By adding simple props, the wearer can be sure that others know what the intended character is while not breaking the bank by purchasing expensive costumes.

A popular example of Disney Bounding is dressing as Ariel. It is simple to wear green bottoms to mimic the mermaid tail of Ariel and a purple top to complete her iconic color palette. By adding a red wig or pearl accents, the wearer can be sure that their costume stands out while being rewearable in the future. This formula may be applied to any characters that have distinct colors or other aspects of their outfits. 

Many of these character outfits may also be transformed into a group costume. By simply adding a yellow and blue striped shirt to the mix, Ariel’s sidekick Flounder can make an appearance on Halloween. This idea may be extended to include all of the characters of the movie or TV show that they are meant to resemble.

If you are still out of ideas after these tips, remember that it is perfectly acceptable to simply wear your favorite Sidney Crosby jersey and become a hockey player for the night. Halloween is meant to be one of the most exciting nights of the year, so don’t stress too much about the outfit you will be wearing. Remember that Halloween is a time to feel your most confident, so wear whatever costume makes you feel your spookiest self. Happy Haunting!