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Last-Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

October 30, 2009 6:34 PM

ABC News On Campus Reporter Lauren McGaha blogs from the University of North Carolina:

It’s Friday afternoon, the day before Halloween and Juliann Goodpaster, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is just returning from a quick trip to a fabric store near her sorority house. She reaches into a small bag and pulls out a large square piece of white felt and lays it next to a pair of black tights and a long sleeved black t-shirt on her bed.

“I’m going to be a domino,” she says.

Halloween in Chapel Hill is a huge holiday for UNC students. But with midterms preceding the big night, many students don’t have the time – or the cash – to plan the perfect costume.

“It just made sense to make my costume this year because it’s so much cheaper,” Goodpaster said. “I mean, who wants to spend $30 or $40 on something you’re only going to wear for a few hours one night?”

And if saving money is key, Goodpaster has the right idea. Her domino outfit cost her just under $5.

UNC junior Nicole Bieber is dressing up as princess Jasmin from the Disney movie "Aladdin." She found a way to look like royalty for only $10.

“I just picked up a few yards of light blue linen and royal blue taffeta and I’ve been sewing all day,” Bieber said, gesturing to the unfinished costume on her living room floor. “The funny thing is, I’ve never really sewn before. But hey, I’ve just got to make it last for one night.”

And Bieber isn’t the only student putting amateur sewing skills to the test in order to save money this Halloween.

Kailyn Tran is a senior at UNC. She decided to dress up as KW from the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are.” All it took were old sheets, a t-shirt and a needle and thread.

“I think it’s easier to make the costumes,” Tran said. “I just ripped up these old sheets and dyed them brown. Now I’m working on sewing them to a t-shirt and I’ll be done.”

Tran said this costume is only costing her a pair of brown tights and several hours of time.

“I’ll probably spend about 12 hours sewing it together and finishing it up,” she said.

These homemade masterpieces might be more work than simply buying a costume, but Goodpaster says she enjoys the holiday more this way.

“It’s actually pretty fun,” she said. “I can make it look exactly how I imagined it to look and I don’t have to feel guilty about spending too much money.” 
 
   

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