Better check your closet Halloween night
Construct this year's costume from previously owned articles of clothing
Cindy Petersen and Liz Wardlow
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Feature
A dead prom queen, a cactus and a Christmas present. What do they have in common? They are all Halloween costumes that can be made using recycled clothing and accessories.
Last-minute Halloween costumes can be made with very little effort. Kirkwood Community College business major Ryley Schleder said all he needs to do is put on a baseball cap and boots and he's ready to go as a farmer.
Brittany Colburn, Liberal Arts major, said she's going to a Halloween party dressed as video game character Lara Croft. "I have everything I need to dress up as her, all homemade," she said. Her long hair makes her costume even more realistic.
Web sites offer more suggestions, and coolest-homemade-costume.com has many ideas to choose from.
Altering an old prom dress that no one wants anymore can result in a dead prom queen costume. Tearing it a little, getting it a bit dirty and adding red paint or some red material that resembles blood will complete the ensemble.
Most costumes can be found around the house, in your grandparents' attic or at secondhand stores. Other materials you may not have on hand usually can be found by asking friends and relatives.
Another costume that can be made from recycled materials is a Christmas present. Use a big cardboard box and Christmas wrapping paper. Suspenders can hold the box up around your middle. A bow placed on top of your head can add a finishing touch.
This clever idea comes from biology major Megan Nulty. Use chicken wire, papier-mache, balloons, green spray paint and more than 400 toothpicks to make a full-body cactus costume.
Homemade and recycled costumes are a great alternative to paying an average of $40 for store-bought. Costumes made from recycled material are not only beneficial to the environment, but you can be sure that no one else will be wearing the exact same outfit as you are.
Last-minute Halloween costumes can be made with very little effort. Kirkwood Community College business major Ryley Schleder said all he needs to do is put on a baseball cap and boots and he's ready to go as a farmer.
Brittany Colburn, Liberal Arts major, said she's going to a Halloween party dressed as video game character Lara Croft. "I have everything I need to dress up as her, all homemade," she said. Her long hair makes her costume even more realistic.
Web sites offer more suggestions, and coolest-homemade-costume.com has many ideas to choose from.
Altering an old prom dress that no one wants anymore can result in a dead prom queen costume. Tearing it a little, getting it a bit dirty and adding red paint or some red material that resembles blood will complete the ensemble.
Most costumes can be found around the house, in your grandparents' attic or at secondhand stores. Other materials you may not have on hand usually can be found by asking friends and relatives.
Another costume that can be made from recycled materials is a Christmas present. Use a big cardboard box and Christmas wrapping paper. Suspenders can hold the box up around your middle. A bow placed on top of your head can add a finishing touch.
This clever idea comes from biology major Megan Nulty. Use chicken wire, papier-mache, balloons, green spray paint and more than 400 toothpicks to make a full-body cactus costume.
Homemade and recycled costumes are a great alternative to paying an average of $40 for store-bought. Costumes made from recycled material are not only beneficial to the environment, but you can be sure that no one else will be wearing the exact same outfit as you are.
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