Thrift Store Dress Up

     Whether you're designing a costume for Halloween or need a crazy outfit for a party, you'll be able to create a unique look and save a few bucks if you go to a thrift store. I know so many people that buy the ready-made Halloween costumes and shell out an excessive amount of money in the process. Keep in mind that this is usually for an outfit they'll only be wearing for one night! 
     Thrift stores have a variety of apparel and accessories that span through several decades. Due to the wide variety you'll be able to find random items that can form the perfect costume. After all, most winners of costume contests are the ones who've spent the time creating do-it-yourself outfits from scratch rather than the ones who took the easy way out and bought the $80 costume-in-a-bag. 
     A couple of examples of costumes that could be easily assembled in a thrift store would be a cowboy, pirate, gypsy, zombie, hippie, princess and many more. Three pieces of thrift store clothing that you could easily build a costume around would be a prom or wedding dress (bride of Frankenstein, princess, beauty or prom queen or an ex-wife), overalls/coveralls (scarecrow, Super Mario Brothers, redneck or a farmer) and vintage uniforms (military personnel, cheerleader, nurse or stewardess). You could also design an outfit based on a decade like a flapper from the 1920's or a greaser from the 1950's. 

Photo credit to Amy Reinhardt

     Last Halloween I dressed up with a couple friends as the "sexy" three blind mice. My friend Kasey and I visited a thrift store to buy our black outfits and sunglasses. We made the ears ourselves with headbands and black felt material and spray painted some wooden canes. By the end we had stellar costumes that received a ton of compliments! The dress I had bought for less than $10 at Plato's Closet is now my go-to party dress.
     So before you spend a ridiculous amount of money on a costume for Halloween or dress-up party I would recommend that you exercise your creative juices and give your wallet a break by hitting up your local thrift store first. 
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