How to Make Cheap and Easy Character Costumes

Every Halloween, I always have a hard time deciding who to go as. Because I love many shows and movies, it’s hard to pick just one character. But instead of spending a bunch of money on one costume, I managed to wear seven leading up to Halloween. It was so simple and fun! you can do it too, and wear these outfits year-round. It’s an affordable way to cosplay as your favorite characters.

Get thrifty

I suggest using clothes from your closet and thrift stores. That way, you can get more use out of your costume, wearing it past Halloween. Because I was thrifty with my money, it also meant I could wear more than one costume. Poshmark is also a great place to buy quality but cheap clothing. It’s where I got my dress for Rebecca Bunch from Crazy-Ex Girlfriend!

Bounding

The trick is going as characters that belong in the modern world. It’s easy to shop for clothes when they don’t belong to a different era or a fantasy realm. However, a way to get around this is by “bounding” as the character instead of looking exactly like them. Bounding comes from “Disney-bounding,” which is when adults dress as characters to Disneyland in non-identical costumes. Bounding is a great way to inexpensively dress-up as characters you love.

Match the character’s aesthetic

I did this with my Remus Lupin costume. While I didn’t have a wizarding robe or a tie, I tweaked the look. I wore a sweater with elbow patches to match Lupin’s professor aesthetic. I also made sure to match the color tone he wears in the films. So, make sure to natch the color scheme of the characters you’re going as.

Use cheap props

To bring the costume together, pose with props that relate to the character. A cheaper prop I used was chocolate. I had a candy bar sitting on my desk and just took off a chunk of it for the picture. Having simple props helps tie the character together and means that you pay less out of pocket for the costume.

Another example of this is my Annie Edison from “Community” costume. She’s known for her dresses and cardigan’s, and I put my hair up like hers. I also grabbed an old backpack and a purple pen. A plot from one of the episodes revolves around her purple pens, so it helps people distinguish what character your outfit is modeled after. I went to Goodwill to buy the cardigan, and I already had the dress, so it was all easy to put together.

Borrow when you can

More expensive items I borrowed instead of buying them. Make sure to ask your friends and family if you’re looking for a certain piece of clothing in particular. I got the puffed vest for Leia from my sister, so I could go as her from Empire Strikes Back. Make sure to root through your and others closets before heading to the sales rack!

Jess from “New Girl” is known for wearing polka dots, her bangs, and having glasses. I had two out of three, so I had to track down some glasses. Luckily I asked around and found someone who was willing to lend me their glasses for a day. If you love New Girl as much as me, read Jess’ Boyfriends from New Girl: Scored and 10 Best Running Jokes on New Girl.

Be original

Don’t be afraid to venture out a little from the original costume. The famous sweater Chris Evans wears in “Knives Out” is hard to find, so I went to Poshmark to find one close enough and listed for a reasonable price. While similar in color, the coat and scarf are different in style, but anyone who knows the movie will be able to tell who you are. If you like Chris Evans, make sure to read Top 10 Pictures of Chris Evans and Dodger.

Find the perfect setting

Photo spots are all around you. There’s no need to drive hours away or go to a studio. Instead, try finding places nearby you that match the setting of your costume. For Annie, I went to a school because “Community” is set at a college. For Leia, I found a stone backdrop to match the icy Hoth base. “Knives Out” takes place in the fall, so I walked around to find some fall leaves in my Ransom costume.

Have fun!

Embody the character, don’t be afraid to be a bit silly. For my Donna costume from Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, I wanted to reenact the scene where she runs through the field in her orange skirt. I probably looked ridiculous to others running with oranges, but it was fun and made for a great photo.

Conclusion

These costumes don’t have to be restricted to Halloween, you can wear a lot of them at any time! You won’t look out of place and will have fun dressed as your favorite characters.


Want more on the scoop? Check out Is This a Real College Class or One from “Community?” and 10 TV Characters Who Would Make a Great Best Friend.

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