When you're pressed for time, figuring out a costume for a party can be stressful, and sometimes the only thing that comes to mind is the classic bedsheet-as-a-ghost thing. You may even be tempted to cop out and go as yourself. But creating a costume from stuff you already have can be a cinch if you just look at things with the right attitude.
Solo Costumes
Working with materials and clothing that you already have in your closet really cuts down on the time it'll take for you to create your costume. Creating a costume for just yourself and outside a theme leaves you free to play a little more fast and loose with your pieces. Take a look through what you own, especially any unique or specialty pieces. Do you have any scarves or bandannas? Do you have a hat that's always reminded you of something? Perhaps you have an interesting belt?
A cowboy/girl costume can be created out of a Western-style hat and black leather or plaid clothing combined with a bandanna around the neck and a large buckled belt. If you own lots of black, create a cat burglar costume and wear a black knit cap to top if off. Attach small tools like a dark or steel-colored flashlight and mini screwdriver along with a bag of sparkly costume jewelry to complete the look. Repurpose a cocktail dress with dramatic makeup and go for a glam starlet costume. Cut holes into an old T-shirt and put on a lot of light-colored makeup on the face with the darkest makeup you own around the eyes for a ghoul costume. Tone down the ghoul makeup and apply a blue shade to the lips and fingernails to create a cadaver costume. Another idea is to go as a palm reader or fortune teller by combining large hoop earrings with a full skirt and any brightly colored scarves you have. The ideas are only limited by your wardrobe; from pirates to mimes to artists to beach bums in tropical themed shirts, the list goes on and on.
Couples Costumes
Creating themed costumes for couples can seem daunting, but really, there's a big upside to doing this: Each costume can strengthen the other. One women in a salsa dress is just a woman in a dress. Paired with a man in a black suit and a tie matching her dress suddenly makes the couple a pair of professional dancers.
Try to think of famous pairs in your search for costumes, or of people who come in pairs. Think Bonnie and Clyde, Barbie and Ken, Romeo and Juliet, Clark Kent and Lois Lane or of more general pairings either similar or opposite--bride and groom, cowboy and saloon girl, prince and princess, material girl and total nerd. Look in your closet and see what works.
Personality-Inspired Costumes
Some of the best costumes take an aspect of a person's way of being, job or personality and invert it. For a personality-inspired costume, don't look to your closet for inspiration, look at yourself. For instance, if you're well-known to be a sixth- or seventh-year college senior among the people who are going to be at the party, wearing your old high school cap and gown and going as a college graduate can be fun. If you generally dress conservatively or traditionally, try borrowing avant-garde clothes from a friend and go as a model or with bohemian or Gothic clothing. Likewise, if you have a sense of fashion, dressing as a tacky tourist could work. Go opposite your own type and everyone will know what you're supposed to be.
Tags: your closet, already have