und, the decision to make a costume or buy one takes over students’ minds. Both choices continue to rival one another. But when it comes to getting creative and catching eyes, the former always stands out.
Senior Amanda Clark makes her own Halloween costume year after year and plans to go all out this Halloween.
“This year I’m going to be Snooki from Jersey Shore. I’m going to put together big hoop earrings, a tight black dress, and bruise my eye, since Snooki loves to fight everyone,” Clark said.
Always coming up with her own creation, junior Jessenia Llauper is going to go for a more spiritual image.
“I’m going to drape fabric around my body and go as a sort of nature-type girl. I’m going to add paint and actual leaves, as well,” Llauper said. This sort of preference is not one that Llauper usually goes for, so she turns to inspiration like different stores that give off that sort of image, like American Apparel.
Pretty much anything can be used from around the house in order to make these costumes come to life. Sometimes the simplest ideas, like day-to-day experiences, can somehow be made into a costume.
“I’m inspired by the phases I go through in life. Every year I somehow incorporate my day-to-day life into the costumes. Making a costume is much more creative and enjoyable than buying one,” Clark said.
Sporting one of the most common costumes, junior Stephanie Sanchez is going to sport a more youthful pirate this Halloween.
“It’s going to be more young opposed to the classic pirate. I’m going to wear a striped shirt over a basic bikini top with shorts. I get these ideas from movies that I’ve seen and this specific costume is definitely the easiest to make,” Sanchez said.
Even though some students prefer to make their own costume, some find that buying one is much easier. Just popping into the store and selecting a package is more appealing to freshman Cory Gamble.
“Whenever I dress up for Halloween, I usually buy my costumes instead of making them. I think it costs more to make them rather than buy them. It’s also less complicated that way.”
If students find it intimidating to come up with their own idea, Party City’s online website breaks down every costume and pin points the main ingredients in the costume. Most common homemade costumes include a pirate, a fairy, a vampire, a witch or even a ghost. The choices are infinite.
Last year, junior Jason Lewis embraced his youthful side and prepared a costume resembling the legendary Mickey Mouse.
“All I did was put together some mouse ears, see-through converse with yellow socks, red shorts, and white paper buttons all on top of a black body leotard,” Lewis said.
Students find that the “make it yourself” experience is far more appealing than running into a store and picking some ensemble that they would never wear again.
Much like students who make their own costumes, Lewis finds inspiration from his daily surroundings.
“It’s easy for me to watch movies or read stories and then go by stores and get ideas from what I see,” Lewis said.