Teen O'ween: Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas for Teens

Rule number one: Ditch the plastic-wear. Rule number two: Go thrift shopping.

The best costume materials are made of real clothing, and the best place to find economical real clothing is at your local thrift store. These are clothes you can pick through, rip-up, paint on, and do whatever you wish. You don't have to worry about cheap, flimsy material that tears. You can find something that fits, and depending on your costume, you can use parts of it again and again.

So what are some cool ideas?

• Pirates. The Disney movies have been out for a while, but pirates are always en vouge. You can go traditional, or vamp it up. Choose a pair of brown pants, tight enough in the leg to fit into a pair of boots. You might find denim, corduroy, or if you're lucky, leather. Next, select a long-sleeved white shirt, the more billowy, the better. For the girls, look for blouses with baggy sleeves. For the guys, you may have to go a size larger than you're used to wearing, or depending on the style, you can go with the baggy sleeved woman's shirt. There are a lot of styles that are actually unisex, but are marketed to the females. Next step, find a vest, preferably a brown or off-white one. Black would work.

Here is the fun part. Accessories are crucial to the pirate look. Large hoop earrings, necklaces, many rings for your fingers, all are required. Find several old scarves to tie into your hair, and layer them. Loop an old necklace chain over the scarves, or if it is short, let it dangle in your hair. Take a long nylon scarf (you can find these at Walmart if not at the thrift store), preferably with a pattern, and knot it around your waist. Insert your sword. For makeup, line your eyes as dark as you can. Really make them stand out. And there you have it.

• Dead...anything! Be a zombie cheerleader. Football player. Teacher. Michael Jackson. Whatever you choose, pick out the proper clothing, but make sure it's something you're willing to rough up. Once you've made you selection and taken it to your room, destroy it. Cut holes in it. Get your dad to carefully burn the edges. Rub dirt into it. Stain it with charcoal. You might want to invest in a cheap pair of tennis shoes, or whatever footwear suits the outfit, and rough it up as well.

For your face, use green and gray eyeshadow. First, you might want to apply a layer of talcum powder, thought the eye shadow will wash off easily with soap. Put the gray color beneath your eyes, where a person normally has "dark circles". Next, use the green and gray to accentuate your cheekbones by putting the green along the bone line, and the grey right up underneath. Do the same for your eye sockets. Spread the color along your face, using the grey to create age stripes, or rotted flesh. It's all in the shadowing. This doesn't have to be precise. If you want aged hair, use hairspray then pat on talcum powder. Finish off by using the eye shadow to add mold-like colors to your clothes.

• Contrast with your personality - If you're considered a goody-two shoes, go goth. If you're goth, be a cheerleader. Halloween is the one time of year when you can comfortably venture from your comfort zone. For the goth look, find the darkest clothes you can, preferably with a faint emblem, or create your own. If you create your own, write something humorous on the shirt. Black fishnets with biker boots and lots of silver jewelry complete this ensemble. Wear powder light than your usual shade, and emphasize your eyes and mouth with black eyeliner and lipstick. You might choose a wig, or you might temporarily spray your hair, but be prepared to have the color for a day or two. And if someone gets in your face, just look at them and slowly hold up the fake bloodied arm you just happen to be carrying with you. For a cheerleader, find a short skirt and a v-neck sweater. Purchase pristine white tennis shoes and bleach them, or purchase a cheap pair. Wear white ankle socks. Wear your hair up with ribbons, or if your hair is short, insert glittery clips. Go Barbie with your makeup with the ruby red lips and stand-out eyes. Stuff your bra to comic proportions. Be sure to carry pom-poms.

For the guys, the best bet would probably be geek vs jock. For the geek, a tight-fitting button down shirt and pants that are a little too short. Dark rimmed glasses. Slick your hair down and make sure you have plenty of pens in your pocket (a pocket protector would be a riot). Assume a hunched-over position and grin and shake hands with everyone. It's all in the attitude. For a jock, you could wear almost too-short shorts and a tight t-shirt. Go with the knee high socks and flat athletic shoes. If you are dressing as a football player, over-emphasize the padding. Make the "team" colors pink and lime, or something equally outrageous. Understand, these are fun, exaggerated caricatures. Make it absurd. The point is, if this is one day when you can go out and be something you're not, then go out and be something you're not!

• Cross-dressing. No, don't freak out on me. This is mainly for the guys. Show these girls you can sympathize with their daily plight! The best comedians in the world have worked this gag at some point. Grab the most outlandish, gaudy dress you can find on the rack, the worst pair of heels (go low heel), show some leg hair, overdo the makeup and jewelry, and stuff, stuff, stuff! For an awesome effect, get your buddies to go in with you, or better yet cross-dress themselves, and make a grand entrance. You'll be the highlight of the party! Hey, maybe you can get the whole football team to dress as the cheerleaders walking down the hallway between classes...

And remember, you can alter the idea of any of the costumes by adding a little fake blood, rotten teeth (you can blacken them with an eyebrow pencil) or scary contacts. Many accessories, as well as shoes can also be found in these store.

Roam the racks, and let your imagination run wild! There are so many more options when you can purchase real clothing at a thrift store rather than the prefabricated costumes that cost an arm and a leg, and are worn once. You can spend ten to fifteen dollars and have more items than you know what to do with. Make it a fun group outing with your friends! Grab a cappuccino, and go costume shopping. Another option is to trade clothes with your friends. Do they have a shirt you can use, and they don't want it? Snag it.

I assure you this costume will be one to remember, and one everyone else will remember as well!