Thrift or Treat

PUT TOGETHER A STELLAR COSTUME IN MENOMONIE

Halloween is a great time to test your skills in assembling the best costume to impress all your friends. There are always those stores that will give you a premade costume, but they lack a certain element of spark or pizazz which a homemade, thrifted, or inherited costume will provide. Not all costumes need to be meticulously put together. Sometimes you just need the perfect accessory for it. We hope you are inspired to go out and get creative with your costumes this year.

TRADITIONAL HORROR

Whether you want to be a zombie moped driver, ax murderer, or a classic vampire, specific items like fake blood and face paint, are needed to complete the look and can be found at a convenience or dollar store. However, the jean jacket, ax, or all-black outfit are probably waiting for their next owner on the rack at a local thrift store. Try looking for a fun combination of items that complement the look you are going for, whether it is a striped shirt, creepy doll, or excessive jewelry.

PUN AND GAMES

These costumes are for when you don’t feel like putting in a lot of effort, but you want to be funny and feel smart. Popular choices might include when life gives you lemons (wear a name tag labeled “life” and carry a lemon), chip on your shoulder (put potato chips on your shoulder), or breadwinner (wear a bunch of gold medals and carry bread).

GROUP COSTUME

So, your friend group won’t dress up unless everyone does. It’s a classic case of the squad scare—the solution: a group costume. The Wiggles, the cast of the Office, and a bunch of emojis are a few good examples. Pick a category all your friends can get in on. DIY projects could include cardboard from the scraps bin in applied arts in the 3D room, matching t-shirts, or paper mâché masks.

Show off your costume by tagging us with what you come up with in your social media post. Use the #wotsacostume. Send us what you came up with/ideas.

Where to shop:

HOPE BARGAIN CENTER IN MENOMONIE: Make sure to pay attention to the sale of the day tag colors. If you are willing to sift through the racks, there are always goodies found here. Don’t forget to show your student ID card to get 10% off your purchase.

MENOMONIE GOODWILL: Because this store is a little more organized, it might be easier to find a specific item you need to check off your list. Goodwill always has a large Halloween section this time of year for easy sifting. It’s a great option if you are low on time.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH THRIFT STORE: Almost everything in this store is one dollar. It would be easy to find your whole costume for less than five dollars here. Make sure you pay attention to their hours: they are only open Friday and Saturday 9 am-4 pm.

DOLLAR STORE: You can find all the odds and ends you need to complete your costume here. Fake blood, face paint, name tag, and sparkles are all