Karly Zimmerman, Staff

Although the long-awaited spooky season is upon us, Halloween festivities and costume planning often slip our minds as the semester continues with classes, holiday breaks and campus activities. Our ever-growing to-do lists can cause finding the perfect costume to become an afterthought, but never fear! We are here with seven last-minute costumes that are guaranteed to turn heads at any Halloween function. The best part? They are already in your closet.

1. “The Plastics”

We are starting our list with a fan favorite from Tina Fey’s Mean Girls!

Simply pair any plaid or denim mini-skirt with a matching cropped shirt or baby tee. Bonus points if it’s pink! This outfit can either be worn with sneakers or a cute set of kitten heels, making it the perfect outfit for a long day/night. Once assembled, feel free to throw on your favorite shoulder bag and load on the lip gloss to complete this nostalgic Y2K ensemble.

Whether you choose to channel your inner Gretchen, Karen or Regina George this Halloween,your costume is sure to pay homage to the cult-classic film.

2. 80s Prom Queen

Your old homecoming/prom dress may have a chance to steal the spotlight for a second time with this unique costume idea. You can achieve this look in only a few steps:

–   Put on a brightly colored dress of any length.

–   Give your hair a little tease.

–   Add some bold eyeshadow, blush and hairspray.

–   Top it all off with a tiara!

If you feel as though your closet is not living up to the drama and glamor of the 80s, visit your local thrift shop and pick out your best 80s garb for a quick, inexpensive and sustainable way to ensure you are the “queen” of the season.

3. Wednesday Addams

We are heading back to the movies for our third DIY costume!

Wednesday Addams, a character that has been dominating the Halloween scene for years, can easily be recreated with a few simple pieces from your wardrobe.

This costume can be worn with any articles of black clothing, making it a “blank canvas” for the wearer. Whether you choose to do a black skirt or jeans, a black long sleeve or tank top or a black dress, you will be unmistakable so long as you are sporting Wednesday’s two iconic pigtail braids! Adding accessories like tights, jewelry and platform boots will help make this outfit your own!

4. Freddy Mercury

Simple yet guaranteed to make a statement. All it takes to achieve Queen’s star singer’s iconic look is a white sleeveless shirt with a pair of light wash denim jeans. Be sure to add a black chunky belt for more 80s flair!

Once all is said and done, you can then add your own sneakers, Freddy’s timeless mustache, and microphone to customize your look.

5. Queen of Hearts

Much like Miss Wednesday Addams, the Queen of Hearts costume simply requires multiple pieces of clothing highlighting one color: red! Any red dress, matching set or tank top-skirt combo will help you achieve this sassy look.

If you happen to have a deck of cards lying around, try finding unique ways to feature them in your outfit! You can adhere your deck of cards using safety pins and/or fashion tape, or you can make a playful hairpiece using a few bobby pins.

6. Pirate

A classic as old as time, the pirate costume still holds to be the perfect costume for all genders. One could look for a white dress with puffed sleeves or a ruffled white shirt and pair it with a black skirt, leggings or slacks.

Accessories such as corsets, bandanas, and vintage jewelry will certainly help elevate this look! The costume could be worn with a pair of knee-high boots, platform boots or sneakers, providing you with another comfortable and laid-back costume for those longer days/nights.

7. Biker

If you are already planning on breaking out your bandana(s) for some Halloween adventures as a pirate, you might want to keep them handy for our last DIY costume!

Acting as a great co-ed option, this biker look can be completed with only a few pieces. Match any pair of darker bottoms such as leather pants, dark wash jeans and/or fishnet tights with a top of your choice (ie. graphic tee, plain t-shirt, cropped tee), then finish off the ensemble with a leather jacket and a bandana of your choosing. Adding your own touches of jewelry and sunglasses are great ways for everyone to add more style and dimension to this look!

Now it’s time to get creative and scratch “Halloween costume” off your checklist! Explore your wardrobe for these staple pieces and challenge yourself to pair some unique pieces together for some scary good costumes this year!