Halloween Costume Ideas from Goodwill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 7, 2009 - Creating a one-of-a-kind costume that will set you apart at costume parties and trick-or-treating outings this Halloween is easy and inexpensive when you visit your local Goodwill store with your imagination and some costume ‘recipe cards.’
October is a busy month at Goodwill’s eight retail stores across the islands. College students, parents with excited keiki and local hipsters alike flock to Goodwill’s racks of gently used clothing, shoes and accessories to assemble the ‘perfect’ costume. A little imagination and an occasional trip to a craft store make costume creation fun and affordable.
Here are a few ideas for creating unique and inexpensive costumes that are sure to turn heads:
Miss America- Start with a beautiful formal dress (cut the dress’s length with heavy-duty scissors to match the wearer’s height), add a princess crown (if you can’t find one at Goodwill, look for one at a craft store), a sash made from a length of thick white ribbon (write “Miss America” on the ribbon with glittery fabric paint), finish the look with big hair and beautiful makeup.
Wicked Witch- Start with a black dress or long black skirt and black shirt. Add a black witch’s hat and paint your face green. Carry a black cat stuffed animal or a broom for a prop.
Nerd- Begin with pants that are too short around the ankles, but hiked up above your belly button (look for men’s pants with an extra wide inseam for this), suspenders, clip on bow-tie, white shirt, white socks, dark shoes. Add a pocket protector with lots of pens (can be made out of a small vertical envelope inserted into the chest pocket) and thick rimmed glasses with the lenses knocked out (wrap masking tape around glasses at the bridge of the nose for added effect).
Snowman- Start with solid white pants, shirt, socks & shoes. Add a black hat with a brim, a scarf and mittens (or gloves). Glue black pom poms (from a craft store) down the front of the shirt like ‘coal buttons,’ using a hot glue gun. Purchase a white plastic ½ mask from a craft store. Hot glue a fake ‘carrot’ nose onto the mask (either use a plastic or foam carrot or make one using a square of orange felt rolled and glued into a carrot shape).
Ninja- Start with black baggy pants and a black long sleeved shirt (turn the shirt inside out if it has printing on it). Make a ninja mask out of a 4-5” strip cut from the bottom of a T-shirt. The mask can be black or any color you desire. Cut out eye holes in the mask, wrap around head and tie at the back with the ends of the t-shirt strip falling loose. Instead of buying make believe weapons, make them out of cardboard, construction paper and aluminum foil. Ninja stars are cut from cardboard and covered in foil. Nunchucks are made from two toilet paper rolls, connected with piece of twine and then covered with black construction paper.
Princess- Start with a pink or pastel formal dress (cut the dress’s length with heavy-duty scissors to match the wearer’s height), add a princess crown (if you can’t find one at Goodwill, look for one at a craft store). Add a wand if you’d like by cutting out a cardboard star and attaching it to a wooden dowel rod or paper towel roll. Paint the wand with washable paint and sprinkle glitter onto the still wet paint. Add long ribbon streamers (curling ribbon works great!) by taping or stapling to the star once the paint is dry.
Jelly Fish- Find a clear or solid colored umbrella. Cut strips of bubble wrap and streamers out of crepe paper and plastic cellophane (from a craft store). Glue the bubble wrap and streamers to each point on the umbrella. You can wear any solid color of clothes underneath the umbrella. When you walk, move the umbrella up and down, flowing like a jelly fish.
Roller Derby Queen- Inspired by the movie “Whip It” or our local Hawaii Pacific Roller Derby girls? Strap on a pair of roller skates and find your derby costume at Goodwill: fishnet tights, cut-off shorts or a mini skirt (remember, you’ll still need to move with your skates on!), striped knee socks, elbow pads, knee pads, a helmet and a customized shirt. Keep it fun and funky!
Goodwill has seven retail stores on Oahu and one on the Big Island to make your Halloween shopping fun. Visit
http://www.higoodwill.org for locations.
Goodwill Industries of Hawaii has helped people find employment since 1959. As a leading job placement firm in Hawaii, Goodwill provides employment resources to the community for people with employment barriers. Last year, Goodwill served 11,959 people through its career development, employment services, and education/training programs statewide and helped 1,866 individuals find employment in our community.
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CONTACT: Shannon Yadon
PHONE: (808) 792-8566
CELLULAR: (808) 347-4376
