How to bring your Halloween costume from Not to Hot

With Halloween approaching, many people still haven’t chosen their costumes or are having trouble personalizing theirs.

For those trying to add extra flair to their costumes, here are some tips to take your costume from “not” to “hot!”

Stick to Themes

One of the worst things you can do is stray from your costume's theme. For example, if you’re going as a vampire, you can’t veer from a gothic aesthetic. Use lots of lace, layers, subtle gems, and accessories (which we’ll discuss next).

A theme generally refers to the overall vibe of your outfit. Is it cute, sexy, innocent, gothic, or medieval? Identify this to choose the proper color schemes, accessories, and makeup.

Accessories

Accessories are an easy way to elevate your costume. Small additions like stockings, earrings, rings, belts, and necklaces bring an outfit together.

Take my costume, for example.

I’m going as a mermaid this Halloween, and accessories bring my costume from a two to a 10.

I chose shell-adorned hair rings for extra flair. I’ve noticed that if you can add an accessory to your head or hair, you should. It can be a Y2K hat if you’re going as a Bratz doll, a pirate hat with a feather (for flair), hair rings like mine, or pearls and gems—anything that adds a bit of sparkle.

In addition, I’m using many shells glued to my outfit to give it an extra touch, transforming it from a regular outfit into a real-life mermaid look.

I always tell my friends stockings are a must. Try cross-hatched fishnets for edgy costumes like pirate, cop, or cat, and lace stockings with sheer legs and lace at the thigh for more girly costumes. It ensures your costume flows from head to toe.

For earrings and necklaces, go bold and have fun! Halloween is the one night where you can go all out, and no one will bat an eye. I like pairing a bold earring with a simple necklace or vice versa. Over years of going all out for Halloween, I’ve noticed that two bold pieces can detract from the costume, while two minimal accessories can get lost. Stick to the one bold, one simple rule, and you’re golden!

Color Scheme

This may seem obvious, but a well-coordinated color scheme can make you look amazing.

As I mentioned before, make sure everything is cohesive. Even slight differences in color shades can matter, so try to keep shades similar.

If your costume is from a historical era, such as medieval, choose a muted or distressed version of your desired color.

And don’t be afraid to step away from conventional colors associated with your costume. It’s all about how you pull it together!

Personalization

At the end of the day, it’s about making your costume, you. Incorporating things you like to wear in real life can make your outfit really cute.

Are you a strawberry shortcake character? Something that's “cottagecore” can be charming with some leg warmers.

Is your favorite color orange, but you're being a vampire? No problem. Just do a muted, dirtier orange. Just because you're a vampire doesn’t mean you have to do red.

Have fun with whatever you do, and your outfit will surely be HOT.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Joy Donald is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, you can email her at ndon9325@gmail.com.