By: Lisa Dolan

Oct 28, 2009

Does the thought of plus-size costumes for Halloween sound too scary?

Thinking of spending an entire evening in a polyester vinyl disaster giving you more nightmares than Elm Street? Here are some quick and easy cost effective ideas that are more of a treat than a trick!
Find a last minute costume that fits both your shape and your budget.

A store bought costume in plus-sizes almost never fits. It is hard enough to find plus-size clothing let alone a novelty item that you are only going to wear once. Why spend one to two hundred dollars on a costume when you already have the makings of a great costume in your closet? You can use some of your clothing as the canvas to build a costume with the addition of outrageous accessories and over-the-top makeup!

• Mad Men – This is a great way to break out that cocktail dress you have been dying to wear!  By adding accessories like a cigarette holder and going overboard with your updo and makeup, you will have a hit!   

• Maniac – You can be a Flashdance maniac with an over-sized sweatshirt hanging off one shoulder, leg warmers, and a bucket of water! 

• 70’s Funkadelic – You have that maxi dress from the summer! Add some peace jewelry, oversized hoop earrings, a head band, or a great fro wig--and again--it’s all about the makeup. Paint some flowers on your face! Or just go crazy with the eyeliner!

• School Girl – Get out your pleated skirt, attach a fake emblem to your blazer, a striped tie, knee highs, pigtails and carry an old school wooden ruler!

• Greek Goddess – You put away your gladiators sandals so take them out again and add a maxi dress from the summer as well. Add on a gold belt or pick up some gold curtain cord (minus the tassel) and save some for your Grecian updo.

• 20’s Gangster Girl – Pinstripe Pencil Skirt and a white blouse, Spanx fishnets, garter, suspenders, Fedora hat and you can pick up cheap tommy gun for effect. Oh, and the Mary Jane high heels you just bought for this season go perfect with this look.

• Jane of the Jungle – Animal prints have been hot for a while now…you must own some. Add animal ears and tail or tease and mess your hair and go for a jungle princess look!

• A Doll -  Take a girly, empire waist dress...frilly...(just add a petticoat underneath) a wig, fake eyelashes and go heavy on the blush. Don't forget the oversized lollipop!!

Whether you're going to a party, hanging out with friends and family or that cute guy you had your eye on lately, do not--and I repeat--do not wear any shape that you wouldn’t wear out. It’s all about your shape and showing it! Even though it’s Halloween, you still want to flatter your figure.

What are you going to be for Halloween?