Fall is, without a doubt, the best season of the year to be a nerd. Your favorite TV shows are finally airing new episodes, the most-anticipated movies of the year are being hyped in time for Oscar season, comic books are starting new arcs and events, there are celebrity-filled conventions, like this weekend’s New York ComicCon, to attend (if you have the money) and, best of all, it’s almost HALLOWEEN!
Halloween seems to give everyone an excuse to be a little bit geeky.
Even if you’re not the type to “cosplay” (make and wear costumes based on your favorite characters) on a regular basis, having an entire holiday revolving around the idea of dressing up like something you’re not is a perfect opportunity to show off your inner nerd…and you’re creativity!
Almost every store that sells clothes puts out some ready-to-wear Halloween costumes this time of year, and almost every costume section has a few superhero-inspired getups or other wearable pop culture references. A quick trip to Target can have you all set to dress up as Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Bane, or (the nerdy staple) Princess Leia. The only problem is, these store bought costumes are expensive. You could wind up paying $40 or more for a costume that might not even make it through the party! Plus, there are a lot of costumes that just can’t be bought. If you dream of being a character from the CW’s Supernatural, you’re going to have to get creative.
With some free time, ambition, and a little imagination you can have an affordable costume of your own creation!
The best part is, the costume you come up with won’t be a carbon copy that a thousand other people are also wearing! You don’t have to be a crafting genius to pull it off either! You don’t even have to know how to sew! The best kind of places to search for costume pieces are thrift and consignment stores. Just make sure to think about what you want before you head in! Get an idea of what you’d like you’re outfit to be. Are you trying to copy something a character wears? Or do you want to do a variation on a classic look? (like the “Hipster” Disney Princesses, pictured above) If you’ve got sharp eyes and a couple of hours to spare, chances are you’ll find something that will suit your nerdy needs!
(I made this Doctor Who costume almost entirely out of thrift store finds!)
My favorite thrift store in the area is definitely The Garment District in Cambridge. Upstairs, it’s a massive, ecclectic used clothing nirvanna. For those with a really tight budget, there’s even the famous “Dollar-A-Pound” section! Downstairs is Boston Costume, the better-than-iparty sister store of the GD. Basically, the place is a one-stop Halloween shop!
With some clever thrift store finds, and maybe a couple of things you already have in your closet, you’ll have the coolest, nerdtastic costume at your party!
What will you be wearing this Halloween? Do you make your own costumes?
