halloween costume

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How Do You Win A Halloween Costume Contest? Ideas For The Ultimate Win

There isn’t a clear-cut answer to winning a Halloween costume contest, as each costume contest has different themes and rules.

If it’s a costume contest for children or older teens, then there are many easy costumes that can help you win with little effort. 

Need some Halloween costume ideas? We’ve got you covered with more of these amazing and spooky costume lists to level up your Halloween game this year:

If, however, the contest is geared towards adults and it’s Halloween night at a bar or club, the costumes are practically mandatory to be extravagant to win.

In that case, you can probably expect the judges to include a lot of professional makeup artists or special effects experts for judging the competition.

It’s nearly Halloween, and you’re thinking about what to wear to your office party or family gathering.

You could go the normal route and buy a Halloween costume (which can be really expensive and common), which is probably the safest bet but not always practical. 

Or you could try winning a costume contest! Here are some tips on how to win one:

Halloween Costume Contest Tips To Consider

Stick To The Theme

A Halloween costume can be designed and customized to match the desired theme. A well-made costume takes time to make, and as a result, it will be one of the best costumes you wear on Halloween.

But as with most things, if you don’t plan out your costume ahead of time (and you can save money in the process), you will likely waste time and money.

For example, you could purchase an off-the-shelf costume that says “troublemaker” on it. But if you are attending a party where many people are wearing the same costume, you will look like everyone else, and it will not have any effect at all.

However, by using inventive ideas and a bit of creativity, you can end up making an impressive costume for Halloween. 

halloween costume
Image by Jillian Harris

Some of these will require a little more creativity and planning than others, but all of them will be fun to wear. Planning is vital when it comes to a Halloween costume!

Stick to the theme; this is a basic rule to be successful.

Check out these ideas for some of the most creative Halloween costumes for the following year.

Your Outfit Will Make Or Break It!

The outfit you wear will make or break it. You have to remember that. The most creative Halloween costume ideas start with your concept.

Working from the top down will help you determine what is appropriate for your costume and what isn’t. 

For example, a sexy nurse costume is a great start for a nurse/doctor look. A short dress can do the trick if you can find one that’s not too short and easy to accessorize with some cute elbow gloves or shoes. 

halloween costume
Image by Shein

Try looking at any of those old classic movies to see if there are any nurses you might be able to emulate.

The most important question to ask yourself is whether or not your costume will be appropriate for your Halloween party.

The next step is to set a budget: you can use online resources like eBay, but let’s face it – you probably don’t want to buy something that you think is cool, only to later find out that it’s pretty much a piece of crap. 

You can also try looking at some of the thrift stores in your area, which might even have some costumes you can try on. (It saves you the time and energy of making a trip to the mall.) If everything else fails, head to your local costume store. 

The most creative Halloween costume ideas all start from scratch, but it’s not that hard to add your personal touch.

“If you like it, but you can’t afford it” or “it’s not quite what you wanted” are excuses that we’ve heard from many friends.

Makeup Does WONDERS!

Makeup does wonders. It can completely change your look, provide a disguise and make you feel more confident.

If your next Halloween costume is a dramatic transformation, make sure you are prepared by investing time in the process.

halloween costume
Image by Lizzeeglam

You can add depth to your look by using contours under the cheekbones. You can also discreetly shade the brow bone and create a strong jawline using bronzer and foundation.

Use dark eyeshadow to give depth to them. Keep facial features well-defined with eyebrow shaping, contouring, and waxing.

A fake mole can add a dramatic touch to your nose and cheekbones while creating a more defined chin.

What you can do to come up with the best Halloween costume ideas is to start thinking about your unique style. Forget about what everybody else will be wearing.

What you have, is a style that you believe is unique or individual in some way. You can think of a particular aspect of your look and try to make it as realistic as possible.

Don’t Over-Accessorize

halloween costume
Image by Maegan Tintari via lovemaegan

Don’t over-accessorize. It’s a simple rule, but one that is often ignored. We all know that the right accessory can tie an outfit together, but it can also be the difference between dressing up and dressing down. 

Think of the age-old saying “less is more.” It’s true. When it comes to Halloween costumes, the most important accessory is your sense of humor.

If you’re serious about getting creative this year, don’t go overboard on accessories. 

Think about what will make the costume complete. And if you must wear something that’s not part of your costume, make sure that it complements (rather than detracts) from your look.

You can make a statement. Just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean that you can’t be bold in your choice of outfits. This is the perfect time to try out a new look or make some fashion statements.

The fact is that Halloween is the one day of the year when you don’t have to worry about what other people think.

Don’t Be Afraid to Stylize

halloween costume
Image by Taylor Miller via Buzzfeed

Don’t be afraid to add some fun accessories to your look. If you’re feeling a little nervous wearing your costume, don’t worry! Make a different pose for each shot (even if it’s only for one or two photos). 

And if you want to be a little wacky, try to make your smile look as big as possible. This is one of the best ways to make people laugh when they see your costume on Facebook in the coming weeks.

If you’re not feeling confident with your looks, don’t stress. Make sure to choose a costume that is fun and in line with your personality! If you’re shy or reserved, you don’t want to choose a costume like a gorilla or giant spider because it might make you even more introverted than usual.

Final Thoughts

Costume parties are good fun, and they always bring out creativity in people. Be sure to take some ideas away from these tips that you can use in the future! 

You’re sure to get into the spirit of Halloween even if you don’t have the best costume that year!

Remember, you don’t need to spend a lot of money or work too hard to develop the best Halloween costumes for the party.

There are plenty of easy and simple ideas out there that don’t take a lot of effort or time.

And these are the best Halloween costume ideas that will elicit the biggest laughs from your friends and family.

If you want to nail the most creative Halloween costume ideas, avoid the basics. Be creative and think of your own unique style. Don’t go too over-accessorized, but also don’t be afraid to try new things!

Experiment and have fun with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the best type of makeup for a costume party?

The best makeup is usually going to be dark and dramatic. You can use bronzer or foundation to give your jawline more definition, darker eyeshadow for more depth in the eye area, eyebrow shaping, and waxing. You can also fake a mole or add some contouring to your cheekbones and chin for defined features.

2. How can I avoid over-accessorizing Halloween costumes?

Don’t accessorize too much with jewelry or other extraneous items. If you’re going to wear something like that anyways, make sure it complements your outfit rather than takes away from it.

3. What’s the best way to dress up for Halloween?

If you’re going to dress up in a costume, think about it from an individual standpoint. Make sure your costume is generally consistent with your personality but that you take some risks with the impression you’re trying to make. 

Great inspiration for Halloween costumes is looking at pictures of other people who have the same idea and creating a similar look that you can emulate.

4. What’s the best Halloween costume idea? Why?

The best Halloween costume idea is going to be unique. It should be something that people will recognize but won’t expect. It’s also a good idea to choose a costume that makes you feel good and contributes to your personality rather than detracts from it (i.e., not wearing something scary or cheesy).

5. Why save money when you can look good on a budget?

So many people still believe that you have to spend a lot of money to look your best. They see others with super-expensive wardrobes and think that they must have wealthy parents or go out and do drugs all the time. But the honest truth is, how you look is pretty much about how good you feel.

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