Lions, Tigers...Zombies? Oh My!

Creative Halloween costumes for students on a budgetby Chavonne HodgesLast Halloween Ricardo Paredes went DIY.  “My costume consisted of black slacks, white button down shirt and a black tie, [but] of course [it] was zombified” says Paredes, a City College alumnus about his homemade Halloween costume. “I decided to be a zombie because at the time I was in a dance team, and we decided to dress up as zombies since we were performing Thriller.”Paredes, like many other young adults, are faced with a very difficult question--what should I be this year? A ninja? A ghost? With Halloween costumes averaging $60 at Ricky’s Halloween stores, students are searching for creative, easy, cheap costumes.“My girlfriend is going to be a Blackboard,” says CCNY grad student Christian Brown. “She’s wearing a chalk covered black unitard with an empty chalk box glued to it. I am going as a teacher.”Judith Sanchez keeps her costumes VERY simple. “I was a nurse cause it was the only thing I could put together at the last minute, plus I really wanted to wear red lipstick,” says the CCNY English education major. “Pretty much I was either buying a costume [at the] last minute or making one up, and everything at that point was more expensive than what it was worth.”Creating a costume for the spookiest holiday of the year takes time and effort.  For students who are lacking prep time, a sewing needle, and a stick of glue, store bought costumes are the way to go. Despite the price, trendy costumes such as Captain America, Nicki Minaj, Angry Birds, Charlie Sheen and more are available all over the city.While trademarked costumes are the most popular  in Halloween apparel this year, classic, non-branded  ones are just as good, if not cheaper. “I usually don’t dress up, but since I’m going out this year, and my parents are being lenient, I’m going to be a gypsy,” says freshman Felicia Perez. “The costume is very eclectic. It has a lot of color and glitter and gold.”Regardless of your Halloween wardrobe plans, one thing is for sure: It’s better to have a costume than no costume. “Halloween would be nothing if you don’t dress up because gives people an excuse to go crazy with their outfits,” says Perez.            .