Perfectly Petrifying: Last Minute Halloween Costumes
With the buzz of Raisin, Reading Week, and a frightening amount of deadlines, Halloween has a way of sneaking up on St Andrews unexpectedly. In a town where the streets come alive at night with both haute and haunted costumes, sometimes the biggest fright can be trying to pull together an outfit that makes you feel fashionably frightful. If you find yourself on the evening of October 31st staring at your wardrobe in despair, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you don’t need an elaborate costume to look intentional - you just need a few basics, some beauty tricks and treats, and a touch of playfulness. Below are some elevated, last-minute ideas that transform pieces you already have into something playful, party-ready, and perfectly petrifying.
Animalier
My biggest tip would be to use the trends you already have lying in your closet that you might have forgotten about. Thank god for the cheetah & leopard print craze this year, as it just became your costume! Grab any animal print piece from your wardrobe, and do the matching makeup. Even if you don’t have ears or a tail, a leopard print top with leopard spots on your cheekbones and a cute little cat nose is recognizable and chic. Have a white dress with black polka dots? Simply add a red ribbon tied around your throat like a collar, a dog nose and some black spots on your face, and you’ve become a dalmatian. No accessories needed! If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with the classic black cat - a black skirt, black top, and some black heels or red flats looks adorable. Just add some whiskers and you’re set to go!
Rodeo ready
When in doubt, go Western. The cowgirl costume never fails - it’s classic, cute and easy to throw together with things you already own. In times like these, St Andrews’ obsession with all things rodeo comes in handy - start with a denim skirt or shorts, Scottish weather permitting, and pull on either cowboy boots or some tall brown boots. For the top, a red or checkered button up shirt does the trick perfectly - bonus points if you have gingham. If you want to go the sexy route, tie it up into a knot, or keep it tucked into some jeans if you’d prefer more coverage. The hair is an easy way to identify the look too. Try tying your hair into two braids, or adding a bandana for some extra flair. You can even add some fake freckles to your makeup to take a more cartoonish route.
Heist Chic
A robber costume is a great route to go if you want to be polished with minimal effort. You have two routes - go classic with a black and white striped top, or sleek with all black trousers and a turtleneck top. Start with a black base like leggings, trousers, or a turtleneck, and layer until you look ready to sprint through a museum. Then, the fun part: pile on every piece of jewelry you own. Gold, silver, pearls—mix them all. The more the better! Mixing metals and different styles of jewelry is a fun way to jazz up your costume. Plus, if you happen to have some hi-vis vests around, you can spin it into a Louvre heist costume to be both spooky and on-topic.
The Bedbug
Now, hear me out on this one - be a bedbug. It’s not what it sounds like, I promise. Grab two black pipe cleaners and tie them around a headband to make some simple antennae. Then, look for any silk slip nightie you might have, or a matching pajama set. Get it? A bug that’s all ready for bed! If you don’t feel like fighting the cold Scottish weather, you can even go in long pajama pants and a comfy top. It’s still adorable, especially with some fun colorful makeup to match. Pop on some slippers or Uggs, and you’re set!
Keep it fun and flirty!
Finally, some costumes require a healthy dose of irony. I’ve seen some pretty clever ones already (shoutout to the three girls dressed as the pier, the 18th hole, and the Castle) and with a little humour a simple costume can be quickly elevated. Start with a black skirt and a white collared shirt. Simply add a blazer, a tie, and pin on a note that says ‘apology’ and you’ve become a formal apology! If you want to go a racier route and be hot off the press, grab the most recent copy of the Saint from your coffee table. Tuck and pin it into a skirt and bra, add on a heavy trench coat for the classic ‘flasher’ silhouette, and have fun being a Newsflash for the night. This one is my personal favourite - it’s fun and flirty, while being very easy to put together.
Halloween costumes don’t have to be planned meticulously for months to be drop dead gorgeous. Just have a little creativity, assess what you already have, and have fun!
Photography by Charlotte El Hage