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• Recycle, reuse and revamp your Halloween costume

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Halloween may be over, but that doesn’t mean the costumes that required careful thought and planning have to disappear as quickly as the candy and jack-o-lanterns. Recycle. Reuse. Revamp.

“Even if you don't use it consistently, there are always times when these costumes come in handy again,” said Lizzy Freier, senior in LAS.

As Freier said, keeping the components to a costume is a smart idea because an occasion where they’re needed will creep up on you, so why not be prepared?

We all know themed parties are in excess around campus, whether you’re in Greek life, a business club, one of the hundreds of RSOs, or nothing at all – themed parties are always occurring. Instead of buying a new costume for each party, save yourself some cash and get creative with revamping old costumes.

“I used my tutu to be a ballerina this year but maybe I want to be Avril Lavigne next year and wear the tutu again with a more punk rock twist on it,” said Freier, who is known among her friends for being a costume-enthusiast.

“You do not have to retire your Halloween costume. Just because Halloween is over that does not mean you can’t dress up,” said Allison Pilcher, sophomore in ACES. For Pilcher, as a member of a sorority, her reasoning is due to the numerous themed exchanges that she attends for which she recycles costumes. “This year I was a Harlem Globe trotters; there were about 40 of us who made jerseys. We could have a jersey bar crawl and wear our jerseys again,” she said.

For Lizzy Awick, sophomore in AHS, saving her costume is perfect for an after-the-fact celebration. “I would definitely throw a post-Halloween party,” said Awick. That way, everyone has an excuse to get the bang for the buck - or two - that they spent on the costume.

In addition, keeping your costumes will expand your costume pool. If you keep your costumes people will want to trade costumes with you. Think of it as two for the price of one.

“You never know what the theme of a party might be, and costume trading will save time, stress, and money,” said Timmy Knudsen, sophomore in LAS.

If those aren’t reason enough, and you need to really stretch your logic, here’s one last interesting thought. Referring to a groups of girls he saw this Halloween dressed as an Army troop, Knudsen said, “They might as well for real go register to serve our country, and reuse their costumes so they don't have to worry about getting stuck during combat wearing a uniform that doesn't fit!”

How patriotic!