This Halloween some are using their creativity to be extra creepy.
Leni Ivanovsky, senior in social work, said she will be dressing as a zombie for the third year in a row. Ivanovsky makes her zombie costume every year by ripping up old clothing and wearing makeup and fake blood.
"I think it's kind of like a waste of money to buy your costume," Ivanovsky said. "Especially for girls, you're just going to dress like a slut anyway. Why not just wear your bra out? It's going to be cheaper, and at least you can re-wear your bra."
Ivanovsky said it is basically the same price to make a costume as to buy one, and costumes can always be made more intricate by buying accessories from specialty stores like Party City.
"Most girls are more creative when it comes to making costumes," Ivanovsky said. "Why are you going to spend like 40 bucks on a ladybug suit? Ladybugs are not sexy."
Ward Kennedy, senior in English, said he is more impressed with women who make their own costumes.
"As far as respect goes on Halloween, I respect a girl a lot more who has made her costume and spent time on it than just buying one of these $50 ones," he said.
Kennedy said his mother made him Indian and caveman costumes as a child, and he's hardly ever worn a store-bought costume.
"Since I've been in college I've usually found things laying around to make a costume with," Kennedy said. "Last Halloween was the first time I've actually bought a costume."
Kennedy said the store-bought costume was Obi Wan Kenobi from "Star Wars," and it was a disappointment.
"I feel like I should've gotten a bathrobe or something," Kennedy said. "It's like the same thing. It was terrible. It was hot. It just wasn't worth it. I think if you really care about Halloween, you might as well just go ahead and make your own costume."
Kennedy said one of the worst things about store-bought costumes is there are few references to current events.
"One thing about all these costumes is that there's no reference to pop culture," Kennedy said. "I think that those are the better costumes. Whenever I see a costume that's something that happened very recently, I know what it is like immediately."
Kennedy said the more timely costumes also add humor to Halloween.
Kennedy and Ivanovsky both said it was easier for men to make their own costumes than women.
"All they have to do is put on pants and a shirt and be like, 'I'm Vince from 'Entourage,''" Ivanovsky said. "Guys can just wear whatever they want."
For men, finding a costume is as simple as digging though your closet, Kennedy said.
"Last year I wore this jacket and a fedora, and I was Indiana Jones," Kennedy said.
Jessica Issiac, senior in elementary education, said she has always worn homemade costumes.
"My mom always made my costumes as a kid, and I started making my own once I got old enough," Issiac said. "I like to be creative and original with my outfits instead of buying cookie-cutter outfits from the stores. Plus it gives me a good excuse to go to Hobby Lobby."
Issiac said making your own costume is cheaper than buying from specialty stores, and it isn't difficult to do.
"Party City costumes cost, what, $35-45 per outfit plus accessories? I paid about $20 for all the supplies this year," Issiac said. "You just have to find the right inspiration. The hardest thing I did was fight my sewing machine."
Issiac said she bought supplies for her costume at Hobby Lobby, the thrift store and donations from friends. She is making a Las Vegas showgirl outfit and has been working on it since September.
Paul Stockman, recent graduate in broadcast journalism, said the one reason to buy a costume rather than make one is the novelty of the costume.
"If you see something and you're just like, 'I'm not going to make that,' like an Angry Birds costume or a gorilla suit," Stockman said. "You're not going to make that at home. It also depends on the price."
Ivanovsky, Kennedy and Stockman all said that it is worth the time and effort to dress up and enjoy Halloween, regardless of one's age.
"You can do costume parties up until you're 80, as long as you're hanging out with other 80-year-olds," Stockman said. "You're never too old to dress up."
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