It’s finally the moment everyone has been waiting for, the infamous Ohio University Halloween weekend. People from all over Ohio and the United States are coming to Athens to celebrate this momentous occasion. Upperclassmen cannot wait to reenact last year and freshmen wait in anticipation to see if it lives up to the hype.

The most commonly asked question of the past few weeks has been, “What are you going to be for Halloween?” and it’s on everyone’s mind. So here’s some advice for anyone who has waited until the last minute and is now in panic mode: relax. The following are a few tips that should make the big decision of what to wear easy, affordable and guaranteed to make others look.

DO:

Go vintage. Sporting a look from the ‘50s through the ‘80s is a great way to have a unique costume while not trying too hard or spending too much money.

Go thrifting in places such as the Athens Underground and the costume shop at 12 S. Court St. The second floor of the costume shop has many rare finds at cheap prices.  Thrift stores such as Goodwill, New-To-You Thrift Shoppe and Re-Use Thrift Store are great places to look for cheap alternatives to otherwise more expensive costumes.

Create group costumes. When in doubt, band together with some friends to create a more elaborate costume. For example, one bowling pin is mediocre. A bowling ball knocking down nine bowling pins is hilarious.

Try using your sense of humor. Even the simplest of costumes can be a success as long as it can make people laugh.

Raid other people’s closets. Everyone has obscure clothes that they never wear, and some are the makings of a brilliant costume.

Be as creative as possible. Simply look around wherever you go for inspiration. Any object can be turned into a costume.

DON’T:

Wear lingerie and call it a costume. No one wants to be asked what his or her costume is and have nothing to say. There’s also the warmth factor that make this “costume” less than ideal.  This year, the weather looks warmer than most.  Either way, don’t take a chance with something super skimpy.

Go to Court Street without a costume.

Make your costume too abstract. You might become distracted from the festivities if you have to explain your costume all night to the drunken masses.

Be any sort of sexy animal. Unless it is something extremely creative like a platypus. In that case, it is acceptable.

Be a dick. Literally, every year people think that they are the first ones to think of being a penis for Halloween. Just to clear it up, yes it has been done before.

Go drag. This is for the guys; Halloween is not an excuse to live out fantasies of womanhood.

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