‘Boo’-it-yourself!

Spooky season is here and the UTRGV community is in the spirit of Halloween by making their own costumes. 

Because of busy schedules, many students do not have the time nor the money to afford a decent costume. They prefer to look for different options on the internet, such as DIY videos or blogs that are inexpensive and easy to make.

UTRGV Art Professor Brian D. Dick has worked on multiple art projects that consist of creating his costumes based on objects he finds at thrift stores.

“I like stuff, I like objects, you know, and I feel like a lot of times objects, as long as you can wear them and they fit, they can be really funny and interesting without a lot of modification,” Dick said. “Another good thing to look at is the thrift store because you can find a lot of cool things you could wear as costumes. I think it’s harder to try and make a costume set to an idea you already have. It’s probably easier to let the materials, themselves, define what the costume might look like.”

On the other hand, many students prefer to have a set idea about what to make in order to get the proper materials.

Basic costume-making materials include cardboard, paper mâché, paint, among others. Many materials can be found at low prices in stores such as Walmart or the Dollar Tree.

UTRGV students are also working on their own Halloween costumes.

Studio art senior Brenda Juarez said, “I usually get my ideas from Pinterest and see what inspires me, but mostly it’s just out of my head. Just go into a cheap store, like Walmart, where they have Halloween decorations and stuff. As long as you have the passion for it and you really want to do it, like for me, Halloween is just another way to express myself and it’s just something really fun.”

Another important factor for any Halloween costume is makeup.

There are many affordable drugstore makeup brands, such as wet n wild, NYX, Ben Nye, among others. These makeup brands’ retail prices range from $5 to $15 per product and can be easily found at any dollar store.

Kathia Rodriguez, an anthropology junior, offered some Halloween makeup tips.

“The first thing you got to have is a clean face because … face oils will mess up the makeup that you have on,” Rodriguez said. “If you are doing a full face, it will be nice to have, like, a setting powder of some kind to make it last. It’s good to invest in good face paint … like, Ben Nye. … It’s super good.”

She encourages all students to try Halloween makeup, even those who have less experience.

“If you really want to do it, like, it doesn’t matter your skill set,” Rodriguez said. “You can do it. I know a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, I am not an art person,’ but, you know, it’s always good to just try.”