Freaked out because you don’t have a costume for Halloween yet?
Don’t panic!
Let’s head over to the costume shop and ask Nicole Miller, first hand and stitcher for the Radio City Rockettes, to reveal quick and easy Halloween costume tricks that you can pull together before the clock strikes 13! Think “DIY” is scary? Actually, it’s frightfully easy!
Nicole knows what it’s like to pull a costume together in a hurry, and she has awesome advice for teens on how to start a costuming career, too. As for October 31st: Nicole urges teens searching for a Halloween costume to get creative. In other words: repurpose and upcycle!
But first, get into design mode. Nicole says: “I love the process of seeing the design idea become a reality.” She says: “looking at a drawing of a costume and figuring out how I can build it” can get creativity flowing.
Check out her bewitching advice to high-kick your Halloween costume—and your costuming career—into high gear:
CB: Teen performers are often super busy with packed schedules. What are your top tips for creating quick and easy last-minute Halloween costumes?
Nicole: Simplify the costume idea! Use thrift store finds or old clothing, and repurpose those items if necessary. Head out to a Goodwill or Salvation Army, or look in your own closet. If you have a specific character in mind, break down the minimum pieces you need. If you wanted to be Dorothy, for instance, all you need is a blue dress, a little stuffed dog, and some red shoes. If you can’t find red shoes, repurpose an old pair with some red spray paint and maybe some glued sequins. Classic characters are the easiest to get away with because if you’re modernizing the look, it doesn’t have to be an exact replica.
CB: What’s your favorite costume essential for every actor’s closet?
Nicole: Good versatile shoes! For men, a comfortable pair of dress shoes, and for women, character shoes.
CB: Do you have a piece of advice for teens interested in a costuming career?
Nicole: It’s pretty simple: Never say no to an opportunity and be willing to work really hard! It’s so important to make a good impression, because you will get most projects through people who have worked with you before.
Don’t be spooked when searching for a Halloween costume this year! Imagination, a designer’s eye, and a quick trip to the thrift store makes creating the perfect costume as easy as pumpkin pie! 🙂
Share your favorite Halloween costumes in the comments below!
A huge thank-you to Nicole Miller and the Camp Broadway Staff for making this interview possible!