Seven Affordable Halloween Costumes Culled From Seven Great Music Videos

Dan Gibson | October 28, 2008 11:00 am

Halloween is only four days away! Although the fun is rapidly being sucked from the whole holiday thanks to church-sponsored “Harvest Festivals” and the jackass who thinks a “FBI: Female Body Inspector” t-shirt is a costume, we hope to help you, the reader, inject a bit more excitement into the celebration with some costume ideas from your favorite music videos.

7. Van Halen, “Hot For Teacher”

Fast forward (or the internet equivalent) to 2:14. See those orange suits? Wearing one of those says “I’m classy, but totally ready to party.” You can thank me later.

6. Peter Gabriel, “Sledgehammer”

“Sledgehammer” isn’t just a groundbreaking video, it’s an endless source of costume ideas that you’ll be forced to explain to people all night long. Train track around your neck? Hilarious! Guy with clay hammers for hands? Edgy! Peter Gabriel made out of fruit? Possibly too difficult.

5. Big & Rich, “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy”

Country music seems like a wealth of costume ideas (who wouldn’t be impressed by your “Waylon Jennings In The ’70s” costume?), although you may want to figure out your friends’ political sensitivities before dressing up like John Rich.

4. Nine Inch Nails, “Only”

A costume should really be graded on a creativity to price ratio. Anyone can spend a ton of money and have an exceptional costume. The guy who buys one of those pin toys from Target and goes as Trent Reznor from the “Only” video is frugal and, as a bonus, appears to be in touch with his emotions.

3. B-Rock, “My Baby Daddy”

Can you rustle up an old cell phone, a fancy hat, and a sweatshirt from the ’90s? Then you can be T-Bird from the “My Baby Daddy” video, and you can thank me later.

2. R.E.M., “Pop Song 89”

Of course, if the whole process of choosing a costume ends up being too stressful, you can always just put some large black stripes on your pants, take your shirt off, and move your body around like it’s “Pop Song 89.” (Ladies might want to splurge for some black oaktag, too.) Not the most relevant of costumes, but hey, it’s affordable.

1. L’Trimm, “Cars With The Boom

I haven’t provided many options for the ladies, but I think this suggestion makes up for it. Find yourself a friend, hit up Forever 21 and Claire’s with a sharp eye, and you have yourself Tigra and Bunny costumes. Who doesn’t enjoy the cars that go boom? (Note: This costume might go over better in the greater Miami area.)

Although I can’t imagine anyone needing an idea other than the ones I’ve provided, feel free to offer your music video derived suggestions in the comments.