Halloween Costumes For Less

So in today's blog, I'm going to cover a widely discussed and very timely aspect of fashion: Halloween costumes! And here's what Party City doesn't want you to know about Halloween costumes: they don't have to cost 70 dollars. In fact, with a few basics, a good makeup artist, some pieces you probably already own, and a couple accessories, you can look like a thousand bucks for under 40.

How do you put together a cute, cheap Halloween costume?
Here's how I created my "angel" costume using things I already owned and one set of accessories.

Angel Costume by Catherine Cotton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at picasaweb.google.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://picasaweb.google.com/108014830181637339043/October242011#5667281623661511794.



I created this costume by only spending 20 dollars, and using things I already owned. The dress is from American Apparel, it was 15 dollars. I would highly reccommend American Apparel to anyone shopping for a halloween costume, they have every kind of basic clothing item in every color imaginable, and neon everything. I'm wearing gold flip flops I've owned for years, a cross necklace I've had for a long time, and I only had to spend 20 dollars on the wings and halo. For the night of Halloween, I'll do white and glittery makeup all around my eyes to create that angelic effect.

Costumes like this can be made with relatively any idea in mind. Want to a butterfly, fairy, or any type of ladybug/bumblebee? Black basic tank top, any color skirt, and wings from a halloween store. Any solid color dress or skirt paired with a black top and accessories can make a multitude of costumes. Paying 70 dollars for a simple white dress isn't worth it when you can go to Target and get the same thing for much less.

The secret to Halloween costumes is this: accessories. Get the right accessories, and everyone will know what you are, even if you're outfit is basic.

The ins and outs of body modification

So today I want to cover a topic thats starting to be more and more prominent in today's world of trends and style: body modification. From piercings, to gauges, to tattoos: body mods are becoming increasingly common with today's younger crowd, and having had quite a few of them myself, I wanted to share with my followers the dos and don'ts of body mods.

Piercings and tattoos can be incredibly cute and give you a little bit of edge as well. I'm a big fan of both these things, in moderation of course, there's definitely such a thing as too much when it comes to body mods! I, myself, have a nose ring and two ear piercings on each ear. I've also had my septum pierced, but I took it out. Recently I went to get my tongue pierced but due to a physical imperfection, they recommended me against it.

That brings me to my first topic: know your piercing artist/tattoo artist. Make sure the shop you're going to is legitimate, clean, and has good revies and service before you let them put needles in your skin! Do your research, read reviews, ask around. It may seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but a botched piercing can lead to infection, scarring, and loss of feeling in that area. As someone who let her best friend pierce her nose at 14, believe me, DO NOT do piercings yourself or ask a friend to do it. It may look easy, but these guys are proffesionals for a reaosn. A clean and legitimate shop may cost a bit more, but an infection will cost you much more in  the long run!

As for tattoos, I have one tattoo myself, and am currently talking to an artist about my 2nd. On the subject of tattoos, my best advice is this: get something meaningful. You have to live with it your whole life, so make sure you like it. My advice is when you think of a tattoo idea you like, don't get it done right away. Sit on your idea for about six months, and if it hasn't changed and you still want it, start looking for a shop and an artist who can bring your vision to life.

As for my tattoo, me and my mom got matching tattoos in Las Vegas when I was 17. She asked her graphic designer friend to draw us a mother and baby owl and this is what he came up with:

Owl Picture by Catherine Cotton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at picasaweb.google.com.


The owls mean a lot to us because we have had owls living in our backyard for a few years now, and every year they have babies and we get to watch them learn to fly together in our backyard.


This final product ended up like this:

Owl Tattoo by Catherine Cotton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at picasaweb.google.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://picasaweb.google.com/108014830181637339043/October3201102#5659126643228470626.




I'm very very happy with the way my tattoo came out, and I know I will always cherish it. Tattoos can sometimes look trashy, but if they mean a lot to you and you know it's something you'll always love, find a good shop and go for it. However, be warned: tattoos require needles. Needles hurt. So when people ask me, "Did that hurt?" Well, it definitely didn't feel pleasant getting a needle shoved into my shoulderblade for an hour. So be prepared, know that YES, it will hurt, A LOT, and also know that if you start to whine, your tattoo artist WILL make fun of you!

The 5 Minute Face

Woke up late? Only have 10 minutes to get ready? Perfect, that's 5 more than you need! Most college girls don't have much time to get ready in the mornings, between finishing up essays and studying for the next quiz, spending 30 minutes applying makeup just isn't practical. Not to mention spending tons of money on products that magazines claim you have to have. Most of us don't have that kind of time, or money. Luckily, you don't have to! With some cheap drugstore products and about five minutes, you can achieve a look that lasts all day with hardly any effort, and it only takes 4 steps.

1. First, foundation is the key. A good foundation and an even skin tone is what makes the basis for all your makeup. It's the quickest way to look awake and bright, even at 8 in the morning. I prefer Neutrogena's Clear Skin Liquid Foundation. It evens out your skin tone, and fights breakouts at they same time. Use just a few drops sparingly on red and dark spots, and it will leave you feeling light and weightless.
2. The second most important thing is eyelashes. Long, luscious eyelashes are the key to looking feminine and sweet, and make you look like you're wearing more makeup than you actually are. I prefer Covergirl's Lashblast mascara to get dramatic, lengthy eyelashes on both your top and bottom lashes, and a good eyelash curler will just add to the effect.
3. Add a quick sweep of black eyeliner to your top lash line. Simple and sweet, this will make your eyes look big and draw all the attention to them. I prefer Revlon's liquid eyeliner for a dramatic look, but a pencil or cream eyeliner will give it a more daytime feel.
4. The final step is adding a bit of color to your lips. Covergirl's Outlast Lipstain lasts all day and comes in a variety of colors, from dramatic reds to sweet peaches. No matter what kind of look you're going for, color on your lips makes them pop and creates a polished look.

Altogether, it will look something like this:

5 Minute Face by Catherine Cotton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at picasaweb.google.com.

Could you have guessed it only took a few minutes and products you can find at any CVS? Don't let the magazines fool you, makeup doesn't have to be a chore and it definitely shouldn't break your bank account!

The Basics

For the first post in my guide to dressing cute and comfy for college, I wanted to show how I dress on a normal, average day here at Trinity, just to provide a general overview of what I want to share with you before getting into any specifics.

Dress The Part by Catherine Cotton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at dressthepart-catherine.blogspot.com.

Something I want to draw your attention to is the balance between hot and cold. Because it's the end of summer in San Antonio, it's definitely not cold outside, so a romper and some sandals are really appropriate to wear when trying to beat the hot weather. However, all the classrooms are about negative 20 degrees, so if you're going to wear something short like this, I've learned cardigan or cover up is a must have!

When I first started classes here, I liked to wear dresses and little heels. After a few weeks, I've learned it's just not practical, especially climbing up the Trinity hills! Settling for a romper like this, which has the look and feel of a dress without the lack of comfort, is a great alternative. Some great places to find cheap and cute rompers for the warm days at school are Forever 21 or Urban Outfitters.  You can find these at North Star Mall, or The Quarry. I would recommend Forever 21 first, because it's the cheapest and fits all body types a bit better.

Looking for cute accessories to pair with that romper? No problem! Just hit up American Apparel at North Star Mall for some funky accessories, including a variety of colors in bows and hair accessories. I also highly recommend Charming Charlies as well. In this picture, I have a big white bow in the back of my hair, which also keeps it out of my face during classes and only took a couple seconds to style, giving me plenty of time to sleep in.

In my next few posts, I'll be addressing hair tricks, makeup secrets, and how to budget money when shopping, thanks for Dressing The Part with me today!