Halloween is fun.

Halloween costumes? That depends.

Maybe you love handing out candy, going to the party, drinking the suspiciously orange punch and judging everyone else’s costumes—but you have absolutely no desire to spend $60 on an itchy polyester dress you’ll wear for approximately four hours.

Same.

The good news is you probably already own a Halloween costume. You just haven’t realized it yet.

The trick is to stop thinking about costumes and start thinking about outfits with an alibi.

A black dress isn’t a costume.

Add dark lipstick and suddenly you’re a vampire.

Jeans and boots aren’t a costume.

Add a bandana and suddenly you’re a cowgirl.

See how this works?

Here are some ridiculously easy Halloween costumes for women who would really rather just wear normal clothes.

The Witch Who Clearly Has Somewhere to Be After This

Wear:

A black dress, black jeans or basically anything black.

Add boots and a witch hat.

Done.

If you want to look like you put in slightly more effort, add dark lipstick, layered jewelry or dramatic eyeliner.

The best part? Remove the hat and you’re just wearing a cute black outfit again.

This is Halloween efficiency.

The Cowgirl

You probably have most of this already.

Jeans. Boots. A denim or plaid shirt. Belt.

Then find a cowboy hat or bandana and congratulations—you have officially participated in Halloween.

Bonus points for fringe, turquoise jewelry or a western belt buckle.

And unlike most Halloween costumes, every piece can actually go back into your closet afterward.

The ’90s Girl

This may be the easiest costume because half of the ’90s is already back in style.

Grab some straight-leg jeans, an oversized flannel, a baby tee or band tee, sneakers or combat boots and maybe a choker.

That’s it.

Tell everyone you’re from 1996.

Anyone who questions the costume is taking Halloween way too seriously.

Audrey Hepburn

This one looks surprisingly polished for the amount of effort involved.

Wear a little black dress with black flats or heels.

Add oversized sunglasses, pearls and an updo.

If you happen to have long black gloves, even better.

Suddenly your regular black dress has gone from “dinner reservation” to Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The Vampire

Another victory for the black section of your closet.

Wear black pants, a black dress, a blazer, lace top—whatever you already have.

Add red lipstick.

Maybe some fake vampire teeth if you’re feeling ambitious.

That’s it.

You don’t even need fake blood. Just look mildly annoyed and tell people you’ve been alive for 400 years.

Wednesday Addams

Black dress.

White collar.

Braids.

Done.

If you don’t own a black dress with a white collar, layer a white collared shirt underneath one.

The facial expression is arguably 50% of the costume, so this one requires absolutely no smiling.

Perfect.

The Cat

Yes, it’s predictable.

That’s exactly why it works.

Wear all black. Add cat ears. Draw a nose and whiskers with eyeliner.

You’ve now spent approximately three minutes getting into costume.

Is it groundbreaking?

No.

Will everyone immediately know what you are?

Yes.

Sometimes that’s all we need.

The Tourist

This might be the most comfortable Halloween costume ever invented.

Wear shorts or jeans, sneakers, a Hawaiian shirt or graphic tee, sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Carry a tote bag or camera.

Bonus points for a fanny pack.

Extra bonus points for staring at Google Maps all night and asking people where the nearest Starbucks is.

The Rockstar

This is especially easy if your closet contains black jeans and a band tee.

Add boots, a leather or faux-leather jacket, sunglasses and way too much eyeliner.

Mess up your hair a little.

You are now a rockstar.

Which rockstar?

Don’t worry about it.

The Fortune Teller

This is where all those scarves, flowy tops and dramatic jewelry hiding in thrift stores finally get their moment.

Wear a maxi skirt or wide-leg pants with a blouse or fitted top.

Pile on necklaces, rings and bracelets.

Tie a scarf around your hair.

Carry a deck of cards if you have one.

Then spend the evening telling people extremely vague things like, “I see a major purchase in your future.”

The Last-Minute Ghost, But Make It Fashion

No, I’m not telling you to cut holes in a bedsheet.

We’re adults now.

Wear an all-white or cream outfit instead.

White jeans and a white sweater. A cream maxi dress. A flowy white blouse and skirt.

Add pale makeup if you want.

Now you’re an elegant ghost.

Or a woman wearing beige.

Halloween is subjective.

Your Closet Is Basically a Costume Shop

Before you buy a Halloween costume, shop your own closet.

Look for:

Black dresses. Leather jackets. Flannel shirts. Boots. Scarves. Vintage clothing. Statement jewelry. Denim. White button-downs. Anything leopard print.

Then check a thrift store for the one or two accessories that turn the outfit into something recognizable.

That’s actually one of my favorite things about secondhand clothing. A random piece that makes absolutely no sense on the rack can become the perfect Halloween find.

And after Halloween?

You’re not stuck with a costume you’ll never wear again.

You just have clothes.

Which is exactly how Halloween should work for those of us who want to dress up without actually… dressing up.

And if your closet isn’t cooperating, secondhand is the first place I’d look. You never know what weird, wonderful, costume-perfect piece someone else has decided they’re done with.

Happy thrifting—and happy Halloween. 🎃