As All Hallows Eve approaches, so does the time for lovers of spooks and spirits to sport their best costumes for a night of fun-filled frights.

Perhaps college students are a bit old for trick-or-treating, but that doesn’t stop them from dressing up in their favorite costumes. Everything from the famous Scream to a hula dancer, most of the costumes can be found at any local party store. For those who can’t find one, it’s time to exercise some creative thinking.

Costumes aren’t always constructed from materials sold in a typical Halloween shop. People certainly don’t have to cut holes in an old sheet unless they’re diehard Charlie Brown fans. Princess fans can easily find a crown from Claire’s and a fancy dress from Nordstrom Rack.

Simplicity can still be pretty. A classic, but sassy black cat is achieved with black pants, boots and T-shirt. Attach paper ears to a headband and use eyeliner or black lipstick for a kitten nose and whiskers. This creates an instant cat to get into the Halloween spirit.

Obviously, the design of the costume determines the necessary clothing pieces and accessories. Thrift stores and local consignment shops are more likely to have old or vintage clothing for some of the more unique costume ideas.

One example is the princess style mentioned before. Many consignment shops, such as those in downtown Pullman, will have a prom-style or old-style dress to match the design of the costume. Some shops even have jewelry to match. It may be difficult to find a tiara, but for those wanting to express their inner child, the paper crown never goes out of style.

Not everyone dresses in costume for Halloween, though. Some just like to sport the colors and themed clothing. From striped witch tights to earrings shaped like bats and spider webs, sometimes the best costume is just a T-shirt with a jack-o’-lantern on it.