Creativity counts for a lot when it comes to Halloween. Anyone can walk into a costume shop and come out with a prepackaged outfit, but what’s the fun in wearing something you’re guaranteed to see all over town? Armed with a desire to stand out and a need to do it for minimal cash, Washingtonian.com enlisted the help of Washington-based costume designer Justine Light. A member of the local theater scene with a penchant for fantastical attire and an emphasis on recycling, she struck us as perfect for the job. Her mission: Create three no-sew, non-labor-intensive looks, all pulled from items easily found in any Washington residence. Read on for her eye-catching ideas and step-by-step instructions for creating them.

WINDY CITY

Believe it or not, no wind was involved in the making of this picture—the breeze-blown tie and hair are made up. Creating this look, inspired by Justine’s Chicago hometown, takes less than an hour and is a great last-minute idea. Find your standard business-casual attire (think slacks, button-down, and belt) and pull a quirky tie from your closet. Put on the tie as you normally would, then loosen the neck and slip it off. Undo a wire hanger and insert it down the back sleeve of the front part of the tie. Bend excess wire so that it can be inserted into the skinnier sleeve, then put the tie back on and twist the hanging pieces so they look as though they’ve just been hit by a gust of wind. Push an old umbrella inside out, gel your hair in the same direction as the tie, and put on your best down-trodden face. Voilà! You’re officially dressed for the party.