HELP! + Thrift Your Next Costume!

I've made it pretty apparent that I like to shop second-hand and clearance for my everyday wardrobe. Something you may not know is that I love to shop for costumes as well. My family and friends (especially my brother) often throw theme parties so I have a lot of great opportunities to shop for disguises.

Guess where I shop? Goodwill/Value World/Salvation Army, of course!

So Here's the point of this post. My brother is turing 30 and to celebrate he is throwing a costume themed birthday bash. I NEED YOUR HELP! The party is on 4/30 and so far I have no ideas.

Check out a selection of my old costumes below with some details on where I purchased various items.


1. Halloween: Joan Holloway (Mad Men). One of my faves. I found the vintage dress at Salvation Army. It is awesome! I really want to get it dry cleaned and altered. I loved the hairdo too. Jewelry was from Value World.
2. Halloween: Doc (Back to the Future). I remember putting the cotton balls on my eyebrows with a glue stick, probably not the smartest idea. My best friend went as Marty. The shirt was thrifted, but I borrowed the lab coat.
3. Halloween: Frida Kahlo. I made the head wrap with some fake flowers I bought at Salvation Army. The top, scarf and earrings were borrowed, but the skirt was bought at Salvation Army.

4.Halloween: Crazy Cat Lady. Everything I wore had cats on it and I got all of the items from Value World. Oh, except the magazine, Catmopolitan, which I borrowed, hilarious. I loved playing this character all night. I even hot glued pieces of litter and cat food to my robe. Ahh, only a true cat lady would go to such lengths...;)
5.Halloween: 40's? I don't really have a name for this outfit. It was just an opportunity to wear a bunch of sweet vintage items I borrowed from a friend. It was costume #2 the year I dressed as Doc. I needed something feminine after being old, male and gray the night before.
6. Halloween: Swine Flu. Sorry I know this is gross and maybe a little insensitive, but at least it was relevant...? All of the clothing was purchased from Value World. The ears and nose I had to get from a costume shop.

7. 80's Theme Party: Robert Palmer Girl. I've been to a few 80's parties, so I decided to choose a specific inspiration instead of the standard crimped hair and hot pink dress. The dress (hemmed by my mother) and belt were both from Salvation Army.
8. High School Stereotype Party: Artsy Fartsy Girl. This costume was inspired by "She's All That". Everything I wore was purchased at Value World (including some pink fake converse shoes). I splattered them all with paint.
9. 90's Theme Party: This was a total last minute costume shopping experience, but I of course found inspiration from one of my favorite shows, My So Called Life. Sharon Cherski might have worn this dress, no? I found it at Salvation Army.

10. Jersey Shore Theme Party: The Illusion. I named myself the Illusion, because that is totally NOT my body showing through that dress, it was an optical "illusion". I bought the dress (as is, yikes) at Rue 21 for $5. I bedazzled "ILLUSION" on my butt.
11. Pop Star Karaoke Party: Gwen Stefani. I'm not sure I pulled this one off very well, but I had just recently dressed as Gaga for another party so that was out. I got the belt and the arm bands (cut from the sleeves of a sweater) from Value World. Everything else I already owned.
12. Gods & Icons Theme Party: HELP!?

Now here's where you come in. Can you help me think of some ideas for the upcoming party? The theme is GODS AND ICONS.

My brother created the collage below to help inspire costumes.



I would like to shop this weekend with some ideas in mind. So far I have considered Medusa or Rosie the Riveter, but would love to hear what you guys come up with.

Thanks in advance. :)

I'm gonna have to plan a giveaway soon to thank all of you lovely readers!