(Photo illustration by SIDNEY HOLLINGSWORTH/The Daily Campus)

Halloween is right around the corner, which means it’s time to get your costumes ready.

SMU students are known for going all out when it comes to Halloween costumes. Check out some of these ideas if you’re not quite sure what you want to be this year.

For college students, Halloween isn’t about the candy anymore – it’s about finding the perfect costume that will turn heads.

Whether you want to stick to something more traditional or go with something a little more unique, there are plenty of options for whatever you are looking for.

Traditional

Some of the best traditional costumes are superheroes, storybook characters, iconic decade dress and sports team fans. These are easy to find in any store.

Movie-Inspired

Wanting something more uncommon? A great way to keep your costume fresh is to base it off a recent box-office film.

The Hunger Games and Twilight-inspired costumes will definitely be popular this year.

Dress up as Katniss Everdeen by wearing a windbreaker, black shirt, cargo pants and a braid.

And for all you Twihards: show off your excitement for the upcoming Twilight movie by dressing up as your favorite character.

Another great idea is to try Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman from The Dark Knight Rises. This costume should be easy to find at any Halloween store.

TV Show-Inspired

TV shows are another great place to get inspiration from. Ciera Tabb, an SMU freshman, said, “I am planning on being a Workaholics bear because I love Workaholics and it isn’t a common outfit.”

Another show, Toddlers and Tiaras, inspires both a funny and easy-to-make costume. In order to channel your inner pageant queen, all you need is a tutu and a tiara, to curl your hair into tight curls and load on the makeup.

Honey Boo Boo has recently become a huge hit. Throw on a pink party dress (preferably poofy) and matching shoes for her look.

Music-Inspired

In the music realm, “Gangnam Style” became a YouTube sensation, creating a great costume opportunity. Guys can wear a royal blue blazer, a white button down, black bow tie, black slacks and sunglasses.

Book-Inspired

Love the book 50 Shades of Grey like the majority of the female population? Girls can dress up like Anastasia Steele by wearing a plum colored dress like the one Christian Grey adored so much.

For guys, dress as Christian by wearing a suit and a gray tie. The costumes will look best if worn as a pair.

Recent Events

Another idea to reflect recent events in your costume is to pay a tribute to Steve Jobs. His iconic outfit is simple to pull together. All you need are jeans, a black turtle neck and sneakers.

Bringing back the Olympics is another great inspiration for your costume. Have a group of five girls? Go as the Fab five gymnasts by wearing leotards and medals. Put your hair up in a slicked-backed bun and add lots of glitter.

Election-Inspired

This year, take advantage of the upcoming election when deciding what costume to wear. This is easiest for the guys, who can dress as their favorite candidate – either in a serious or satirical manner.

You can find masks of politicians to pair with their iconic apparel, or utilize the color of your party for the foundation of an election-inspired costume.

Looking for something funny? Go with “unemployed Big Bird” by creating your own version of Big Bird: attach yellow feathers to a yellow dress, or a yellow T-shirt and leggings.
To finish it off, wear a big sign around your neck that reads “unemployed.”

Homemade

If you want to save some money, homemade costumes are the way to go. They are unique, look great, fit you well and are much more creative.

Stores such as Wal-Mart and thrift stores such as Buffalo Exchange are other option to find what you need at a low cost.
If you are looking for a store where you can buy an entire costume, check out Costume World, Party City, Spirit Halloween and Electrique Boutique, all located in Dallas.

But be sure to hurry – stores run out fast!