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Theme parties are so popular in college, and buzz-worthy outfits and accessories are a fun way to break the ice and meet new people. However, balancing the perfect outfit + accessories on a college student budget can be a challenge!
We’ve outlined some of the most popular college party themes below and provided some budget-friendly ideas for what to wear and how to accessorize on a budget.
And guys, don’t worry, we’ve included tons of ideas for you too. Maybe your date or girlfriend or even your mom sent this to you, it’s all good, we’re glad you’re here.
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Now on to the themes and ideas for outfits and accessories.
For a cowboy/cowgirl themed party, consider wearing blue jeans, overalls, cowboy/girl hats and boots.
Cowboy/Girl Hat – This is a super affordable option.
Cowboy Hat With Feather Trim – Add a little fun flair.
New Western Straw Cowboy Hat – A different, more modern look.
Women’s Plaid Shirt – Wear it over a tank or crop top, tie it in the front and pair with denim shorts & cowboy boots.
Not My First Rodeo Tank – Several other cowboy theme graphics available.
Bandana – Grab this pack of 3 for under $2 each and share with your date or friends.
Women’s Cowboy Boots – These are affordable boots that come in a variety of colors. White cowboy boots are currently popular for football games and other events, so that may be a good choice for rewearability (made up word!). These sometimes go on great lightning deals.
Cowboy Boot Earrings – Super affordable and highly rated.
There are soooo many options for a Party In the USA or ‘Merica party as you can find almost everything in a flag pattern.
Flag Cape Set – Includes the cape, sunglasses, headwrap and arm bands.
Patriotic Beverage Belt Set – Includes the beverage belt with suspenders, headband and wristbands.
Patriotic Tutu Set – Includes red white and blue tutu + patriotic earrings, headband with pompoms and 3 star necklaces.
Bell Bottom Flag Print Pants – Also available in navy with white stars and a couple other patriotic patterns.
Women’s USA Tank Top – Want to be a little more subtle than the ideas above?
Women’s USA Raglan T-Shirt – Several patterns and colors available.
Women’s America Script T-Shirt
Hanes Men’s ‘Murica T-Shirt – A modern looking Abraham Lincoln.
Vintage Straw Patriotic Cowboy Hat
LED Light Up Red White & Blue Cowboy Hat
Men’s Red White & Blue Plaid Tie – Just in case the event is a little dressier.
Outfits for Hawaiian themed parties often include bright colors and large floral prints. You can accessorize with a grass skirt, a lei and neon colored sunglasses, or if you’re bold enough, go for the coconut bra!
Women’s Floral Shirt – This button down comes in several colors and can be worn alone or over a crop top.
Grass Skirt – Grab this set of 3 for the best price and go in with 2 friends.
Leaf Skirt – This one comes with floral accessories.
Women’s Floral Dress – One-piece ease and more potential to wear for other occasions.
Men’s Pink Flamingo Shirt – Other prints are available but this one will stand out!
Men’s 3-Piece Ensemble – The shirt, the shorts and the matching bucket hat!
Leis – You really can’t buy just one, but this set of 24 is affordable (about 25 cents each), and you can share with friends or offer them to new friends at the party who don’t have one.
Hawaiian Captain’s Hat – People will be calling you Captain all night!
The outfit is the easy part of a white lies party! You just need a pain white t-shirt and a Sharpie or fabric paint. The hard part is coming up with a white lie about yourself that could be true.
The white lies on the shirt should be fun and playful, don’t get serious. Here are a few college white lies party shirt ideas to get you started:
A toga is pretty simple. Wrap a flat white sheet around you and over one or both shoulders. Secure with safety pins and optionally add a belt for a little definition around your waist. Done. Please see this page for different ways to turn a sheet into a toga.
If you don’t want to deal with the sheet, there are toga costumes for purchase to save you the DIY.
Plain White Flat Sheet – Smaller women can probably get away with a twin sheet, but you may want to consider a full or queen for more coverage or for guys.
Safety Pins – This set has some larger 1.5″ and 2″ pins as well as smaller pins that may come in handy for future costumes and garment fixes.
Rope Belt – Along with safety pins, a rope belt will help hold the toga (sheet) in place.
Toga Costume – An easier option but costs more than a plain sheet!
A Rhyme Without Reason themed party involves pairing up with another person and selecting 2 costumes that rhyme but make no sense together. Each dress a your half of the rhyme and see if anyone at the party can guess your rhyme.
Ideas for a neon party or glow in the dark party can also get creative. or For a Glow/Neon party, consider wearing neon colored clothes. You might also want to accessorize with glow sticks or neon colored headbands/face paint.
Unisex Neon T-Shirt – This comes as a 2-pack and is very reasonable!
Men’s or Women’s Neon MTV T-Shirt
Men’s Neon Button Down Shirt – So many colors and patterns.
Men’s LED Light-Up Bowtie and Suspenders
An Entire Neon Outfit + Accessories – T-shirt, tutu, glasses, lace headband, fingerless gloves, leg warmers, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
100 Pack Assorted Glow Sticks – Loop several together to make a belt, a necklace and an armful of bracelets and still have plenty left to share.
Women’s Neon Accessory Set – Already have something to wear? Just add all of these accessories for under $10.
A common fraternity party theme….these are a few ideas that won’t leave you feeling too exposed. 🙂
2-Piece Satin Pajama Set – Lots of colors available.
2-Piece Soft Casual Pajama Set – Lots of colors available.
Satin Sleep Mask – Sometimes worn on the head like a headband and totally usable back at home for a good night’s sleep.
Fluffy Slippers – An inexpensive pair with indoor/outdoor soles are a good idea.
Men’s Funny Microfleece Sleep Pants – Golf, Christmas prints, money and of course, beer.
Men’s 2-Piece Kimono Set – Be that guy.
Unisex Onesies – Wear something decent underneath, these are sure to get warm at a party!
An anything but a cup party means that you bring something to drink out of that is anything but a cup. Whether it is BYOB or not, your job is to show up with a creative drinking vessel. Please make sure to clean anything you plan to drink out of thoroughly with soap and hot water!
A Kids’ Version Of A Watering Can
For disco themed parties, the ladies can wear a sequin dress with gogo boots or hippie bell bottom pants with a loud print top. Guys can wear pants (bell-bottomed preferred) with a loud collared shirt only buttoned up to about chest level.
Women’s Gold Jumpsuit – Your Grandma was totally wearing this.
Groovy Disco Dress – Available in many colors and prints.
Men’s Vintage Floral Shirt – Leave the top 3 buttons unbuttoned!
Men’s Gold Glam Shirt – Don’t button this all the way up either!
Women’s Disco Accessories Set – Necklace, earrings, glam glasses & headband.
Men’s 70’s Accessories Set – Wig, glasses, disco necklace and of course, the mustache!
After the recent Barbie movie, Barbie themed parties have become common in college. Lots of pink, of course, and so many options for Ken too! There are some expensive actual Barbie costumes out there, but the ladies can just wear pink skirts or mini dresses, and the guys can create their own outfits from the many Ken looks in the movie. Of course, Ken with that platinum blond hair would be perfect for the Barbie themed party.
Men’s Denim Vest With Ripped Sleeve Hems
Men’s Pink and Green Striped Button Down Shirt
Men’s Floral Hot Pink Button Down Shirt
Light Pink Barbie Cropped T-Shirt
What to wear to a masquerade party? Typically, masquerade parties are formal or semi-formal, so a cocktail dress or gown for the ladies and a suit for the guys. What makes it a masquerade party is…a mask. And not the kind we had to wear during the pandemic. A few options for masks and accessories are below.
Women’s Mardi Gras Style Mask – Available in several colors.
Women’s Rhinestone Waterfall Mask
Men’s Ancient Roman/Greek Mask
Couples’ Masks – If your masquerade party is a date party, this is a great way to match with your date.
Lace Ballgown Gloves – In black or white to potentially match your mask.
For a glitter themed party, get ready to be covered from head to toe in glitter. You may consider wearing glittery clothes and then covering yourself in body glitter.
Glitter Party Dress – If you don’t have one at home from high school homecoming, this is an affordable option in several colors.
Sequin Party Tank – In solid and ombre colors, just pair one of these tops with a skirt you already have in your closet.
Men’s Sequin Vest – Rather than wear a full sequin shirt, wear this vest and bowtie set over a button-down or simple t-shirt.
You probably already have some beach themed party clothes in your closet, but we’ll provide a few ideas below. Just add a few accessories, and you’re off to the beach (party)!
See Hawaiian Theme Party Clothes above (click here to jump there) for
Corona Straw Hat – No ID necessary to wear this.
Umbrella Straws – Bring the whole set to share with friends.
Let us know in a comment below, and we’ll look to add new themes to this list soon!
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