Here I'm going to show you an example of the process I go through when I decide I'm going to make a new costume. It's always kept me on track and from getting out of control with spending.
To the right is a list I made for my Julian Devorak costume. What I did was pull up a full body picture of him and go from head to toe, writing down everything that I would need to look like him, from the wig, to the eye patch, to the markers I was going to use to color the roots of the wig. Every single thing I would need goes on this list, no matter how small. After you have everything listed, start estimating what every single piece is going to cost you. Are you going to have to buy that? Are you making it? How much are the materials to make it? For me, I wasn't going to make this unless I could get it under $100, so I cut corners where I could.
Tip: Sometimes making something from scratch is cheaper than buying something. For example, I made boot covers for $4 instead of buying thigh high boots. However, remember that count the time you spend making it as money too. If it's cheaper to make feathers out of foam, but is going to take you months, it might be better to just budget buying feathers.
Once everything is outlined, hit the thrift stores! Those are going to be your go to for pieces of clothing that are too complicated or expensive to make/pay. I always say, "Why make a shirt or a jacket from scratch when you can get one for $5 and modify it?" Keep an open mind! You can always change the base to suit your needs! Things like buttons, ribbons, and collars can be replaced or removed.
The biggest, most important thing to do when approaching costume is to STICK TO YOUR LIST. Don't just say "forget it" and go ham. It is possible to make amazing costumes and not go broke trying.
