My son has been obsessed with the Beatles since toddlerhood. When he was in first grade, he asked a hairstylist to give him "Paul McCartney circa 1965." She promptly fled the scene and swapped clients with the stylist at the next chair, but we celebrate his Beatles-geek devotion. That's what led us to create this Sgt. Pepper costume, which rivals holey-sheet ghost as the world's easiest (and cheapest) DIY costume.
All it takes is a sold-color thrift-store nightgown (vigorously laundered, natch), sunglasses and Mardi Gras beads from the dollar store, and some ribbon from the craft store. We used cardboard for the epaulets and hot glued the ribbon and fringe on.
The facial hair is a snap with brown mascara.
Total outlay: $6.
