How to: Make a costume from your closet

Glamour Don’t
Web designer Kelsey Rahn is playing the part of an anonymous fashion victim with a pink furry top from Goodwill and other items from her closet. If you’re sinless in terms of style, troll 23rd St between Second and Lexington Aves for other people’s mistakes at Goodwill and Housing Works. Similar black-bar specs cost $10 at perpetualkid.com.

Dr. Gregory House
For the pill-popping Fox character, Time In editor Andrew Johnston repurposed his own T-shirt, Limited blazer, Levi’s 501 jeans and sneakers. A faux cane ($7) and stubble makeup ($7) from costume depot Abracadabra (19 W 21st St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, 212-627-5194) add extra verisimilitude. Though his Vicodin bottle—“courtesy of Rite-Aid”—is authentic, we must legally advise you to recycle an empty pill container.

Eve
To become the First Female, assistant to the publisher Nicole Lamoreaux and her friend Kitten Slatko festooned an H&M bra-and-panties set (435 Seventh Ave at 34th St, 212-643-6955) with leaves from Daytona Trimmings (251 W 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 212-354-1713) and flowers from B&Q Arts (210 W 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 212-398-0988).

Naomi Campbell on trash duty
Helen scored her fur coat and hat at a friend’s stoop sale, but thrift stores including Buffalo Exchange (504 Driggs Ave at North 9th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 718-384-6901) or knock-off palaces like Joyce Leslie (20 University Pl at 8th St, 212-505-5419) will suffice. Don’t forget such Dept. of Sanitation–approved accessories as a garbage bag ($4 for a box of 35 from Kmart), broom and dust pan. And if you feel that you’re not utterly fabulous, have a friend play your assistant and throw your cell phone at her.

Static cling
Advertising account manager John Gregory showed off his magnetic personality via H&M dress socks, Ralph Lauren ear warmers, a TONY promotional glove and Victoria’s Secret skivvies, which he borrowed from his fiancée. Heavy duty double-sided tape ($5 at staples.com) adhered his laundry load to a plain white tee, but he recommends sewing on sundry clothing items to your shirt.

American Girl dolls
Seek editor Elise Loehnen and assistant editor Drew Toal channeled historic playthings Kaya and Kirsten (Kirsten’s gone to seed!). Loehnen bought her poncho and jewelry at a real-life Montana powwow, but you can snag a similar look at garment district shops and flea markets. Toal donned a vintage Strawberry Shortcake dress, wig from Ricky’s (various locations, go to rickys-nyc.com), and used ribbons and birthday candles to craft a Swedish Saint Lucia headdress.