The phrase refers to quickly assembled, self-made ensembles for pairs celebrating a specific holiday, focusing on resourcefulness and creative problem-solving when time is short. An example involves using readily available clothing items and craft supplies to represent characters from popular media or recognizable archetypes.
These rapidly implemented costume ideas are valuable for fostering collaboration and shared experience. They offer an accessible entry point to holiday festivities, mitigating the stress associated with complex or expensive manufactured options. Historically, homemade costumes represent a tradition of community participation and individual expression within celebratory contexts.