Every year, I plan my Halloween costumes for months in advance; throughout winter, spring, and summer, I brainstorm for the perfect costume that’s just the right amount of niche. Even though I constantly add to my Pinterest board and strategize with friends about group costumes all year, the fall semester rolls around, and I don’t think about Halloween costumes until two weeks before.
The panic sets in, and as I look through my closet, there are no cat ears, angel wings, full latex bodysuits, or wigs in sight. In a fit of desperation, I pull up sites with the cheapest, fastest-to-arrive costume pieces that I will likely never wear again.
If you relate to this experience, I’ve compiled a list of ways to avoid using fast fashion for Halloween costumes!
- Thrifting
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This may be one of the most obvious alternatives to using fast fashion, but that’s because it works!
Thrifting can often be exhausting, dusty, and sometimes lots of work for little reward, but that’s only if you don’t come in prepared. Come when you’re motivated to shop, with both a specific vision and an open mind! Look for specific color schemes, textures, and clothes outside of your usual sections. You don’t have to be the copy-and-paste version of a character, and it’s probably more fun if you aren’t!
You can make thrifting an activity to do with friends, even making it a game to make it more interesting, or you can make it an alone-time activity. Either way, thrifting is an affordable, creative, and fun way to get both Halloween costumes and decorations!
- Reuse Old Costumes
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It’s easy to forget about the clothes you already have when, on social media, new fashion and costume trends are constantly being pushed. Because of this, it often feels like you shouldn’t be re-wearing your clothes for Halloween, but there are so many opportunities to revamp costumes in fun and creative ways.
You can take simple costumes and accessories and simply reposition them to fit a different, fun concept. Take that past cop costume and be Tori Vega dressed up as Officer Pedesko with bright red lipstick and an addiction to Raisin Bran from Victorious. Or take an old nurse costume with some red yarn to be Olivia Rodrigo in the music video for “The Cure.”
These costumes are so simple, yet with a bit of creativity, the possibilities are endless!
- Host a DIY Costume Party
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Gather your craft supplies, some snacks, and some friends to host a costume decorating party! You can make your costumes together while watching spooky movies and baking cookies.
Have everyone bring old clothes, fabric scraps, accessories, makeup, and craft supplies to share instead of buying everything individually. Everyone can bring pieces they no longer need and trade with each other.
Having a sewing machine and a vision is truly a superpower. However, you don’t need to be an expert at sewing to make a good costume! With fabric glue, scissors, and safety pins, you can transform old clothes into something completely new. Turn oversized shirts into dresses, cut old jeans into shorts, or use fabric scraps to create new accessories.
- Make Your Costumes Work Beyond Halloween
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One of the easiest ways to avoid buying a costume you’ll never wear again is to build your outfit around pieces you can wear year-round. Instead of purchasing an entire costume, try using versatile basics and adding a few accessories to bring your idea to life.
A white button-down shirt could transform you into a vampire, a scientist, a zombie, or any character from your favorite movie, while still being something you can wear long after Halloween.
You can also look for accessories that work for other themed events, parties, or future costumes. Even if you do buy something specifically for Halloween, think about how you could repurpose it afterward. Turn leftover fabric into a new accessory, transform old costume pieces into decorations, or save them for next year’s costume!
With a little creativity, you can get much more use out of the items you already own instead of buying something new every October.
- Remember, Creativity is Key!
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At the end of the day, Halloween costumes are about having fun and expressing yourself, not spending the most money or having the most elaborate outfit. You don’t need a replica of a character’s costume to make your idea recognizable. Some of the best costumes come from making use of what you already have and putting your own spin on an idea.
By thrifting, swapping, borrowing, and getting creative, you can put together a costume you love without contributing to the cycle of buying clothes that will only be worn once. Happy Halloween!
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