As we ease into the halloween season, you may be tempted to scour the Spirit Halloween shelves, or search through Amazon for that perfect costume. What some may not realize, is how much of an environmental impact the consumption of Halloween apparel can have. Some may not realize how important it is to be environmentally conscious, or how easy it is to put together the perfect sustainable outfit. Here’s a quick guide to how you can limit your consumption, while still looking cute.
1. Good old fashioned thrift
While it might be a little time consuming, the thrift is always a good option for second hand shopping. Stores like Goodwill have hidden gems if you look hard enough. If you like a good bargain you can always go to the Goodwill bins, also known as Goodwill outlet stores. In the outlet stores clothes are priced by weight rather than by item, making thrifting extra cheap. Local thrift stores and resale shops like Plato’s Closet are also a good option, seeing as they may have nicer name brand clothing. However, be careful when going to these places because they may charge higher prices for items that don’t necessarily deserve it.
2. Online Thrifting
If you’re looking for a specific item and don’t have the time or patience to thrift in person, you can search for what you need through online thrift sites. Some examples are Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUp. You can select your size for all articles of clothing, and filter results by color, season, and more. Depop is a personal favorite of mine. Sometimes you have to do a little scrolling, but it’s much faster than sorting through clothing racks or bins. You can even search for specific brands. Shipping is also relatively fast, usually arriving within five business days.
3. Diy
The craft store is your friend! I’ve made countless accessories for Halloween such as belts, headpieces, and jewelry with simple supplies from the craft store. Pinterest and Youtube are great places to go for design inspirations and tutorials. Even if you don’t view yourself as crafty, I promise you DIYing is easier than it sounds. For example, I used ribbon, and playing cards from the craft store to make a belt for my Queen of Hearts costume. I measured my waist to make sure the belt was the right size, used a hole punch for the cards, and threaded the ribbon through them. If you know how to sew, use that to your advantage. It doesn’t have to be from scratch, simple alterations to clothing add a personal touch you can’t get anywhere else. Not only is crafting sustainable, but it gives your costumes and authentic look that no one else will have. You don’t have to worry about having the same costume as three other people, and you may even get a few extra compliments.
4. USe clothing you already own
As someone who has a wide array of clothing in their closet, I find it really helpful to repurpose clothing. Taking pieces you don’t wear often and use them for a costume. Get creative and layer clothes. Add belts, tights, and accessories. Lots of jewelry is great for a halloween costume. One of my favorite ways to get an extra use out of clothing is use my old homecoming and prom dresses for halloween costumes. Who says those dresses only have to be for one occasion? Dress it up with creative makeup and hairstyles. For example, I wore a black dress to my senior prom, I was able to turn it into a vampire costume by adding a cloak, wearing fangs, and doing some fun makeup.
Sustainability is important, and often overlooked. In recent years overconsumption has become so normalized that we may not even realize how much we’re consuming. Social media gives us the perception that we need to buy something new every season, but that simply isn’t true. Repurposing, and creating are underrated. I use fashion as a way to express myself, and it makes me happy to know that I will be wearing something no one else will have. So this Halloween take the time to think about how you can not only be environmentally conscious with your choices, but make them unique to you.