With Halloween quickly approaching, many of us college students get caught up with other responsibilities such as school and work. Because of this, we often find ourselves scrambling for a last-minute costume. Many turn to Halloween stores or Amazon to purchase costumes they’ll probably only wear once. This year, instead of buying a cheaply made Halloween costume from the store, why not get creative with pieces already in your closet that you can wear again? If you’re having trouble putting together a costume from your own closet, you can reach out to a friend, buy from a thrift shop, or buy something new that you can incorporate into your everyday wardrobe.
Here are five easy-to-create Halloween costumes using pieces you may already have, along with tips for making your Halloween a little more sustainable.
1. Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones is a fun costume idea that’s easy to recreate with pieces from your closet. The look relies on neutral colors, so you may already have everything you need! The main pieces for this costume are a white button-up shirt, brown or black shorts, black or brown boots, and a brown fedora-style hat.
2. Daphne blake
Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo is the perfect simple costume, especially if you are a redhead! What you need for this iconic costume is a purple mini dress, a green scarf, a purple headband, pink or white tights, and purple or white heeled shoes or boots.
3. Vanellope Von Schweetz
Vanellope von Schweetz is the beloved supporting character from Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, and her costume is simple and easy to recreate using pieces from your closet. Her outfit features a fun color palette of teal and brown, making it a cute and recognizable Halloween look.
To recreate her style, you’ll need a teal top, a brown mini skirt, teal-striped knee-high socks (or white socks), and black shoes, such as heels or boots. A perfect bonus to this costume is having candy-like accessories, especially candy-like hair clips to truly capture Vanellope’s signature aesthetic!
4. Coraline
Coraline is always going to be a childhood favorite, and recreating her costume is simple since it only requires a few clothing pieces. To put together this one, you’ll need a yellow jacket — preferably a rain jacket — a burgundy mini skirt, gray striped leggings or black leggings, and yellow or nude boots. However, I’ve honestly seen people pull off this costume wearing any type of shoes!
The most important piece of this costume is definitely the yellow rain jacket, as it’s the signature item that makes Coraline’s look instantly recognizable.
5. Charli XCX
Charli XCX has become one of the most recognizable artists of our generation, known for her iconic brat aesthetic, which is easy to recreate. Her style combines minimalist pieces with bold accessories, making it a fun and accessible Halloween costume.
To recreate Charli’s classic look, you’ll need a black, white, or neon green top. If you have any Charli XCX merch, that’s a bonus that can make the costume even more recognizable! Pair your top with black mini shorts, a statement belt, black sunglasses, and black leather boots to complete the look.
Give Your Halloween Costume a Second Life
Let’s face it: It can be hard to find every piece of your costume in your own closet or even a friend’s. If you need to buy something new, I’d recommend skipping the cheaply made, single-use costume and looking for more sustainable options. One approach is to buy a clothing item that isn’t just part of a costume but can also become a staple in your everyday wardrobe.
If you already own costume pieces you no longer want, consider reselling them. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure! I especially recommend listing unwanted Halloween pieces on Depop.
Overall, I hope this guide inspired you to get creative with your Halloween costume choices and consider more sustainable options this year and for many Halloweens to come. Remember, you don’t have to sacrifice style to make more environmentally conscious choices!