When Halloween starts to roll around, I can’t help but get excited to craft up a cool costume with my friends. But now, as a junior in college, some of the costumes I used in the past are sitting in my drawer at home, never to be used again. This year, I don’t feel like purchasing something to never be worn again, so I came up with five ways we can all be more fashionable and sustainable this Halloween.
#1: take a look in Your Closet
Well, I unfortunately have to point this one out, because it’s the easiest way to find something. Many of us have so many clothes that we don’t even realize we have. Want to be a mermaid? Go look in your drawer of summer clothes. Thinking of being Katniss? You might have a black jacket and some boots in your winter stash.
My friend and I wanted to be mermaids this year. Looking into my messy drawer of clothes, I found a purple, pink, and silver sequin top with ease. I didn’t have to buy a thing!
And if you can’t find anything in your personal closet, ask your siblings or your parents! Mom, Dad, and even Grandma might have some good vintage finds in their old clothes that might be the perfect fit for your costume.
#2: Borrow from your friends
If you combined closets from your roommate, best friend, and lab partner, you could fill an entire store of clothing. We all have so many clothes that are buried away and can be repurposed, instead of buying something for a one-time use. By swapping and reusing costume pieces, I’d bet that you’d be able to find a few pieces to spark some inspiration.
The pieces you find might not be Pinterest perfect, but if you take a little bit of creative freedom, cute ideas can be conjured up.
#3: Go THRIFTING
Thrifting is a great way to find unique pieces that are looking for a second life. The University of Connecticut brings a lot of vendors on campus frequently, and they just hosted Girls Night Out for a thrifting event. While you’re walking to class, it doesn’t hurt to start looking for costume pieces. On campus, I recently found a cute brown beaded top that I was thinking of using for one of my costumes.
With a quick Google search, I found some thrift stores near UConn. The Stafford Thrift Shop in Stafford, Connecticut is a 20-minute drive from campus. BLISS Marketplace is in Willimantic, Connecticut, the next town over from campus. Also close by is Worn Yesterday Shoppe in Coventry, Connecticut. If you wanted to take a little bit of a longer drive, Clothes Mentor in South Windsor, Connecticut is a great spot with a large selection; I’ve personally been there.
#4: UpCycle your clothes
Don’t be afraid to cut, sew, or modify old clothes to make a costume! If you have a little bit of experience in crafting and sewing, or are willing to put aside a few hours to learn, you can change what you already have and turn it in into something new. This method is a great way to use your creativity and try out new designs and ideas. Crafting smaller items like a headpiece is also possible. For example, cat ears can be made out of fabric scraps and an old headband!
Here at UConn, the Thrift Den hosts upcycling workshops every other Monday. On their Instagram, they post signups for their workshop. A little secret is that I host them! I love helping students learn to sew, as it was a skill I learned as a kid.
But if you cannot make it to a workshop, UConn has two other sewing machines in the Werth Tower Makerspace, and in the UConn Library Maker Studio. As long as you have the trainings completed, you can go in and use the machines.
#5: Purchase sustainable fabrics and products
If you truly must purchase something, it’s okay! Just ask a few questions before you purchase. Will you reuse this item again? Would someone else want this item? Do you really need this item for your costume?
If your answers point to needing to purchase something, try to shop brands that are sustainable, or use higher quality fabrics. Cheap items will be in the trash sooner than you think because they are not made well. If you have some intent behind your purchases, you will be making better decisions when it comes to buying clothes!
So, this Halloween, let’s all be scary and sustainable!