Thrifty Costume Ideas and Halloween Tips!

Halloween is creeping up on us, and it’s time to start preparing ! This year, Let us make a sustainable choice and shop for Halloween in a more eco-friendly way. Forget the single-use, store-bought costumes that end up in the trash after one night. Let’s explore how you can embrace a sustainable approach to Halloween shopping !

Why Go Sustainable?

Not only is sustainable fashion kinder to our planet, but it also allows you to get creative and stand out from the crowd. By opting for sustainable Halloween costume choices, you’re not only reducing waste but showing off your unique style too!

Rent Your Halloween Look

One fantastic way to be sustainable this Halloween is by renting your costume. This means you can rock a different costume each year without cluttering your closet or contributing to garment waste. Platforms including: Pickle, Abracadabra, Woodbridge Costume Rentals and Fun Ghoul Costumes are all online platforms you can rent from (Pickle is my personal favorite).

If you are in the NYC area, here are some in-person shops you can visit who have rental options: Alias Costume Rental, Halloween Adventure, Frankie Steinz Costumes. There are also platforms where you pay a monthly rate and can rent as many look as you want. These platforms are becoming more and more popular: Nuuly, ModLux.Rent, Fashion Pass,

DIY with Items You Already Have

Get your creative juices flowing and take a peek inside your closet. You’ll be surprised by how many iconic Halloween looks you can put together using items you already own.

Pirate:

Grab a white blouse/dress, pair it with a dark vest/corset and black bottoms and top it off with a bandana or hat for the full pirate effect. Dark makeup (smokey eye) and curly/messy hair goes best with this costume, you can even add hoops and jems to your hair !

Sleeping Beauty:

Use a robe or lingerie, add some jewels and a tiara to create this costume.

Leopard/Tiger/Zebra:

Grab that animal print, add some ears and there's your costume !

Beanie Baby:

There is so much you can do with this look feel free to get creative and print out a tag and add it to your look !

Wednesday Addams:

Opt for a black dress, style your hair in two braids, and add a touch of darkness with pale makeup and black lipstick for a spooky chic vibe.

Devil/Angel/Dark Angel:

Think of contrasting colors – red or black for the devil with horns and a pitchfork, and white for the angel with a halo and wings. You can make this costume easily at home with a dress or top in (white, black or red) and take a headband and add some wire and cotton balls to make a halo !

Cowgirl:

A plaid shirt, denim shorts, cowboy boots, and a hat/bandana are all you need to pull off this classic cowgirl look.

Black Swan:

Combine a black leotard with a tulle skirt, crown yourself with feathers or a tiara, and add dramatic makeup for a hauntingly beautiful ensemble.

Cat:

Really all you need for this look is the makeup. You can also add make the ears from a headband and some colored paper !

Tourist:

Grab your best pattern shirt, sunglasses, and fanny to create this classic look. Don't forget the high socks with a pair of sandals !

Athlete:

If you used to or still do play any sport, this is a great time to grab that jersey !

Mummy/Ghost:

These costumes are so easy to create last minute with items you already have at home !

Final Thoughts

This Halloween, dare to be different by choosing sustainable fashion for your costume. Whether you decide to rent a unique outfit or craft your own creation using items from your closet, the options for a sustainable and low cost costume are endless. Let your imagination run wild and embrace the essence of Halloween while still being kind to our environment :)

Let's make this Halloween both spooky and sustainable!

Thank you for reading,

-AJ

10/16/24