Eco-Friendly Halloween Costume Hacks

Love Halloween? You’re not the only one; last year the UK was expected to spend £472 million on the holiday, largely on costumes. This is huge when considering a massive proportion of those costumes are worn just once.

So how do we make sure that we source costumes responsibly and ensure our outfits are environmentally friendly? Here are some top tips for sustainably sourcing your Halloween costume this October.

Host a clothes swap

As a major advocate of a clothes swap between friends, I always find it so interesting to see how you can use a piece of clothing and style it so differently to one another. Have a look at your friend’s closet for inspiration for a new outfit — you might be surprised to find they have the missing item you need to make your costume idea become a reality. If they have a full costume or onesie from another year that you like the sound of, even better.

Raid some charity shops

Charity shops and thrift shops are underrated when trying to find a Halloween costume. Charity shops are given donations all year round that may include costumes, which they then shelve until around September in preparation for Halloween (some insider knowledge for you, as a former charity shop sales assistant). This means that you can often find full costumes, cool vintage finds or bits and bobs that can be made into your favourite characters and famous figures. Buying second hand extends the life of a piece of clothing by an extra two years on average, making it a great way to dress for Halloween sustainably. Plus, it means you can absolutely get stuck in and take advantage of Oxfam’s second hand September campaign.

Rent an outfit

If you’re one to go all out with your Halloween costume, renting is a fantastic way to dress to impress sustainably. Renting costumes is already popular in the US for the holidays, but is slowly but surely making its way over to the UK as a way of replacing buying clothes. Renting your outfit means you can find a detailed or accurate costume for cheaper than if you were to buy it outright yourself. It also makes a fun day out with friends or family when picking them out.

Get crafting

With YouTube tutorials and dedicated Pinterest boards, it’s easier than ever to get creative and make your own costume. With dramatic Halloween makeup looks and some old clothes that can be upcycled or repurposed, it is entirely possible to revamp yourself into whoever or whatever you want!