Ideas for a Sustainable Halloween Costume!

Hey earth muffins! Halloween is almost here 🎃 While you might not be able to celebrate the way you usually do, there are still alternative options! One of my favorite ideas from my recent post is to host a virtual costume party. But, with any costume party you need one thing – a great costume!! Never fear, there are many great tips for having a sustainable costume; in this post, I will be sharing my favorite tricks for keeping your Halloween costume ideas green! 🌎 ❤️

Where to Sustainably Source Your Costume

–Try to piece together your own costume from things in your closet. You don’t need to buy an actual “Halloween costume”…. Just get creative and put together a look that is awesome! Last year I did this for my Mary Poppins look – and it turned out amazing. You’d be surprised at what you can find in your closet. 😀

–If you want a full costume, look at your local thrift stores! One of my favorite secondhand shops has a whole section of used (and even new) Halloween costumes for sale. Goodwill will often carry new products that are leftover inventory from other companies; check to see if your local Goodwill has some options!

–Ask your friends and family what costumes they have. You might be surprised at what people have in the back of their closets or in the basement. I know my dad has a bunch of random costumes from themed days at work; so I bet you might be able to find a full look to borrow for the night! This is also helpful if you are looking for Halloween costume ideas for your kids. Kids grow out of clothes fast, so it even might be a relief for your friend to get rid of something taking up space in their home.

–If you have the skills, trying sewing your costume! Most secondhand stores sell fabric, which would be perfect in constructing a new ensemble. I suggest going to a local thrift store for fabric (instead of a chain like Goodwill or Salvation Army), as I’ve found they have a better selection to choose from! This could definitely make a difference depending on what costume you are creating.

Other Ways to Keep Your Halloween Costume Ideas Eco-Friendly!

–Try to buy items for your costume that can be worn again! If you don’t have all the pieces in your own wardrobe, thrift the rest. I did this for my Mary Poppins costume; the top and skirt that I bought are perfect to wear to work after Halloween.

–If you are DIYing, avoid things like glitter or puffy paint. You want to make sure that you can either reuse the costume again or wear it on a day-to-day basis. Puffy paints usually get brittle and break off in the wash; glitter is just horrible in general haha. Pick fabric paints or paint pens instead!

–In terms of DIYs, also try to source your supplies secondhand! See what you already have in your craft bin(s), borrow from friends, find on Facebook Marketplace, or hit up a local thrift store that has lots of art supplies. There is no need to buy anything new for a costume you are going to wear for a few hours max. 👻

–Don’t forget to think about what you are going to do with the costume after the party! DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. If the pieces can be put back into your closet, then make sure you wear them. If it is a full costume, maybe keep it for next year, donate it, or save it to pass on to a friend. Keep the reuse cycle alive!!

There are so many ways to keep your Halloween costume ideas sustainable this October 31st. I hope these tips were helpful as you brainstorm what costume you want to create. What are you going to be for Halloween this year??

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