It might not feel like it yet, but Halloween is coming up.
As much as I love the season, it’s easy to let it sneak up on you and find yourself with no plans or any good costumes. Too many times I’ve scrambled at the last minute to find the perfect outfit, and I end up spending far too much money and stress on something that really isn’t that important.
My recognition of just how inconsequential Halloween can be does not at all damper my enthusiasm for it. This year, I eyed a pair of $80 fairy wings for a costume I’ll probably only wear once. I unfortunately might still buy them, but it served as a harsh reminder that I need to change up how I do Halloween.
The holiday can be so much fun, but it can also have a huge impact on the environment, and it can be a drain on the wallet. Many of us are putting a renewed focus on sustainability, so we should carry that energy over into Halloween.
Some years, I do a great job of repurposing clothing I already own, but others, not so much. I’m determined to be just a little bit more responsible this year, so I’m going to share a quick little guide to building a simple, sustainable and adorable costume.
The first thing to think about is what your plans will be. If you’re spending all of Halloweekend in the frats, then a floor-length dress or anything bulky is not the way to go. If you’ll be staying in or going to a small party with friends, it’s a great time to get a little crazy!
Most of us have some great pieces already in our closets. Unless you have an idea you’re already really passionate about and want to make work, go in with an open mind. Look at what you already own, and see if anything reminds you of popular characters or can be easily turned into a base for a classic costume like a pirate or a fairy.
The key to a great costume is the right accessories. Some of you might have some poor spending habits and have tons of corsets and costume pieces lying around like me, but odds are, most of you don’t. That’s where you can get creative.
While this is far from new advice, especially on a campus with a fashion school, thrifting can be such a fun way to find the finishing touches for your costume. Goodwill or other thrift stores have tons of pieces that would be great as a base, but online second-hand sellers like Depop or Mercari are bound to have belts, jewelry and hairpieces that can make a look.
I feel we’re going to see a lot of Mia Thermopolis dresses this year, and it’s such a cute idea. There are lots of characters like this where you likely already own all the pieces needed–headphones, sunglasses, a white dress, heels and a crown. Accessories that are a bit more unique like crowns might be harder to find, but ask some friends! Most of us have leftover props from holidays gone by without any plans to use them again.
There are so many costumes that can be very easy to put together with only a couple of things you need to add.
Red bodysuit? Add a garter, do your hair, and you have Betty Boop.
Red bandana? Get some denim on denim and you have Rosie the Riveter.
Bell bottoms? Add a floral top and sunglasses and you have a cute ‘70s outfit.
The focus on Halloween should be having fun with friends and taking a break for the holiday, not unnecessary stress on an outfit only worn for a few hours. If you are someone who likes to go crazy, then go crazy!
But for most of us, we don’t need to put all this pressure on ourselves to have the perfect costume and the perfect night.
Virginia Doherty is an opinion writer. Contact her at [email protected]
