Tricks, Treats & Upcycled Threads: Costume Ideas That Won’t Haunt the Planet
Double, double, toil and trouble—it’s time to conjure up Halloween attire that’s creative, affordable, and frightfully sustainable! Every year, millions of outfits end up in landfills after just one night of fun. Many are made from synthetic fabrics that don’t decompose, leaving a scary footprint long after the candy’s gone. But with a little imagination (and maybe a glue gun or two), you can create a look that’s eco-friendly and eerily impressive. Read our tips to cast a spell with what you have.
Photo by Jessica Christian on Unsplash
🧛1. Mix and Match: Trending & Classic Costumes You Can DIY
You don’t need to spend a fortune or buy a brand-new costume to look festive and fun. With a little creativity and some items from your closet or thrift store, you can pull together outfits that are both on trend and eco-friendly. Here are some ideas that mix pop culture references with timeless classics:
Ghost: A classic white sheet with eye holes—minimal effort, maximum spook.
Wednesday Addams: Black dress or oversized shirt with a crisp white collar and braids. Gothic and iconic.
Mermaid: Sparkly skirt or thrifted dress with shells or ocean-inspired accessories.
Severance employee: Button-up shirt, tie, slacks, and a clipboard or coffee mug for that eerie office vibe.
Zombie: Rip old clothes, add pale makeup and dark eyes, and go dramatic with fake blood.
Fairy: Tulle skirt, DIY wings from stockings or wire, plus glitter or nature accents.
White Lotus guest: Flowing tropical shirts or dresses, sunglasses, and a straw hat for resort-chic flair.
Cowboy/Cowgirl: Jeans, plaid shirt, boots, and a bandana. Iconic and simple.
Vampire: Dark clothes, scarf or cape, pale makeup, and DIY fangs.
Forest creature: Earth-toned clothing decorated with leaves, twigs, or moss for woodland magic.
Classic monster: Frankenstein, werewolf, or mummy costumes built with thrifted pieces, sheets, and imagination.
Animal costumes: Cats, bats, owls, or foxes with leggings, hoodies, DIY ears or wings, and face paint.
🧙 2. Host a Costume Swap
Swap parties aren’t just fun—they’re treasure troves of inspiration. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Mix-and-match treasures: Trade hats, masks, capes, and accessories to create standout looks like a pirate-witch, zombie-superhero, or fairy-vampire.
Theme your swaps: Focus on decades (80s, 90s), monsters, or movie characters—it sparks creativity.
DIY swap table: Set out old jewelry, belts, scarves, or props that can transform a simple outfit into something spectacular.
🧵 3. Cast Your Spell with Upcycled Materials
Household scraps can become the stars of your Halloween look:
Cardboard: Shields, wings, robot bodies, treasure chest props.
Fabric scraps: Patchwork outfits, fairy/ghost capes, fringe skirts.
Paper/newspaper: Mummy wraps, masks, crowns, tattered ghost layers.
Kitchen/household items: Aluminum foil for robot helmets, milk jugs for ghost lanterns, bottle caps for armor details.
Nature touches: Twigs for wands or antlers, pinecones for monster scales, leaves for skirts or cloaks.
Small accessories: Gloves for claws, broken jewelry for embellishments, ribbons for magical touches.
Think like a costume alchemist—mix and transform what you already have into something spellbinding.
🧹 4. Repurpose Your Costume for Next Year (or Beyond)
Don’t let your hard work vanish into a closet. Some ways to give your costume a second life:
Break it down creatively: Use tulle from a tutu for a fairy skirt, the cape of a superhero as a backdrop for a new witch costume, or fabric scraps for a Frankenstein patchwork outfit.
Pet costumes: Old hats, gloves, and scarves can easily become tiny outfits for dogs or cats.
Home décor: Turn leftover masks, ribbons, or glittery bits into garlands, wreaths, or spooky table settings for next year.
School/theater donations: Schools and community theaters often welcome gently used costumes for performances or events—a little magic goes a long way.
This Halloween, let your creativity take center stage and show that sustainability never goes out of style. Whether you’re a repurposed pirate, an upcycled witch, or a compostable ghost, real magic happens when you make something new out of what you already have.