Simple Eco-Friendly Halloween Costume Ideas
As I mentioned last week, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Every year, around this time, Halloween costume and decoration shops pop up for a month or two at a time. They sell plenty of disposable decorations, one-time wear (and often toxic, polluting, non-biodegradable plastic and other synthetic materials).
But, there are ways to make a less destructive, or even completely eco-friendly halloween costume. I know it is so tempting to run out to the just-popped-up-on-every-corner Halloween shop and pick up a costume, I get it. I am tempted to do that this year myself, with two little ones and well… 2020 to deal with. But, I will resist.
Here are a few simple ideas to make an eco-friendly Halloween costume that are usually way cooler, more interesting, and cheaper
1. Get Your Kids Involved
The older kids get, the more they start demanding specific costumes – perhaps more than one. My little guy has requested “rescue Ray,” (no idea what that is), The Incredibles, and a Laca (skeleton) this year. He finally settled on a laca (thank goodness!).
Start early, and get them thinking about what they already have, what they could make on their own, and what you can make for them. And then start planning.
My mom always sewed our costumes and one of the best parts of Halloween was helping to design it, and then finding the pattern and material for my costume. Make one of their favorite memories creating a unique and special costume from found materials around your house or a thrift shop. Maybe let them shop your closet or let them help paint.
Getting them involve helps to personalize the costume, lets them feel ownership and responsibility (as well as a bit of appreciation for how much effort you probably put into Halloween!), and gives you an opportunity to talk about why you make or thrift a costume, rather than buying it from a big box Halloween store (and talking is one of the most important ways to raise kids who care about the environment). They will also have a one-of-a-kind costume that they can proudly say they helped make!
2. Wear Something You’ve Already Worn
As a child, my sister was a clown for about 5 years in a row. She wore the same rainbow tinsel wig and my mom’s harem pants, along with a face full of makeup. One year, she had another costume all picked out and ready to go, but the clown really spoke to her, and right before we left, she put it on. At the time, we weren’t thinking about eco-friendly Halloween costumes, but man, if this girl didn’t nail it. If you are lucky enough to find a “signature costume,” go for it!
3. Look Around the House
If you are not lucky enough to have a signature costume, repurpose an old one. We have a costume box for just this reason. We have been able to repurpose our own, dress up our friends, and be ready for just about any costume party!
If you don’t have a costume box, try your closets (or a friend’s, a neighbor’s, anyone’s!). You might be surprised what you may find.
A black dress can be a witch, a cat, a horse. Black tights and a leotard? Endless possibilities – just add ears and a little face makeup. You probably have a cowgirl, a hippie, a dated homecoming queen/ princess/ scary prom queen in your closets now. Have old sheets? Beyond the ghost, you could rip them up for a mummy, wrap for a statue of liberty, tie for anything with a cape.
And if you can sew? The possibilities are endless. You might be surprised what you can find around the house. Just get a little creative and dig deep.
A few years ago, we were a last-minute fox family (it was way too hot to wear our original costumes, so I had to pull something together the morning of). We had a knit diaper cover and beanie that we got as a baby shower gift, I made a bowtie, and there it was! Easy, very little impact, and we re-used the masks and tie for our little one’s fox-themed birthday party and for our dress up drawer.
4. Thrift
Yes! Kids can thrift too. While our little one was a fox, a good friend’s little guy was an old man, wearing a suit (for a toddler) and a bow tie she found at a thrift shop, with a DIY walker (complete with tennis balls). It was cheap, eco-friendly, and just about perfect!
Some of my favorite costumes have come from walking into a second-hand store, with no ideas, and leaving with something awesome. It is amazing what you can find.
5. Swap
While you’re digging deep, pull out your wigs, accessories, interesting boots, animal print, metallic, etc. Have your friends do the same. Get together, and there you are, your very own costume shop! I have a great faux reptile skirt that has made an appearance at many costume parties. My husband was an eighties gym teacher in my sister’s and my clothes (pictures are inappropriate for the public ;).
I have a few vintage 80s dresses that have made the rounds as well (thanks mom! Your old holiday favorites have been a Halloween hit!).
Helping each other out with costumes is one of the most fun ways to put together an eco-friendly Halloween costume!
6. DIY
Have sewing skills? Why not make your costume? While running off to the fabric store, buying yards and yards of fabric, much of it ending up in the trash, is not the most eco-friendly option, it is still better than the store bought polyester and plastic. And, you can find eco-friendly fabrics on Etsy or Amazon, as well as your local fabric store (maybe). Even Joann as some eco options.
But, you don’t need to be able to sew to make a great costume! I LOVE recycled plastic felt. It is just awesome. And every kind of headband, mask, tie, etc. can be made from it, sort of easily, and usually without sewing at all.
One Man’s Trash …
Is another man’s treasure. Trash is often a great start to a costume. My friend was a box of Franzia (complete with a personal wine bag), using a shipping box from a (very large) Amazon purchase. Oh, how I wish I had a picture of this…
Ideas to consider…robot, themed Barbie, Lego. Buzzfeed has 33 ideas, right here.
7. Costume Rentals
I have never rented before, but I have always wanted to. While on the expensive side, rentals are sometimes THE BEST costumes. They have so much detail and are usually so high quality! Head to your local shop, or try Costumes Galore.
8. Last Resort, Buy New
If you have something really specific in mind, and you must buy a new costume, there are ways to do it in an environmentally friendly way. Buy high quality, well-made clothing that you can wear after the holiday.
Last year, my kiddos were horses. My toddler really wanted to be Spirit, and I couldn’t find a way to make his costume from things at home. My little one was Boomerang. I bought leggings, a sweatshirt and jammies from Primary.com (I love this shop for so many reasons but high quality, no logo, gender neutral, eco-friendly kids clothes is part of it!). I added a few details, and that’s it. Simple easy costumes that my kids have worn MANY times since. My big guy wore that sweatshirt regularly and loved it.
This year, I bought black sweatshirts and jeans for my preschooler for our skeleton costumes. He loves the jeans, and after Halloween, I will peel the “bones” off and he will wear them till they become high-quality hand-me-downs! My toddler, husband, and I are all wearing old leggings and sweatshirts with stickers as bones.
Next steps: Donate or Hand me Down
An eco-friendly Halloween costume is one that is worn many times.
When Halloween is over, your creative costume shouldn’t go to waste. Once your little one is done, pass those great costumes along. You will be doing another mom a favor (win!) and giving someone else an eco-friendly Halloween costume! Or create a dress up or costume drawer for future Halloweens, costume parties, or just for fun.
And, plan to wear it again. If you can’t wear it again, have a plan for it. Do you have a local theater company that might take a donation? What about a friend that might want to be that next year? Or an upcoming costume party? Just try not to buy and only wear once.
Halloween can be made into an eco-friendly holiday. It just needs a little patience, and a lot of creativity. But, isn’t that part of the fun?
