I love Halloween costumes. I love the expensive, fancy costumes sold at authentic costume stores, and I also love DIY costumes made from pieces I already own. But most of all, I love finding one item (like a cape or gold sunglasses) and building an entire costume around it. This is how I was able to dress like Richard Simmons one year in high school. I found a pair of red and white striped shorts and was instantly inspired. For the past few years, Halloween has been all about those kinds of costumes, and it feels like they’ve always been done at the last moment. But many Halloween stores run out of costumes weeks before the big day, so unless you’re thrifty, it’s difficult to get something together on the spot.
Honestly, going to your local Goodwill is a good budget option. The brand says that in 2023, people will spend a whopping $2 billion on costumes for adults and $1.4 billion on costumes for children. That’s…a lot of money. Looking to don your Greek goddess costume or glittery circus ringleader outfit again? Head to your local Goodwill and find one unique item, and buy other recycled items or items you already own. It might be worth making a costume by combining them with what you have.
Goodwill is going one step further by implementing a costume generator to help you with your Halloween costumes this year. Click to change tops, bottoms, and shoes to create a variety of looks, from The Rock to Farmer to Steve Jobs. These are the types of items you might have in your closet, such as a plaid shirt, blue jeans, or a black mini skirt, or easily found at your local Goodwill.
Goodwill’s website also has lots of DIY costume ideas. Even if you or your child wants something specific, like Encanto Minion or Mirabelle, it’s available. So many Halloween costumes are items that can only be worn once and end up in landfills due to synthetic fibers, but there’s nothing better than going to your local Goodwill and picking out a few pieces to create your own. I feel like that. At first glance.
If you’re still not sure what to do or what costume to make, find your next go-to item at Goodwill and go from there.
Sunglasses: Depending on the color and style of the frames, you can be anything from Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 to Elton John (just add a feather boa). Phaedra: Indiana Jones is the obvious choice, but you could also choose the Rat Pack. Looks and 1940s Old Hollywood characters. Waistcoats: These are all over my local thrift stores and there are so many things you can do with them. The options are endless, from donning an old-fashioned banker costume to adding it over something sparkly to become a mastermind or cabaret performer. Turtleneck: Hey. I just want all my turtlenecks to be a 90’s sitcom mom dream, but you could also use them for Bart from Sesame Street, Magneto from X-Men, Ron Burgundy from Anchorman, etc. Costume Jewelry: Great costume jewelry. It can be the starting point for many characters. I’m already thinking Linda Richman from SNL (a turtleneck would work too), but you could also go for Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s if you find a tiara and some big fake jewelry. Scarf: Professor Trelawney, anyone? This Harry Potter character is the queen of scarves, but don’t sleep on Lenny Kravitz or Steven Tyler’s amazing costumes.
You’re sure to find some old Halloween costumes at Goodwill. Even if it’s probably only been worn once or twice before and doesn’t come with all the accessories, like just the cape instead of the whole Dracula costume, it’ll still wear just fine.
So what are the items that inspire you the most? I’ve come to the point where I look for high-waisted stretchy jeans in my own goodwill work so I can be Amy Poehler in the SNL mom jeans sketch. I am.
