21 Oct Six Tips to Create an Easy, Zero-Waste Halloween Costume
Become an earth-saving superhero this October 31st (cape: optional) with these tried-and-true tips for putting together an eerily affordable, easy, and (most importantly) zero-waste Halloween costume.
Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE Halloween.
Who can say “no” to chowing delicious treats while playing adult dress-up with our besties? But everyone’s favorite October holiday has its dark side… This year, Americans are expected to spend upwards of $9 billion on Halloween fun. That’s billions (with a “B”) of dollars spent on candy, costumes, and other items most likely headed for landfills shortly after November 1st. (Now THAT’S scary).
The good news? We’ve gathered 6 hot tips to “green” your Halloween so you can become an instant waste-reducing rockstar. Here’s how:
Use what you have
Feeling like a spunky forest animal? A fierce Queen of Hearts? A crazy Cat Lady? There are a million ways to create the look using items from your own closet.
Host a Halloween swap
Not feeling your current wardrobe options? Be a community hero by hosting a costume swap! It’s free, fairly effortless, and 100% zero-waste. Plus, who doesn’t need one more reason to get the gang together?
Rent and return
Because the truly frightful part of Halloween is dropping another wad of cash on a costume built to fall apart after the first wear… rental costumes are an ideal way to get that upscale look without adding to the landfills – yay! Check your local community theatres and prop shops, or browse online rental shops like HalloweenCostumes.com and TheCostumer.com.
Buy a staple piece you can re-wear
If you’d rather buy new, consider choosing an item you’ll wear again. Fortunately, faux fur jackets and animal print anything are hot-trending staples this fall and winter. Statement dresses and themed leggings are also a welcome addition to any wardrobe this season.
Go thrifty
Thrift store shopping never goes out of style. Where else can you find scary-affordable pieces almost guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind? Plus, thrift stores often carry Halloween costumes. If you’re up for a challenge, though, it’s always fun to browse everyday items to create a look entirely your own.
Unleash your inner artist
As luck would have it, Halloween is an easy holiday to go DIY. Need a little inspiration? Check out these crafty collections by Good Housekeeping and Country Living.
Try any or all of these ideas to create an easy, zero-waste Halloween costume. For even more eco-friendly costume ideas, pop onto PeacefulDumpling.com or check out these creative sustainability tips from FastCompany.com.
Curious why eco-friendly is kind of a big deal when it comes to your holiday wardrobe? Read our recent post all about why shopping sustainably matters and how to do it every day.