Sustainable and last-minute Halloween costumes

Everyone has their favourite Halloween traditions. Whether it’s carving pumpkins or counting down the days until the coffee shops start serving pumpkin spice drinks, everyone has their own spooky preparations. However, in recent years, the quintessential costume preparations for October 31 have moved further and further towards fast fashion. Teenagers are turning to the big businesses known for mistreating workers like Shein and Amazon to fashion a costume based on whatever is trending online. While it’s true that Halloween costumes are designed to be worn once a year, the tradition of recycling old costumes or using DIY to create new ones seems to be a dying art. Fast fashion Halloween costumes are likely to be thrown away the next morning, due to the materials breaking after one wear, or the speed of trends making the costume uncool.

The little black dress is a staple, not just in a university student’s wardrobe, but anyone’s, and has the opportunity to be styled for Halloween in countless ways

If you think the scariest part of Halloween is the widespread fast fashion contributions, looking for a last-minute costume after procrastinating after the month, or simply the story of the University of Bristol student finding a live scorpion in her Shein parcel, here are some easy Halloween costumes that can be crafted, or are likely already in your wardrobe, waiting for new inspiration.

The little black dress is a staple, not just in a university student’s wardrobe, but anyone’s, and can be styled for Halloween in countless ways. While of course there is the fail-safe of a scary black cat by using just some old ears and painted whiskers, there is so much more this dress can be used for. If you can pull the sleeves of the dress over your shoulders, pair it with your boldest statement necklace and black sheer tights, you can easily become Princess Diana in her iconic revenge dress. This is a pop culture moment sure to always look flattering.

Similarly, if the old Hollywood glamour is to your taste, keep the necklace, tie your hair up in a topknot, throw on some heels and sunglasses, and transform into Audrey Hepburn’s iconic look in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The added benefit of this costume is that it gives you the opportunity to constantly eat croissants throughout the Halloween function, and still be in character. If not, you might be looking for something a little more modern. How about Karen’s mouse costume from Mean Girls? Using a pair of grey animal ears (or if you can’t be bothered finding them, making two little buns on your head), and little else, you’ve become one of the most memorable blonds of the early 2000s. If anyone asks you who you are, you can hit them with her iconic line: “I’m a mouse, duh!”

If you are someone who doesn’t wear little black dresses, an outfit of a similar costume flexibility that can easily be found in your wardrobe would be a simple suit. While it can be used in countless ways, here are just a few. If you are someone that is very into indie music and loves a Sonic night out, there are two clear easy outfits. Using just the suit and maybe some sunglasses, you could be the new up-and-coming artist The Dare, a contributor to the album Brat. If the suit is more on the baggy side, spend Halloween as the infamous Matty Healy. Be sure to comb your hair back before you go out.

If you are a fan of the classics instead, DIY a gun using cardboard and go as James Bond. This costume requires little effort, except for an extensive knowledge of all the film’s most quotable lines. Make sure to tell anyone making you a drink that you want it “shaken, not stirred.” Following a similar style of character, grab a briefcase and instantly become Harvey Spectre from one of Netflix’s most streamed series Suits. Bonus points if you have a red-head girlfriend, to easily make a Harvey and Donna couple costume. However, if you choose to wear your suit for any of these costumes, it means you are proving your mother right when she forced you to bring one to university “just in case.”

Use this Halloween as a chance to fight against the tidal wave of fast fashion when choosing your costume

For those of you wanting to get a little more creative this October, DIY costumes are always in style. If you own an old, slightly stained dress that you cannot bring yourself to throw away, drip some red paint down it and become Carrie from the cult horror classic. A gorier costume for the horror Halloween lovers. Alternatively, grab a pair of scissors, cut two eyes in an old white sheet, and become the classic ghost. The beauty of this costume is that it is completely customisable. Throw on a cowboy hat, sunglasses, or any other random costume accessory you probably have left over from circling. This even works for Swifties. Why not take inspiration from the ghosts in the ‘Anti-Hero’ music video? If puns are more your style, put a spin on the classic serial killer costume. Combined with fake blood and a fake weapon of your choice, attach old cereal boxes to your clothes and become a ‘cereal killer’. You can even make a game of seeing how long it takes people to guess the costume.

Use this Halloween as a chance to fight against the tidal wave of fast fashion when choosing your costume. Even with all the terrifying costumes sure to be on display this All Hallows Eve, nothing is scarier than our society’s pervasive over-consumption. Thus, before clicking ‘checkout’ on your Shein, Amazon, or any other online order, take a minute and remember you likely have a great costume already sitting in your wardrobe. All you need is a little creativity and imagination.