Thrifting for Halloween Costumes: Get Creative with Secondhand Pieces

Thrifting for Halloween Costumes: Get Creative with Secondhand Pieces

Forget dropping loads of cash on pre-packaged costumes and get your BOO! on a budget this Halloween with thrifted finds. With a little ingenuity, you can costume the entire family in creative looks at a fraction of retail cost.

Secondhand pieces allow you to put together customizable ensembles that are more unique than store-bought. Plus, reusing clothing helps reduce waste being sent to landfills.

Read on for ideas to inspire your Halloween disguises crafted from thrifted garments and accessories. When you choose to thrift your costumes, you help extend the lifespan of clothing while supporting our mission.

Thrift for Retro through the Decades

Put together thrifted vintage threads to transform into iconic looks from past eras. Here are some decades that are easily replicated with secondhand scores:

Roaring 20s Flapper:

• Fringe-trimmed flapper dress or skirt

• Long-strand necklaces and feather hair clip

• Mary Jane heels or boots

Groovy 60s Hippie:

• Floral mini shift dress and headscarf

• Round rainbow sunglasses

• Peace sign necklace

Disco 70s:

• Wide-leg pantsuits with bell bottoms

• Platform heel shoes

• Neon glasses

Rad 80s:

• Oversized blazer with shoulder pads

• Leggings and big hair

• Neon plastic jewelry

By mixing eras in one friend group, you can create your own themed throwback soiree! Pop in some decade-specific music and lingo for added fun.

Become DIY Superheroes

For a super look, thrift clothing in colors or patterns that lend themselves easily to becoming a superhero costume. Decorate with DIY flair:

• Brightly colored or printed leggings and long sleeve-shirts can transform into Captain Marvel, Spiderman, or the Flash with gloves, logos, and masks.

• A white tee and bright gym shorts decorated with lightning bolts, wings, and logos becomes the Flash or Hawkman.

• A green top and brown leggings turn into Poison Ivy with some home-painted vines and leaves on the clothes and face.

• Purple clothing items plus tin foil, cardstock, and spray paint become Thanos. Don’t forget his famous gauntlet!

Raid the dress-up box for old Halloween accessories like masks, capes, and wings to customize your homemade superhero.

Creepy and Spooky Disguises from Thrift Finds

Pull off creepy costumes for solo wear or group ensembles using basic thrifted clothing items transformed into ghoulish disguises.

• Striped shirts, dark pants, and rose-tinted glasses become Beetlejuice. Just add creepy face makeup.

• Clown costumes are easy with oversized clothing, lots of patterns, and bold makeup.

• All-black clothing plus skeleton gloves and face paint make a spooky Day of the Dead costume.

• Old lacy or linen nightgowns become ghosts when you add face paint and tattered effects.

Don’t forget props like pitchforks, brooms, and cauldrons purchased at the thrift store to enhance your terrifying look.

Animal Costumes from Repurposed Finds

Morph into your favorite furry creature by adding key animal attributes to sweaters, gloves, pants, and tutus found secondhand.

• Sheer black tights, a black long-sleeve top, and cat ears become a black cat. Paint on whiskers.

• Add stuffed animal limbs you can strap to your hands and paint your face to become a teddy bear.

• A blonde wig, pink tutu, and drawn-on nose transforms into a cute moose.

• Camo, cargo, khaki clothing plus bunny ears, cotton tail, face paint, and a carrot prop turns into a bunny.

Raid stuffed animals for costume paws you can wear and customize any color clothing into a fun critter.

Final Touches from Thrift Accessories

The little details like accessories, wigs, and makeup help finalize your thrifted costumes.

• Try on fun sunglasses, bold lip colors, long gloves, boas, and loud-patterned socks.

• Look for chunky statement jewelry, clips, hair adornments, and hats to pair with basic clothing.

• Check the wig/hair section for long hair, mohawks, colored wigs, and silly toupees.

Halloween is prime time for self-expression. With Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift store’s expansive secondhand selection, you can always create looks here that no one else will have. You’ll save money, reduce waste, and have a blast all while providing healing and hope to Idaho’s kids.