Sustainable AND spooky

Halloween is right around the corner, and chances are you don’t want to blow your whole food budget on a costume you’ll wear once. The good news? You don’t have to. With a bit of creativity (and a scroll through Vinted or Facebook Marketplace), you can put together a brilliant outfit on the cheap.

Here are some simple, sustainable and budget-friendly ideas for this year’s spooky season:

The classics (always a win)

• The ghost sheet – You’ve probably got an old bed sheet lying around, or can pick one up for a couple of quid at a charity shop. Cut out some eye holes and you’re sorted. Bonus points if you accessorise with sunglasses for the “fashion ghost” look.
• Vampire – A black outfit, a second-hand cape, and some DIY paper fangs are all you need. Add a splash of red lipstick for the finishing touch.
• Zombie – Rip up an old shirt, add some dark eyeshadow around your eyes, and smudge fake blood (or red food colouring) across your face. It’s messy, but that’s the point.

Trending in 2025

• Wednesday / the Addams Family style – With season two of the show out this year, the iconic outfits of the Addams family are back. Think black dress with white collar for Wednesday, or a pinstripe suit for Gomez.
• Wicked: Part II inspired – The hype around the sequel makes characters like Elphaba (the green-faced witch) and Glinda very current. DIY-friendly too: a dress, a hat or crown, some green face paint and you’re there.
• K‑Pop Demon Hunters – This Netflix hit has sparked a surge in costumes of the characters Rumi, Zoey, Mira etc. For a DIY version, hunt for bold colourful pieces second-hand, add accessories to match (like a big DIY anime-style cardboard weapon).
• Food / insect / fantasy-inspired themes – Pinterest trends show a rise in “critter costumes” (bugs, butterflies, moths), “gourmet ghouls” (food-inspired looks) and “castlecore” (medieval/fantasy witchy) themes.
  

Quick group costumes

• MIB (Men in Black) – Grab a black suit from a charity shop and some cheap sunglasses. Done.
• Scooby-Doo gang – Everyone probably owns one of the outfits already: green top for Shaggy, purple dress for Daphne, baggy brown jumper for Scooby, etc.
• Pack of cards – White t-shirts, black marker pens, and a bit of creativity. Each person becomes a playing card, and together you’ve got a deck.

Keep it sustainable

The key to Halloween on a student budget is to reuse, re-wear, or pass it on. Before you buy anything new, check:

• Facebook Marketplace for cheap props or free stuff.
• Vinted for second-hand clothes you’ll actually wear again after Halloween.
• Charity shops for hidden treasures (and cheaper prices than big retailers).

When it’s all over, don’t shove your costume to the back of your wardrobe. If you’re not going to wear it again, donate it. Someone else might make good use of it next year.

Halloween doesn’t have to cost the earth. With a bit of imagination and some second-hand hunting, you’ll have a killer outfit without the scary price tag!