Sustainable Overton volunteer Lois gives us tips to make Halloween a little more green!
Halloween is fast approaching, and no doubt people across the country are pondering what to wear. But before you rush to the shops for a brand new, spooky look, consider going down a greener route to help save the planet and money. We’ve included some tips below to help you achieve an eerie ensemble without being scarily unstainable.
1. Re-use! This might seem simple, but shops and supermarkets stock lots of tempting costumes at this time of year. If your costume from last year still fits, why not just wear it again? This saves on costs and the environmental impact of fast fashion. If you don’t want to wear the same thing every year, consider rotating two costume options. This doesn’t work for everyone - bodies change and children grow up, which is completely understandable and okay, however if last year’s look fits just fine, it’s a great option and allows for a stress-free lead-up to 31st October.
2. Second-hand shop. Around this time of year, many charity shops have dedicated rails for halloween costumes, and these are a great place to look for cost-effective and environmentally friendly pieces. Costumes in second-hand shops are often aimed at children, however that doesn’t mean adults can’t find hidden gems. Have a browse, and you never know what pieces you might find that are a perfect fit for whatever look you’re aiming for. There are plenty of online platforms too - Depop, Vinted and eBay are some examples of sites that sell second-hand gear, and are great places to find pre-loved clothes, often at a bargain price point.
3. Get crafty. There are a whole host of ways to hand make your costumes, using materials lying around at home. Search for articles and videos on how to create pieces or adjust what you already own - some of our favourite examples would include stapling compostable bin bags to a black top to make bat wings, stuffing one leg of black tights to create a cat tail or using cardboard from boxes to make handheld masks. The options are endless - do some research and let your creativity shine!
4. Makeup and face paint. The simplest way to dress up for Halloween is to not focus on the clothes, but on the use of makeup or face paint. Lots of us will have face paint or makeup at home, and we can use these really easily to create the base of a costume. There are so many video tutorials online for the many of us that aren’t experts, and it doesn’t have to be time consuming. You can simply use some dark eyeshadow to create the effect of bruising or dark circles, or a red lipstick or liner to add the look of blood. Many classic Halloween costume ideas, like zombies and vampires, don’t need much of a costume at all - it can all be done with makeup and face paint that we already own! Think about what looks you could create, and make sure to check guidance to ensure that you use these products safely.
5. Costume swap with friends. If you can’t find anything second-hand, don’t fancy getting crafty, or don’t believe in your makeup abilities, consider a costume swap with friends or family. This could be as simple as swapping devil horns for angel wings or vampire capes for witch’s hats and is a great option for children and adults alike. We hope these tips help you have a greener Halloween this year. Have we missed any great tips? We’d love to hear from you.