“Here’s how to put together the perfect spooky outfit using wardrobe staples.”
Creating a costume can be daunting for some people as the spooky season approaches. Deciding what to wear for Halloween can add to the pressure, but it can also be a fun and creative process.
Shelling out the best part of $20 on items that will end up in the charity shop is enough to scare anyone into shopping their wardrobe for what to wear for Halloween.
Here are some expert tips on creating a Halloween costume without having to buy anything, whether you’re going out or staying in.
The mime
One of the simplest costumes—but rarely executed—is the mime artist. “Simply wear a striped shirt (preferably black and white) with black trousers or a skirt,” says style and trends expert Karine Laudort. Add white gloves for authenticity (if possible) and apply white face paint as a base. This can be a unique choice for what to wear for Halloween.”
To go the extra mile, emphasize your eyes with bold black eyeliner and finish with a vibrant red lip.
“Not to be confused with its French counterpart, the meme is a simple, easy, and creative costume to sport this season. Evolena de Wilde d’Estmael, CEO of the pre-loved platform Faircado, says, ‘More than ever now, Halloween is dominated by the viral memes of the year leading up to it,’ offering a fun option for what to wear for Halloween.”
“Look to the movie stars.”
As ‘Barbenheimer’ snapped up the costume monopoly last year with Barbie and Oppenheimer taking over cinemas nationwide, dressing up as a famed film character is an easy bid when you’re stumped for ideas on what to wear for Halloween.
“Good, easy options would be Wednesday Addams (think pinstripe blazer, white shirt, pleated skirt, and knee socks) or Barbie, which just requires anything pink or neon!” says Holly Watkins, founder of pre-loved boutique One Scoop Store.
If Barbie was too last year, fashion influencer and podcaster Ami Charlize suggests paring it back to a plain princess costume: “I think the idea of dressing up as a princess is perfect for Halloween because you can wear a gorgeous dress and simply accessorize with maybe an old tiara from a previous costume.”
Reaching from your existing wardrobe isn’t the only option. “Buying second-hand or borrowing from a friend is a great way to source costumes,” says de Wilde d’Estmael. These are budget-friendly choices when deciding what to wear for Halloween.”
“The good news is that with the preponderance of sequels and reboots in cinemas, somebody’s pre-loved Beetlejuice, Joker, Wolverine or Gladiator costumes will still feel on the cutting-edge of the cultural zeitgeist!”
The cat and the witch
Have you ever heard the phrase Don’t fix what ain’t broken? It may be a cliché – but the costumes that always pay off when you’re strapped for time are the cat and the witch, making them reliable choices for what to wear for Halloween.
“For Halloween, I believe that wearing dark colours with a touch of dressiness works well,” says style influencer Elys Hutchinson. “After all, it’s the one day of the year when anything goes in terms of outfits!”
Donning a black dress, regardless of the style, and pairing it with a wide-brimmed hat or black cardboard point creates an effortless, five-minute witchy ensemble. “Complete the outfit with dark lipstick, adding the perfectly mysterious finishing touch,” says Laudort.
For the cat, it’s not too dissimilar. “Slip into an all-black attire—leggings or jeans paired with a sleek top,” says Laudort. This is a perfect minimalist take on what to wear for Halloween. You can create cat ears using a headband and black construction paper or buy store-bought ones.
You can also use eyeliner to draw whiskers and a cute nose. Additionally, you can fashion a tail from stuffed black tights or long socks pinned to your outfit for extra brownie points.
What if you’re staying in?
While many of us will be taking to costume parties or parading down residential roads trick or treating, a host of us will stay in for a nice meal and a scary movie – but this doesn’t mean you can’t channel a spooky style, pondering what to wear for Halloween even at home.
Sporting the Halloween color palette of burgundies, blacks, plums, and crimsons is a great way to hint at the holiday without going all out.
“You can go gothic chic with some rich velvet, lace or leather,” says Laudort. “Accessories also play a major part, adding a bold choker, chunky boots or a wide-brimmed hat can cultivate a mysterious look without needing to go full costume.”
Do not worry—there are no rules when it comes to Halloween, says Charlize. “There are so many ways you can be creative on what to wear for Halloween!”
” If you don’t want to dress up, you could always wear elements of an outfit that hint at a costume—like pairing a plaid shirt with shorts and cowboy boots. You can also play around with smaller aspects like handbags, hair ties, and makeup, to nod toward what to wear for Halloween.”
