Costume to Classic: How to Reuse Your Halloween Costume
With the spooky season coming to an end, some of us are left with a full closet of costumes and an empty bank account. Though it may not seem like you can make use of your costume ever again, don’t let these clothes and accessories be a one-use purchase. Clearly cat ears and angel wings may not fit into this category, but some parts of your costume can be adopted into your everyday wardrobe!
The most likely part of your costume that can be worn everyday is the base. Many costumes mostly rely on accessories to tell what you are, rather than the actual outfit. For example, a popular costume every year is an angel or devil. In this case, the actual costume is the angel wings or devil horns, and the base of the costume is white or red clothes. You may have already had these colored clothes as a part of your wardrobe. If not, don’t be afraid to wear the clothes you bought for this costume in a different setting. Without the accessories, no one will ever know they were part of a costume!
Many pieces of Halloween costumes would serve as perfect outfits for going out at night. For example, you can pair a corset top from any costume with low rise pants. If you were a hippie for Halloween, pair your flare jeans with a more basic top. Have a little black dress from your vampire costume? Ditch the fangs and wear that to your next party.
Shoes are often a staple part of a costume, not to mention a costly accessory. Many popular costumes this year, such as a cowgirl or 70s disco girl, required very particular pairs of shoes as part of the outfit. Thankfully, these shoes align with current trends. For example, cowgirl boots have been a popular statement shoe since this summer. If you invested in cowgirl boots this Halloween, wear them to a country concert or outdoor party this fall. If you purchased white “Go-Go” style boots for a 70s costume, try pairing them with a more simple dress to go out on the town.
You can also use parts of your Halloween costume for other events you have to dress up for such as themed parties or holidays. If you were a cowgirl, you're set for a Wild West themed party in the future. If you dressed up as the Mean Girls “Jingle Bell Rock” scene, wear your Santa hat during Christmas time. It’s never a bad idea to save all your accessories from your costumes because you never know when they will come in handy. Maybe even next Halloween!
Although it’s a year away, keep these tips in mind for next Halloween and try to plan your costume around pieces you already have or would wear again. I recommend shopping in your closet before shopping online. You never know what can come of what you already have! However, don’t worry if you spend some money on your costume: with this guide, it will be put to good use after!
Xoxo, Danielle Wass